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Given that greenhouses can cost as much as $25,000, only the wealthiest cold-climate gardeners can afford to keep their plants happy year-round. Unless, that is, you build the greenhouse yourself. Thanks to the wealth of information online, we’ve found several cheap greenhouse ideas to stretch your dollar (and the growing season).
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Lumber, PVC pipes, and polyethylene plastic are the building blocks of a basic do-it-yourself hoop house, and if you follow the below YouTuber’s plan, you should be able to construct it for under $200. This simple build has the added benefit of coming together in just one day, though you will need access to a saw.
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A couple of innovative gardeners have devised a way to transform Costco’s 10x20 carport into a sturdy, vented greenhouse that’ll last over a decade (besides the plastic). While the carport alone is $390 new, one Redditor suggests looking for a used model on Craigslist, as some owners part ways after a few years once the canvas starts to rip.
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Those transparent bubble umbrellas aren’t just a fashion statement; they also double as mini greenhouses. There’s no drilling, sawing, or DYing required (some companies even sell umbrellas specifically for gardening), and they’re great for urban gardeners who have limited space. Simply place the umbrellas directly on plants or circular planters.
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If you’re looking for a more involved project and have a collection of power tools, consider building a greenhouse out of recycled materials such as reclaimed windows and wood. While DIYers’ plans vary, most build a wooden frame that they then fill with old windows rather than plastic sheeting. Below, Babbling in My Backyard provides detailed instructions on how to approach a recycled window build, and you’ll find similar tutorials across the internet.
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Before you donate your CD collection, you should know that you can make a miniature greenhouse with 40 or so jewel cases. As you can imagine, it’s going to be pretty small — only large enough for one or two plants — but it’s nearly free to build, assuming you’ve got old CDs lying around.
Gardeners who want to skip the whole DIY process can buy a cheap greenhouse kit from Harbor Freight, Amazon, or Costco, though it’s hard to say how sturdy these structures are. Still, if you need a greenhouse on the cheap and don’t have the time for a full-on build, it’s not a terrible idea.
If you find yourself unsatisfied with the greenhouse projects you find online, then you might have to crack open a book — or a few. Redditors regularly recommend three guides: “The Year-Round Solar Greenhouse,” “Greenhouse Management,” and “The Forest Garden Greenhouse.”
