Best Portable Greenhouses For Winter

Are you looking to grow plants in the winter? If you’re a green-thumbed enthusiast, you’ll know that sometimes, the weather is NOT your best friend.

If you’re growing plants in the winter season, you’ll have high winds, frosts, and freezing temperatures to contend with. Unfortunately, our plants aren’t always built to withstand these conditions, and without the right care, those beautiful blooms can wither in an instant. 

Thankfully, it doesn’t have to be this way. If you’re ready to say goodbye to root rot, mildew, and dying blooms, why not invest in a greenhouse?

If you’re not sure where to start, we’ve compiled this list of the best portable greenhouses for the winter, so you can watch your plants thrive and eliminate the risk of the elements working against you. 

Ready to learn more? Keep reading to discover the best portable greenhouses for winter.

Best Portable Greenhouse For Winter

Quictent Greenhouse Screen Door

First up, we have the Quictent Greenhouse Screen Door. This very simple greenhouse screen door comes with two panels and a lock for privacy and security. It’s made of PVC, so it won’t rot or mildew. 

We bought this greenhouse as an experiment to see how it would perform in our backyard. We had been looking into buying a greenhouse for some time before deciding to buy this one. We were not disappointed!

It has worked great for us. We have planted tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, eggplant, basil, kale, lettuce, strawberries, and herbs.

We also plan to grow flowers next season. We love the fact that it is made of plastic and does not require any wiring. It was easy to assemble and put together. We did have to drill holes in the bottom of the greenhouse to attach the legs, though.

Its vertical shelves and hanging hooks gave us more room to hang our garden equipment and display plants, but its transparent PVC cover was the real winner.

This is 100% waterproof and offers UV protection and unparalleled solar performance, keeping the inside of our greenhouse warmer and extending growing seasons. 

Because this greenhouse is portable, it’s easy to move inside or out during winter, and its materials keep it well protected from the elements. 

What’s more, this greenhouse even comes with 50 T-type plant tags to help record your plant’s growth cycle, and each shelf has a maximum weight capacity of 17lbs! 

We found this gave us plenty of space to grow and peace of mind that our plants would be displayed securely. Although this greenhouse is easy to assemble and relatively spacious, we did find the zipper quality to be poor.

In high winds and heavy rain, there is a risk that these zippers could break and leave your plants susceptible to damage. 

Despite this, overall, we are happy with our purchase and highly recommend it.

PROS

• Durable PVC Cover – Protects your plants from damage, whatever the weather. 
• Generous Shelf Weight Capacity – This means that despite the portable size of this greenhouse, you’ll still have plenty of room to display your plants. 
• UV Protection/Solar Performance – This greenhouse is always warm inside, even when it’s cold. This makes it the perfect greenhouse to grow in during the winter. 

CONS

• Poor Zipper Quality – Unfortunately, we felt that the zippers on this greenhouse were made of weak material. This could make them more susceptible to damage during the winter months. 

SV SCOOL VALUE Portable Greenhouse

Now, let’s take a look at the SV SCOOL VALUE Portable Greenhouse. 

This greenhouse boasts two windows with a roll-up zipper to provide better ventilation, and you’ll have a very generous eight shelves to display your plants on. Despite being another small, portable greenhouse, the SV SCOOL VALUE model is robust and durable. 

Made from rust-resistant steel pipes and an eco-friendly material that protects against temperature damage, odor, acid and alkali corrosion, and more, this greenhouse will make a worthwhile addition to almost any garden space. 

We also found that its durable steel frame and 16-clip shelf fixers fared well against heavy rain and high winds, so you won’t have to worry about the dreaded winter weather damaging your plants. 

We purchased this greenhouse as an addition to our existing garden area. We wanted to add some extra space for our vegetables and herbs. We were pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to assemble.

The instructions were clear and concise. Once assembled, it took us about 20 minutes to put it together. We had no trouble getting it into place. 

The greenhouse has been in use for months now and has done a great job of keeping our veggies and herbs protected from the elements. We love having fresh produce throughout the entire winter months.

