A homemade greenhouse is really in the reach of experienced and new gardeners. The trick is that growing outside is intuitive and we know what to do but inside a greenhouse things work a bit differently. Don’t build until you know what it takes and have a plan in front of you. Protect your plants and build a homemade greenhouse today.

The first and most important thing to the long term success of your greenhouse is the location. Getting maximum sunlight during the short winter days is critical. The south or southeast face of the greenhouse needs to be unobstructed by trees or your home or a fence. Trees can shadow just like the height of your home. The last part about location is to be sure that the build site is not prone to flooding and drains well.

There are a variety of different types of homemade greenhouses you can build on a budget. They all have their own plans and techniques to grow the best plants. You can save a little bit more if you have it attached to your home or a shed perhaps. That saves you from having to build that last wall.

For attached greenhouses you have these versions:

Window Mounted – attached to the side of your house, usually small
Even-span – attached to the end of your house, large and can be expanded
Lean-to – attached the to side of your house, usually large

Free standing greenhouses usually are erected in the middle of the garden away from trees and other sunlight obstructions. These can vary in shape, size, and building materials. Electricity and water source are the two main things to think about on a free standing greenhouse.

It is very important to have a good frame for your homemade greenhouse. Wood, steel, and aluminum and PVC pipe all can work for a greenhouse. There are many different frame designs that you will have to choose from. Pick one you like but be aware since you are building it yourself that a more complicated design will take longer to cut and build.

The easiest covering to go with is plastic film. Very cheap and easy to install because it comes in big rolls. Glass is always an option but is the most expensive and of course can break. Fiberglass is another option and can sometimes be found inexpensively.

Each town has a specific climate and that means the sun is higher or lower relatively and therefore the Winter is shorter or longer, respectively. Heating and ventilation needs can be calculated based on the size of your greenhouse and your climate. Not all gardeners will have the same needs as well. You might only need a heater for the short freezes. Some will need heaters for much longer periods of time. That can also mean bigger heater or multiple depending on how the climate is. There is also room for addons like a water delivery system like sprinklers or hydroponics and lights.

Homemade greenhouses are a small project that can reward you with beautiful vegetables, fruits and flowers for years to come.