Not every hobby gardener has the construction skills to gather old windows and erect a functioning greenhouse. Buying the hardware and designing a tubular greenhouse from scratch may cost less than purchasing a greenhouse kit, but it also requires building know-how and the occasional replacement of poly sheeting.
A purchased greenhouse kit allows the home gardener to erect a nice-looking and fully functional greenhouse for seed starting and container gardening that will last for years to come.
What is a Lean-To Greenhouse
A lean-to greenhouse is essentially half of a greenhouse. It is built right next to the home and is sealed along the outside wall of the home. Lean-tos are great for gardeners who do not have much extra yard space to erect a structure.
When building a lean-to, homeowners must pay careful attention to where the sun shines on their house most of the day, and build on that wall.
Most of the companies that offer good-quality greenhouse kits include a lean-to in their catalog of products.
What to Look for in a Greenhouse Kit
- A greenhouse kit should come with a base. Many offer optional bases; buyers should choose this option. The base holds the greenhouse on the ground in any type of weather. A gardener need only experience having his or her work blown down once to appreciate the importance of a sturdy base set in the ground with concrete.
- Double-wall polycarbonate panels. Unlike glass, these are unbreakable. They come in different thicknesses for different climes and needs; 4mm being the thinnest for the hobby gardener and 10mm being the thickest and intended for those who wish to continue to garden in the Winter. Unlinke polycarbonate panels, poly sheeting will need to be replaced every few years at least.
- Sturdy frame. Most common frames are aluminum and they are plenty strong and sturdy. Some brands offer steel frames; Rion is the only brand that offers resin frames. Sunshine Greenhouses offers greenhouse kits with redwood frames. They are beautiful, and more expensive than comparable metal frame kits.
- Windows. Very small kits sometimes do not include windows, but windows are vital for air circulation in the greenhouse. Some models offer automatic window openers as an accessory.
- Instructions. High-quality greenhouse kits come with complete installation instructions and everything you need (except perhaps a screwdriver) to build the greenhouse. The installation may require strength, patience, and at least two people to complete. Two strong people working together on a sunny day ought to have the greenhouse up in an afternoon, but some owners prefer to tackle the building more slowly.
Online Greenhouse Kit Brands
- Sunshine Greenhouses offers a small variety of sizes. Their products are sturdy and of good quality; the frames are made from redwood which increases their beauty. Sunshine greenhouses are a lovely addition to a gardener's backyard landscaping.
- Juliana Greenhouses started as a Danish company and their products are built to withstand Scandinavian Winters. For those who do not like the stark metal aluminum frame, an equally strong green-colored variety is offered to match the gardener's landscape design. Juliana offers a wide assortment of sizes.
- Rion Greenhouses offers resin frames which they claim to be as strong as aluminum, but fully insulated. They tend to only offer 4mm polycarbonate panels, however.
Measure the space on which a greenhouse would nicely stand. Decide how many seasons (three or four) the greenhouse should be functional, and shop around. Kits offer a high-quality option for building a greenhouse.
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