14 Best Greenhouses to Buy – 2022 Reviews & Buying Guide

Having access to fresh produce from your farm all year round is a desire for many people. But how can you guarantee this? Here are 14 best greenhouses that can ensure you have fresh plants no matter the season.

Do you want to garden all year round without worrying about climatic limitations? Then, a greenhouse is the best and most probably, the only solution you’ve got.

But to harvest vegetables and fruits rich with nutrients or blooming flowers in and out of season, your choice of greenhouse matters a great deal.

If you ask any gardener out there, they will agree that getting the right greenhouse that rhymes with all your needs is also not an easy task.

You must embark on serious research, for you to be able to identify the best greenhouses among the large possibilities in the market.  During your research, however, there some vital differentiators that you must consider to help you make the right choice.

Here is where this guide comes in. We have compiled a list of 14 greenhouses, based on in-depth research plus the various online greenhouse reviews from satisfied users.

But before we have a look at the greenhouses, here are some crucial facts that you must know before you make that purchase.

Things to Know when Buying a Greenhouse

Although many people presume that every greenhouse is suitable for any plant, there is another side of the coin.

We are talking about long service, size, materials, and design. But, these small factors have an impact on how your plant will look like when the harvesting season comes.

Some more vital traits of a greenhouse that you must put into consideration before you buy include:

Ventilation

In many cases where plant failure is recorded in a greenhouse, the lack of proper ventilation is always the first suspect.

Ideal greenhouses should retain warm air during winter and release it during summer. If this cycle is interfered with, your plant growth gets distorted

Proper ventilation does not only depend on your chosen greenhouse but also the location. The location should have excellent airflow to ensure that air can enter and exit the structure smoothly.

Alternatively, you can purchase solar-powered louvers to take away ventilation stress.

Metal or Timber Greenhouse

Wooden timber greenhouses are beautiful but very expensive. You will also invest more time in its upkeep. The good thing is that it’s perfect in marinating room temperature.

Metal greenhouses, more so those made out of aluminum, are perfect if you don’t want to spend a fortune in your gardening. They also have low maintenance requirements.

The Shape of the Greenhouse

The greenhouse’s shape is something that many gardeners don’t keep in mind. What they miss out is that a wrong shape/design will affect air and light circulation inside the structure.

There are four types of shapes you’ll come across. We shall talk about them in detail when reviewing the individual greenhouses.

• Traditional
• Lean-to
• Octagonal
• Domes (Newer versions)

Check out these different types of greenhouses that you need to know about, there are a ton of different structural considerations as well as design considerations.

Size of the Greenhouse

Research has it that most gardeners wish they had chosen a bigger greenhouse when starting. You shouldn’t make the same mistake.

Choose a larger greenhouse, even if you are thinking of having a few plants in the garden. The only thing that should change your decision is these two scenarios.

• When the space you want to seclude for gardening is limited
• You are looking for a greenhouse for a small “flower farm.”

It’s essential to choose a greenhouse with a width of at least 6 – 8 feet. The eaves should be at least 5 feet to allow more light to enter the structure.

A large greenhouse gives your plant room for perfect growth and limits competition for space.

Besides, you may want to change your small garden into a small farm in the future. You never know.

Here are some guides that will help you:

• Top Mini Greenhouses
• Best Indoor Greenhouses with Lights

The Extent of Plant Protection

Your plants, of course, are protected from harm when inside the greenhouse. Pests and animals may not easily attack, and strong winds are also prevented from ravaging your garden.

But how far can the greenhouse go in protecting your plants?

You have to prepare yourself to battle other intruders like bugs, slugs, worms, and different types of pests. Unfortunately, only a few of the best greenhouses can offer extra protection.

It’s something that you have to check if your location is infested.

Benefits of a Greenhouse to Plants

Extended Growing Season

Typically, extending your harvesting period is how greenhouses work. For a long time, farmers have tried the best way to do this but were unable. The invention of greenhouses was able to downplay the climate.

