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Gardening and wildcrafting food for her family, Amy grows in a variety of gardens including hydroponic, raised beds, containers, and in the ground. As a master gardener, she has successfully gardened across the country.
mybest US' editing team consists of experienced members who have backgrounds in writing, editing, translation, and more. We are dedicated to researching what makes a product or service the best to users in the US in order to create top-quality articles. From skincare, to kitchen appliances, and to DIY supplies, our mission is to find the best ones for you.
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.
Before you make a purchase, learn what features makes a greenhouse effective and consider your climate and gardening needs and preferences.
Common cover materials include polyethylene and PVC. Different additives help plastics last longer, retain heat, reduce heat loss and condensation, and transmit different amounts of light. No matter the material, you'll want to look for a cover that is UV-protective and waterproof.
A cover made of polyethylene (PE), a light plastic that diffuses sunlight, is good for warmer climates, especially because it will prevent scorching. One caveat is that PE has a short lifespan, so you'd need to replace the cover, which would leave a larger environmental footprint.
To protect your plants from colder weather, look for a cover made from PVC, a thicker, more durable clear plastic that will last many seasons. PVC is better than PE at reducing heat loss. Do keep in mind that PVC covers are often translucent, which means your plants and seeds will receive direct, rather than diffused, sunlight.
While it’s true that a portable greenhouse alone won’t protect your plants from below freezing temps, they can shield them from wind and rain, allow you to get a head start with seedlings in trays, or extend the growing season. If you do need some extra protection from the cold, you could add heat lamps or another heat source for more insulation.
Greenhouses trap heat, allowing your plants to stay warm even when the weather outside is cooler. However, there is such thing as too much heat and humidity. If your greenhouse gets too hot and humid, plants can wilt or die, and mold and fungi can grow, which makes it easier for pests to multiply.
To prevent overheating, look for features that help ventilate your greenhouse. Ventilation is critical for plant growth because it helps control the temperature and regulate humidity and provides carbon dioxide, a critical part of the photosynthesis process.
A single opening is enough to let hot air escape, so you could roll up the greenhouse door to get air flowing. However, it may be helpful to look for a greenhouse that has cross-ventilation, especially if you live in a warmer climate or the daily temperature is irregular. Side windows help regulate temperature and circulate fresh air.
To keep pests out, look for ventilation openings that are netted or screened. You could also consider adding a fan if you want to keep your greenhouse fully sealed.
Don't forget about irrigation and heating. You might want to place your greenhouse within distance of a hose or electrical outlet if you're considering adding a heat source or fan. Will your greenhouse be designed and conveniently located for easy access to hoses and cords?
It's also important to think about the size of your plants, pots, and seed trays, especially if your greenhouse has shelves. Do you have extra tall plants? How much space do you want between each pot? Will your plants fit on a shelf, and how much will they grow over the course of the season?
You'll want to choose a design that fits your plants and your needs. Some portable greenhouses are walk-in, so you'll have plenty of storage space and room to move around and take care of your plants. Do you want a greenhouse with shelves? If your greenhouse doesn't come with shelves, you can always add your own.
Shorter and wider greenhouses are lower to the ground and more windproof. If you’re looking for a taller greenhouse, it might make sense to choose something that's heftier so it will stay grounded.
To further prevent toppling, look for accessories that help anchor a greenhouse, such as stakes and ropes. If your greenhouse shelves, you can place heavy pots or other weights on the lowest shelves. Some greenhouses also have overlong covers so you can add weights, like bricks or sandbags, or soil to the edges of the cover.
Portable greenhouses should be straightforward to set up. Pop-up designs might take mere minutes to assemble whereas others may require more time connecting pieces. Most greenhouses don't require extra tools for assembly, but you might want a hammer or mallet to fit pieces together tightly or zip ties to make the shelves extra secure.