 We would recommend this greenhouse to anyone looking to expand their vegetable gardens.

During testing, the only downfall we found was with the seams of the material. Unfortunately, these appear weak.

If dogs or cats have access to your greenhouse, or you’re about to face a particularly windy spell, we recommend securing this greenhouse with extra stakes and ropes to prevent damage.

PROS

• Quick Assembly – This greenhouse was quick to assemble and didn’t require any assistance from an experienced DIYer.
• Weather-Resistant Cover – The greenhouse cover is made from an eco-friendly, weather-resistant material that fared well during testing and will provide great protection during the winter months. 
• Rust-Resistant Steel Frame – Its steel frame is durable and rust-resistant, so your greenhouse won’t weaken, even with prolonged exposure to challenging climates. 

CONS

• Weak Seams – The seams of the greenhouse cover are quite weak, and they may need to be secured with extra stakes or rope during high winds. 

Worth Garden 5 Tier Mini Greenhouse

Next, let us walk you through the Worth Garden 5 Tier Mini Greenhouse. 

This greenhouse may be small, but it definitely doesn’t compromise on quality. This durable, rust-resistant greenhouse comes with a weather-proof PVC cover for maximum protection, and it holds up well against the rain, wind, and even snow.

The polyethylene roof and walls are so secure, there’s minimal chance of leaving your plants exposed to harsh conditions in the winter. Your seedlings will still benefit from ventilated shelves too, so they can grow optimally, whatever the weather.

Its zippered roll also provides easy access and maximizes ventilation and air circulation when you need it. 

We purchased this greenhouse for our backyard. It was easy to assemble and looks great. We were able to get it set up in less than 2 hours, and although it has been raining since we got it installed, it has not leaked yet.

It also keeps the mosquitoes and other bugs away from our plants. Although It does take some time to build, it is worth it.

The only issue we had with this greenhouse was its size. It’s called a mini greenhouse for a reason, so, unfortunately, it is hard to store larger plants here. Although this particular model is five-tier, there are no larger options manufactured by Worth. 

PROS

• Polyethylene Design – The polyethylene roof and walls of this greenhouse offer excellent protection from the elements. There’s minimal risk of your plants being exposed to harsh weather during the winter. 
• Zippered Roll – The zippered roll offers easy access and can increase ventilation and air circulation when you need it. 

CONS

• Tricky Assembly – Unfortunately, this greenhouse took a little longer to build than our other competitors. You may need some assistance to build this. 
• Compact Size – Although this greenhouse is supposed to be mini, we found it a bit too small. There are also no larger models manufactured by Worth, so this five-tier model is the largest you can buy. 

Quictent Portable Cloche Mini Greenhouse

Now, let’s take a look at the Quictent Portable Cloche Mini Greenhouse. 

This compact greenhouse has a heavy-duty powder-coated steel frame that is waterproof, rust-resistant, and reinforced. What more could you want for the winter? 

Its cover extension design is robust and stable, and we found it held up well against high winds and rain. With ropes to cover and fasten the frame, this greenhouse can be buried in the ground and tightened.

This not only protects against weather damage, but it has the potential to increase germination rates, too. 

This mini greenhouse arrived quickly and was packaged securely. The instructions were clear and simple to follow, and, all things considered, it was very easy to set up. 

Unfortunately, there’s been a lot of rain here recently, which has made it difficult to get out and tend to our plants. With the help of this greenhouse, our plants survived the rain, and we are pleased with the results. I would recommend this product to anyone interested in growing their own herbs.

The only issue we found with this greenhouse was the strength of the seams. These don’t appear as strong as the rest of the greenhouse cover, and we feel they may need to be secured more to protect them against high winds. 

PROS

• Powder-Coated Steel Frame – This is rust and weather-resistant, which means it’ll keep your greenhouse secure during harsh weather.
• Simple Set-Up – This makes this greenhouse a great choice for beginners and more experienced gardeners alike. 

CONS

• Weak Seams – Unfortunately, we felt that the seams on this greenhouse were weak. Although they can initially resist weather damage, they may break with prolonged exposure to high winds.  