Today, when you prepare your seedlings early in the season, it is possible to get a bounty harvest earlier than other farmers. This makes greenhouses and excellent transition to sustainability in terms of more efficient farming and gardening.

You can use aquaponics kits to extend your growing season.

You Can Grow a Variety of Crops in a Single Structure

A greenhouse gives you room to try out different plants at the same time. It’s a significant advantage because you can experiment on exotic plants which are not easy to find.

Still, ensure that what you want to inter-crop is mutually compatible for maximum harvest.

Greenhouses are Environmental-Friendly

Environmentalists agree that these structures fight the greenhouse effect a great deal. That’s why they advocate for their use in modern farming.

Adding more plants to the structure helps provide fresher plants.

The oxygen plants excrete is what cleans the atmosphere and fights climate change.

Saves Energy

Traditional gardening does not reduce the use of energy.  Why do you think modern farmers have taken the shift? Greenhouses can conserve energy sources like heat and water as they are easily controlled.

Portability and Customization

Most of the greenhouses, which we will discuss are portable. You can place them in areas with maximum sunlight and in which they are easily accessible. The greenhouses are easy to assemble and hence reliable when always on the move.

Also, structures like ShelterTech High Tunnel greenhouses enable you to make personalized structures to accommodate planting needs. You can configure them to include the frame, end panels, and cover. Besides, you can get a complete kit with size options of up to 100 feet.

Enough about that! We can now have a look at the best greenhouses to buy today.

Best Greenhouses to Buy

1. Ohuhu Large Walk-in Plant Greenhouse

Our top pick is a portable greenhouse that uses space sparingly. Still, it’s large enough to take care of tender seedlings that can’t compete for air, water, and warmth.

The structure has rock-solid stability to hold pots, plants, and seed trays. Thanks to the sturdy tubes which weigh 18lbs capacity.  This is strong enough to withstand mild storms that move at 30mph. If you are still worried, it has additional tie-downs for more stability.

Nothing makes a gardener happy, like seeing his plants growing well and healthy. The secret here is air circulation. Air movement in plants facilitates gaseous exchange, mitigates mold growth, and increases the weight of leafy plants.

Ohuhu greenhouse has leveraged on the power of air movement since it is designed with zippered roll-up doors.  The Velcro side windows perform the same function. It’s, therefore, the perfect structure if you are planting nurseries or plants that need constant air circulation for optimum growth.

Advantages

• Has a durable and upgraded cover that is waterproof and UV resistant
• The frames are stable to avoid falling
• It is easy to install
• It has a convenient zipper for easy access

Disadvantages

• The finish of the metal pole edge is not smooth on some bars
• There is an irregularity of painting on the poles

2. Giantex Portable Cold Frame Greenhouses

This is a small-sized wooden greenhouse that keeps plants warm and safe. It’s not for large-scale use. From a closer look, it looks like a house decoration with a touch of gardening.

The base is sturdy, and the covering is not vulnerable to UV degradation. The raised cold frame and foldable top are perfect for seedlings. You can open it on sunny days to allow the young plants to absorb light.

For such a small greenhouse, movement and assembling is not hard task. It becomes even easier as all the parts are detachable.

Advantages

• It’s a high-quality construction
• It’s affordable since wooden greenhouses always have a hefty price tag
• Has an excellent design with a top-notch finish

Disadvantages

• The panels are made out of plastic
• The timber is low-density

3. Gardman R687 4-Tier Mini Greenhouse

To some people, gardening is not something they think of doing for the long term. It’s their love for plants that force them to purchase a greenhouse.

It’s these people that Gardman greenhouses tend to reach. Maybe you are looking for something simple, affordable, and that can hold a few of your favorite flowers.

First of all, it’s incredibly lightweight, which means that setting it up is similarly straightforward. It’s only 27 by 8 inches, which gives room for 4 shelves after rolling up the zipper door.

If getting that extra space is something you will mule over for long, Gardman has prioritized using the smallest area as much as possible. Your balcony is enough to hold the whole structure.