If you're going to assemble your greenhouse before moving it elsewhere, make sure it will fit through the door of your house, garage, or shed. Also consider how easy it will be to disassemble your greenhouse and how much space it will take to store it.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Price | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Ahome Mini Pop-Up Greenhouse | $24.99 Low | A Small but Sturdy Mini Greenhouse | ||
2 | Kradl Pop-Up Greenhouse Kit | $129.99 High Mid | Protect Your Plants Canopy Style | ||
3 | TOPKIN Mini Greenhouse | $91.99 High Mid | A Greenhouse for Maximum Plant Storage | ||
4 | Erommy Portable Mini Greenhouse | $45.99 Low Mid | An Extra Wide and Airtight Greenhouse | ||
5 | Nova Microdermabrasion 4-Tier Mini Walk-In Greenhouse | $50.99 Mid | Sturdy Shelves for Your Seeds and Plants | ||
6 | EAGLEPEAK Mini Garden Portable Greenhouse | $39.99 Low Mid | Short but Deep to Suit Your Space Needs | ||
7 | Ohuhu Outdoor Greenhouse with Observation Windows | $69.99 Mid | A Spacious Walk-In With Side Windows | ||
8 | Flower House Pop-Up PlantHouse 2 | $49.99 Mid | Protect Your Shrubs from Winter Weather | ||
9 | AMERLIFE Four-Tier Mini Portable Greenhouse | $54.99 Mid | Stabilize Your Greenhouse With Side Bags | ||
10 | Quictent Pop-Up Greenhouse | $129.99 High Mid | A Roomy, Four-Door Pop-Up Greenhouse |
This itty bitty greenhouse is just the right size to protect a few potted plants from wind, freezing, and heavy rain or to start seedlings. With a clear PVC cover, this greenhouse keeps humidity levels high. For ventilation, you can open and tie up the zippered window, and for stability, there are four stakes.
A few reviewers complained that the greenhouse was frustrating and hard to break down and store. Two buyers reported ripped plastic and a broken zipper upon opening the package. A couple of reviewers mentioned the unpleasant smell of the PVC material and recommended letting the greenhouse air out before use.
Happy customers said this greenhouse was conveniently sized, sturdy, and effective and the plastic was high quality and adequately thick. A couple buyers noted that the high ceiling is especially helpful for taller or growing plants. Others liked the open-bottom design so they could easily set the greenhouse over their plants and seeds.
For a simple lightweight walk-in greenhouse, consider this semi-transparent reinforced polyethylene canopy that's designed to last many planting seasons. You can set it up directly over plants, load your pots and trays, or add your own shelving. Installation is quick, and the greenhouse easily deconstructs to fit in a storage bag with handles.
The door rolls up so you can easily access your plants and you can open the zippered windows with netting if you want some ventilation. Secure the canopy using the included heavy-duty rust-resistant stakes; the ground flaps can be weighted down if you want to be extra sure your greenhouse won't blow away.
Two reviewers said one of the poles poked through the cover, and one reported a broken zipper that made it impossible to fully close the door. Happy customers loved the simple pop-up setup and said the greenhouse was sturdy, surviving storms and wind. Other reviewers were happy the greenhouse locked in heat and humidity well.
This three-tiered greenhouse with a zippered roll-up door and observation windows is as deep as it is wide, giving you plenty of room to fill the shelves and tend to your plants and seeds. Because of the bottomless walk-in design, you can also house taller potted plants or protect plants already in the ground.
The reinforced PE plastic cover is waterproof, windproof, and UV-resistant, and the frame is made up of heavy-duty plastic connectors and steel pipes. There are clips to keep the shelves in place and anchors to keep the greenhouse from blowing away. You can also tuck the bottom flaps of the cover underneath the pipes to ensure heat retention.
A couple of disgruntled buyers complained that the greenhouse was not durable and that some of its component parts weren't sturdy. Happy buyers liked the shelving and the straightforward instructions and setup and praised the greenhouse's ability to hold heat.
You don't have to worry about heat and humidity escaping this greenhouse thanks to key design features. With an overlong waterproof and UV-resistant polyethylene cover, you can cover the flaps with soil to seal off the greenhouse or add weights, which also add stability. Velcro tape ensures the three zippered roll-up doors are fully sealed.
Reviewers said putting the greenhouse together was easy but warn that you must make sure all the pieces fit tightly or else the cover won't fit over the frame. Happy buyers liked the solid frame and said the greenhouse kept their plants safe and warm. One reviewer noted that the low height made it less likely to be destroyed by wind.
