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 |  | Small Portable Greenhouse: $30-$100 |  | Walk-in Portable Greenhouse: $100-$600+ |
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A greenhouse can extend the growing season to all year long by controlling the conditions for cultivating and displaying plants. If a permanent greenhouse is too large and/or too expensive, a portable greenhouse (an easy to assemble frame covered with plastic) can be an affordable alternative that can be set up almost anywhere and moved around the garden as needed. Typically a portable greenhouse sits directly on the dirt or has a built-in plastic floor; it either does not have utilities, or water and electricity are provided using a garden hose and extension cord. (For costs for a more permanent structure, see How Much Does an Outdoor Greenhouse Cost.)
Typical costs: | - Many portable greenhouses are similar to modern camping tents with poles that easily snap together to form the greenhouse framework, plus a cover (usually plastic, polyethylene or vinyl) that stretches over the frame. Many have the cover attached to the poles, and are designed to simply pop-up or unfold into place, with tie-downs and/or stakes to secure the greenhouse in a wind. Expect to pay $30-$100 for a low structure that can protect a small patch of plants, and $100-$500 or more for a walk-in pop-up greenhouse, depending on size and materials. For example, the FlowerHouse Planthouse 3 Model FHPH155 is 3'x3' square and 3.5' high, comes with fiber poles, ground stakes and a carrying pack (it weighs 8 pounds), and sells for $45-$70; while the FlowerHouse SpringHouse Model FHSH300 sells for $200-$260 and is 6'x6' square and 6.5' high, weighs 25 pounds, and comes with four portholes for hoses or power cords, fiber poles, a carrying pack, a shade cover, ground stakes and high-wind tie-downs.
- Slightly more permanent portable greenhouses have a metal or fiber frame that is assembled in place (instead of snapped together), then a vinyl or plastic fitted cover is stretched over the frame. These can start at $50-$60 but more often cost $100-$600 or more depending on size, materials (fiber, steel or aluminum frames; quality and thickness of cover material) and features such as zippered and screened doors and vents, or shelves. For example, the ACF Portable Greenhouse[1] covers 85 square feet (10'x11'8" and 7' high), has a steel frame, four screened roof vents, a tote bag and a one-year warranty. It sells for $199-$299. And the FlowerHouse FarmHouse FHFH700 is 9'x8' and 9' high, weighs 43 pounds, has 12 zippered and screened vent windows, two zippered doors and comes with a carrying pack, shade cover, ground stakes and high-wind tie-downs, and sells for $315-$545.
- A covered growing rack designed to be used indoors can function as a portable outdoor greenhouse, especially on a patio, balcony or anywhere space is tight. Growing racks with a zippered cover start around $30-$90 for basic models but can cost $100-$400 or more depending on size, materials, type of covering and options such as grow lights or an automatic watering system. For more details, see How Much Does an Indoor Greenhouse Cost.
Related articles: Cold Frame, Outdoor Greenhouse, Indoor Greenhouse, Handyman, Greenhouse
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What should be included: | - A portable greenhouse kit should included the cover, poles, stakes, written assembly instructions and everything needed to erect, dismantle or store the portable greenhouse. Some models include a carrying case. Typically, any shelving or work areas to be used inside the greenhouse must be purchased separately. More expensive greenhouses may also have vented portholes to run power cords or hoses into the greenhouse, as well as zippered windows or vents.
- Depending on the model, erecting or dismantling a portable greenhouse can take from five to 30 minutes -- although some of the larger, more durable frame-based structures can take longer. A pool company demonstrates[2] putting up and taking down a folding BloomHouse greenhouse; and Organic Living TV shows how to set up[3] a FlowerHouse SpringHouse with snap-together poles and plastic shelving.
Additional costs: | - Most portable greenhouse kits contain just the basic structure. Interior furnishings will depend on the gardener's preferences, but could include basic benches or shelving ($20-$200 in plastic or metal) or an electric heater ($50-$400 or more).
Discounts: | - The North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service explains how to build a backyard greenhouse[4] with a wood frame, PVC pipe and a sheet of 4mil plastic for just the cost of materials.
Shopping for a portable greenhouse: | - A portable greenhouse needs to be appropriate both for the type of plants being grown and for the local climate.
- Portable greenhouses are sold at home improvement centers like Home Depot[5] or Lowe's[6] ; big box discount stores like Target[7] ;and through online retailers like Amazon[8] , ACF Greenhouses[9] and International Greenhouse Company[10] ,
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External Resources: | - www.littlegreenhouse.com/portable.shtml
- www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqBccro__fw
- www.youtube.com/watch?v=da7SboFbCY0
- www.i4at.org/surv/green.htm
- www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Search?keyword=pop+up+greenhouses&lang...
- www.lowes.com/SearchCatalogDisplay?storeId=10151&langId=-1&catalogId=10051&N=0&new...
- www.target.com/s/greenhouse#keywords=greenhouse&searchNodeID=3151061&ref=sr_bx_1_1...
- www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dgarden&field-keywords=portable+...
- www.littlegreenhouse.com/flowerhouse.shtml
- www.greenhousemegastore.com/category/hobby-greenhouses
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