Even with all these, the greenhouse still has a robust tubular push steel frame. You need not worry about the small bugs or water that may damage your seedlings. The transparent polyethylene cover will keep all danger at bay.

Advantages

• Ideal for homes where space is an issue
• Very affordable
• A perfect start for seeds and young plants

Disadvantages

• Dirt and water can drip on the floor as it does not have a floor on the bottom
• Shelves cannot hold too much weight

4. Flower House Springhouse Greenhouse

This is a perfect year-round greenhouse for herbs, flowers, and shrubs from the comfort of your lush lawn. Some of the flowers you can plant here are orchid springs, Amazon lilies, African violets, and Chenille plants.

As we said earlier, all greenhouses are environmentally friendly, but not as good as the flower house greenhouses. Why so? It dramatically improves climatic conditions in all geographic locations.

This makes it possible to keep your plants and flowers fresh and beautiful. You can overwinter plants that grow in other climatic areas because flowers bloom earlier during spring and summer.

Since Flower House greenhouses are small, you need to be wise when organizing your planting. Using limited space as much as you can, should be your goal.

You will have to choose an ideal location, which is a raised garden bed with good drainage.

Advantages

• An automatic overheat shut off
• Easy to assemble
• The ventilation system is powerful
• Affordable for a little flower house

Disadvantages

• Can’t hold a variety of plants and flowers at once
• Less durable than other options

See Related: Best Greenhouse Fogging Systems

5. Abba Patio Large Walk-in Garden Greenhouse

This greenhouse comes with large canvas panels that cover the whole structure. You will appreciate the spaces for windows and doors for free airflow. It’s made with a modern style that looks good, hence something you can feel proud of when showing to others.

Talk of the robust PE cover that is made with a heavy-duty material! These ensure it does not give in to scratching or wear after prolonged use.

Also, its powder-coated frames prevent chipping and corrosion. This is an excellent choice if you are living in areas with high humidity that are exposed to agents of erosion.

The main problem that gardeners face is having to deal with unseen enemies who strike when least expected. Pests pose a significant danger to plants, and sometimes pesticides do not do much. To increase the effectiveness of the greenhouse, the manufacturer used insect nettings on the Velcro windows.

Advantages

• It’s simple to assemble and disassemble
• Has a robust and high-grade construction
• The materials are lightweight
• The storage bag can fit anywhere in your house

Disadvantages

• The frame is brittle which may be easily bent
• The fabric does not last long as expected

6. Walk-in Greenhouse Tunnel Tent by Best Choice

As the name hints, it’s one of the best greenhouses to buy if you want to produce plants on a large scale. That’s why it’s designed with great resistance to external aggression.

The stainless steel protects it against rust and bad weather. Besides, powder-coated steel is very stable to support many plants at once. Also, don’t let the hefty weight fool you that setting up the structure will be an uphill battle.

The dome-shaped design gives you ample space to organize your plant effortlessly. What’s more? The different heights in the spaces allow you to store larges plants side by side.

We know that this can, however, be a problem if you are working with limited space.

The design is attractive, and the external appearance gives someone a glimpse of what they expect to find inside the greenhouse.

Advantages

• Highly resistant to rust
• Spacious composition for numerous plants
• Regulates the ventilation inside for optimal protection
• There is no risk of injury if the glass breaks

Disadvantages

• You may have problems with the ground attachment
• The design for water flow allows “valleys” to form at the weakest location if there are heavy rains

See Related: Best Solar Heaters for Greenhouses

7. Ikea Greenhouse

Although small, this is a greenhouse for all seasons, with dimensions of 100 cm, 60 cm, and 40 cm. For those that have experienced its protection milestones, it’s more than a cute indoor greenhouse. Why? It can fit in the backyard or lawn and does not require a lot of maintenance.

Its chassis is made of aluminum polycarbonate, a robust material that will protect your precious plants. Plus, it ensures that you enjoy the service for as long as you are using it. The opening is at the upper part to guarantee complete airflow to every part of the structure.