Reviewers whose greenhouse blew or fell over or collapsed complained about the lack of stability and damaged plants. Some buyers said the plastic cover didn't fit and was prone to cracks, rips, and holes. A few reported that shelves were bent.
Several reviewers recommend anchoring the greenhouse yourself and purchasing zip ties to secure the shelves. Happy buyers appreciated the size, the amount of plant storage, and the ease of both assembling and moving the greenhouse.
If the space you have for a greenhouse is longer rather than taller, check out this one that's almost six feet long. With both dual-zippered doors closed, the thick waterproof UV-resistant PE cover wards off pests, keeps cold out, and traps heat. You can leave one door open for ventilation or leave both rolled up while you tend to your plants.
The frame is made of heavy-duty powder-coated steel. There are stakes to anchor the greenhouse, and for added stability, you can place weights of your own on the overlong fabric.
One reviewer lamented that the cover was too short to tuck in at the bottom to fully seal off the greenhouse. Another buyer said the included stakes were not enough to hold the greenhouse down. Most buyers were pleased, complimenting the quality of the materials, the easy assembly, and the moisture and heat retention.
A few unhappy buyers complained about missing parts and mediocre instructions. A couple of reviewers said the greenhouse was susceptible to wind, and a few complained about the quality and longevity of the materials, which led to the greenhouse falling apart and the cover ripping.
A handful of buyers suggest using zip ties to make the shelves more secure and a mallet or hammer to aid in setting up the frame. Happy reviewers liked that the greenhouse didn't take up too much space but still offered plenty of room for their plants and protection from harsh weather.
Because of the open-bottom design, you can place the greenhouse right over your plants. To keep pests out, the door fully zips up and the vents are screened. While this greenhouse won’t protect plants from overnight freezes on its own, there are easy access ports for hoses and electrical cords if you want to add a heating source.
Several reviewers experienced assembly difficulties fitting the poles into the pockets and a few had issues with the zipper. Satisfied buyers reported that this greenhouse worked well whether they were protecting or growing seedlings, succulents, flower cuttings, vegetables, or herbs.
You don't have to worry about this tall greenhouse toppling over because it is equipped with bags on the side to hold cold-tolerant plants or weights. The cover is made of thick reinforced polyethylene and protects your plants from rain, UV light, and cold and preserves heat even in severe weather.
The distance between each of the four steel shelves is 13 inches, but you can remove any number of shelves to accommodate taller plants. They can hold up to 33 pounds and are buckled down to the frame for stability. You can unzip and tie up the door to care for your plants or provide ventilation.
One reviewer said the shelves weren't strong enough to support heavy items, and one said the greenhouse was flimsy and fell apart. A couple of buyers recommended buying zip ties to steady the shelves. A few customers liked how easy it was to set the greenhouse up, and one especially liked the amount of space between shelves.
This large greenhouse has four dual-zippered doors plus two side vents you can open to control the temperature and sunlight. With a UV-resistant and waterproof ripstop cover made of hearty 600D polyester fabric and transparent PVC, the easy-to-assemble pop-up will help your plants grow and provide shelter in wind and rain.
If you're using this over plants in the ground, you can bury the extra-long cover edges in the soil to ensure your greenhouse is more airtight. The tent is designed with loops so you can use extra stakes or rope to keep the greenhouse stable. There are also buckles for neatly rolling up the doors.
A few reviewers said their greenhouse was not sturdy enough to withstand wind or snow, citing tearing, collapsing, and blowing away. Most buyers said the setup was easy and were pleased their plants held up even in cold temperatures. Two reviewers suggested not staking too tightly to loosen the zippers and prevent tears.
If you're dreaming of starting your garden, an indoor garden or terrarium kit is a great place to start. Check out our buying guides to find a new gardening project and select the best garden tools. Happy gardening!
This expert reviewed the contents of the buying guide for accuracy and provided factual corrections when necessary. They did not participate in the product selection process, nor are they affiliated with any of our choices unless explicitly stated so.
No. 1: Ahome|Mini Pop-Up Greenhouse
No. 2: Kradl|Pop-Up Greenhouse Kit
No. 3: TOPKIN|Mini Greenhouse
No. 4: Erommy|Portable Mini Greenhouse
No. 5: Nova Microdermabrasion|4-Tier Mini Walk-In Greenhouse
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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