The feet are made of strong plastic. This can hold pressure from all plants. Besides, the base avoids movement during natural occurrences to prevent the falling of plants.

When installing the structure, you don’t need a handyman. A quick tip: when installing, avoid sunny places and look for a flat surface.

Advantages

• The strong covering material is durable.
• The plastic is clear for easy viewing
• Very cute and makes the best gift
• The installation process is fast

Disadvantages

• You might have to use glue to increase the stability of the structure
• The screws can get damaged if you tighten them too much

8. Quictent Portable Greenhouse

The physical features of the greenhouse constitute two doors on both ends for air circulation and ease of entrance and exit. It also has ten exhaust vents (2 on the doors and eight on the upper sides) for extra ventilation during hot days.

The doors on both sides make it easy for accessibility and airflow into the structure. When it comes to stability, which is a headache for gardeners living in tornado-prone areas, Quictent might help out a great deal.

Some of the features for extra support are ten bases and 20 stakes placed in essential positions. You will also see the upgraded pole joints. The three-corner and four-corner joints make the whole frame more stable.

You can take this friendly advice. Don’t use the greenhouse in a wet condition to ensure the lifetime is not shortened. Also, to make stability effective, it’s advisable to purchase anchoring materials like stakes and weights.

You can also go the natural way of surrounding the structure with compost and topsoil that improves stability.

Advantages

• Has a vast growing space for multiple plants
• Has an excellent ventilation
• Set up process is swift

Disadvantages

• Not suitable for cold climates

9. Rion Grand Gardener 2 Clear Greenhouse

Rion Grand gardener greenhouse features 4 mm solid polycarbonate twin walls, which are 100% UV protected. The crystal clear sidewalls give you a clear view of the interior while offering excellent protection.

The twin roof can absorb 90% of sunlight but will not allow the blazing sun to scorch plants. Also, the barn shape design gives more space in the headroom.

Planting climbing plants like tomatoes has never been easy. Similarly, the area on the ground is large enough for all the plants you might have in mind.

Not to forget the double doors on both sides for air circulation. Besides, the roof vents provide heat when the doors are closed. This keeps the structure ventilation controlled.

Advantages

• The structure is durable and easy to assemble
• The labels are water-resistant hence will remain firm in unfavorable weather conditions
• Its rubber seal can go around all the wall panels

Disadvantages

• Getting all the pieces together in the installation process can be daunting

10. Palram HG5008 Mythos Hobby Greenhouse

Like the Rion Grande greenhouse above, Palram greenhouses are also made with polycarbonate roof wall panels. The only difference is that it only allows up to 70% light transmission for optimal plant growth. The good thing is that it offers 100% protection from harmful UV rays.

The whole greenhouse can cover a space of up to 132 square meters with an additional 6.8 feet of headroom. This is enough to grow many plants and still give you room to attend to them.  The frames come in two colors – silver and green, which are coated with aluminum.

Other amazing features you must know are the manual roof vents, built-in gutters, and galvanized steel base that guards against rusting and ensure a prolonged service.

One of the main reasons why the greenhouse performs well is because it has an extension of uses and capabilities.

For instance, you get the extra benefit of hard harvesting plants, which reduces their risk of breaking when transplanting. Besides, you have total control over pesticides and fertilizers because of the unbreakable polycarbonate.

Advantages

• Bars are made with rust-resistant aluminum for long service
• The gutters on the side lead water away to avoid dampness inside the structure.

 Disadvantages

• The structure is not strong to withstand mild storms

11. Monticello Greenhouse

Are you looking for a greenhouse with top-notch construction quality, ease of installation, and interior height to support all your climbing plants? Then it’s the Monticello greenhouse that you need.

It’s made in the USA and very affordable. The only con is that you might have to dig deeper into your pockets if you are buying it from another country.

So what makes Monticello greenhouse stand out?

The frame contains 0% lead. Alternatively, it uses high-quality extruded aluminum, which is not toxic. It’s also a very sturdy greenhouse (thanks to the bars), which can withstand winds of 65mph.

The roof has an automatic opener that detects the temperature inside the structure and reacts accordingly. Plus, it has an interior shade system to work hand in hand with the automatic roof opener.

You will get the fabric in two colors; these are black and silver. Gardeners prefer silver as it appears more royal. You can give it a shot too.

Advantages

• A commercial-grade greenhouse for hobby gardeners
• Provide a reliable light diffusion to young plants
• The rain gutter is integrated to ensure a safe flow of water inside the structure
• Has an integrated flush system?

Disadvantages

• Assembling may need extra hands
• You need a contractor to level the ground before you mount the structure. This is an additional cost.

See Related: 10 Best Greenhouse Kits – Buying Guide

12. Spring Gardener Peak Roof Greenhouse

You get the best of both worlds with a spring garden greenhouse. They have a large space to plant numerous plants but are still very affordable.

What’s more? The translucent fabrics are UV protected. You will also appreciate the fact that the ventilation is roll-up doors and windows.

The combination with zippers makes it easy to walk in and out. Not to forget that the valance is decorative, which matches the frame.

Advantages

• Can withstand heavy rains and strong winds
• Mold resistant fabric
• Easy to assemble

Disadvantages

• The covers are thin

13. Educational Insights GreenThumb Classroom Greenhouse

This is another small-scale greenhouse that can fit on your balcony or porch. As the name hints, it’s mainly used in classrooms. It helps plants have the same experience they would have on a farm with planted trees or a huge greenhouse.

Setting it up is not complex. The only tools you will need are the steel frame, wire mesh shelving, and plastic connectors.

No worries if you have tall plants, you can remove the top shelf. The greenhouse is only ideal for potted plants and not seedlings.

The door has a zipper for access. And, you can remove the front covering completely whole for better air circulation. Since it’s covered with transparent material, it gets light from all sides.

Advantages

• Fits in small space
• Very easy to clean
• Sturdy and can support heavy pots

Disadvantages

• The materials are not high quality
• Very small capacity

14. Outsunny Portable Greenhouse

Do you want to stay in the soil all year round? Outsunny greenhouse is here to help you fulfill your dream.

Before you enter into the structure, what will catch your attention first is the simple design and the shape of the rooftop.

You move a little bit closer, and you are treated to the single sliding door. Ideally, the main reason behind this door system is to ease the movement in and out of the structure.

The UV-resistant polycarbonate will keep your plants safe and give you the bounty harvest you deserve. The price tag that comes with it is, however, hefty. But if you compare the features with the price, you won’t feel the pinch of investing in the structure.

Although the greenhouse can be moved from time to time, the strong base is not interfered with. The base supports the entire structure and can withstand winds of up to 12 m/s.

Advantages

• You can plant crops in the soil
• The customer service from the manufacturer is top-notch
• The metals are not burdensome, yet very sturdy

Disadvantages

• You might need an expert during the assembling process
• Does not offer a reliable support system during winter

See Related: How to Grow Sugar Cane Indoors

Conclusion

That was a long guide, wasn’t it? We had to go the extra mile to ensure that you get access to some of the best greenhouses in the market.

Look, you have to understand that all the greenhouses mentioned above are not best for everyone. Some will go for the Outsunny portable greenhouse or Monticello greenhouse, while others pick another brand.  It all depends on the needs and tastes of everyone.

If you were careful, you must have noted that almost all the greenhouses are made with polycarbonate material and steel for the bars.

So you ask yourself? What’s the main difference?

The perfect answer to that question depends on you. The ball is still on your court.

• What’s your budget?
• What is your purpose for purchasing a greenhouse?
• Do you understand what you need?

If you can answer these three questions satisfactorily, you are good to go. This is the secret to picking the best greenhouse to buy.

Related Resources

• 18 Best Greenhouse Accessories
• Hydroponics vs Aquaponics
• Best Greenhouse Plastic Coverings