Palram Hybrid Hobby Greenhouse

Last but not least, let’s take a look at the Palram Hybrid Hobby Greenhouse. 

The Palram Hybrid Hobby Greenhouse is marketed as ‘virtually unbreakable’. During testing, we felt this could well be true.

Its twin-wall polycarbonate roof panels have the power to prevent up to 99% of UV rays from damaging your plants, and they also diffuse sunlight to reduce the risk of plant burn.

Remember: even in the winter months, the sunlight can still wreak havoc with your plant growth! 

Its rust-resistant aluminum frame is extendable, hardy, and can withstand winds of up to 56mph. Paired with its galvanized steel and polycarbonate base, this is one of the most robust greenhouses we’ve reviewed. 

We purchased this greenhouse because no other models seemed sturdy enough for certain applications and yard locations we had in mind. The Palram was recommended by someone we know, and it has proven to be just what we needed. 

We have had no problems with it whatsoever; it does not leak, and it is extremely strong. We would recommend this model to anyone looking for a reliable greenhouse for the winter months in places with particularly harsh climates and extreme weather. 

The only downfall with this greenhouse is that assembly can be tricky. Although the instructions are clear to follow, and it doesn’t take all that long to assemble, this greenhouse must be built on a completely flat base. Bear this in mind before you start setting it up. 

PROS

• Extendable Aluminum Frame – This is strong, stable, and gives you more freedom during the building process. 
• Polycarbonate Roof Panels – The polycarbonate roof panels provide excellent protection against sunlight and other elements. 
• Rust-Resistant – Rust-resistant properties keep your greenhouse secure and easy to maintain during the winter months. 

CONS

• Tricky Assembly – Although the instructions are easy to follow, this greenhouse must be built on a completely flat base to ensure everything fits together.  

BUYER’S GUIDE

If you’re planning on growing vegetables or flowers in the winter months, then you should consider purchasing a greenhouse.

There are many different types available, so it will help if you know exactly what you want out of yours. Here we have listed some of the best options available today.

Palram Hybrid Hobby Greenhouses

These are probably the best known of all the greenhouses available. They are very popular because they are relatively cheap, yet offer great quality.

These come in two sizes – the small version is suitable for smaller gardens, while the large version is ideal for larger ones. Both versions come with a number of accessories such as vents, shelves, lights, etc.

Sunburst Greenhouses

Sunburst Greenhouses are another popular option. They are made from aluminum and come in both single and double glazed varieties. Their roofs are made from toughened glass which makes them extra durable.

This means that they won’t need replacing as often as other greenhouses.

Polytunnels

Polytunnels are similar to greenhouses in that they allow you to grow crops outside throughout the year.

However, they differ in that they don’t have any windows. Instead, they have doors that open upwards, allowing light into the structure. This means that you can grow crops without having to worry about frost damage.

Gazebo Greenhouses

Gazebos are perfect for those who live in areas where winters are cold. They are usually used indoors, although there are some outdoor gazebos too. They are usually quite expensive due to their high cost of production.

But, if you do decide to buy one, make sure that it is designed specifically for use outdoors.

DIY Greenhouses

DIY greenhouses are inexpensive, but they aren’t always the most practical option. If you’re planning on using your greenhouse every day, then you may find that it isn’t worth spending money on something like this.

On the other hand, if you plan on setting up your greenhouse once a year, then these will work perfectly well.

Wooden Greenhouses

Wooden greenhouses are a bit more traditional than plastic and metal greenhouses. They are much cheaper than others though, meaning that you’ll save a lot of money over time. You might even get lucky and find a wooden greenhouse for free!

Portable Greenhouses

Portable greenhouses are perfect for people who travel a lot. They fold away easily when traveling, making storage simple.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What Kind Of Roof Should I Choose?

The best choice depends on how much sunlight your garden gets. If you live in a place where it gets lots of sun, then you should definitely opt for a greenhouse with a flat roof. Flat roofs let in an optimal amount of light in this scenario.

If you live somewhere where it gets less sun, then you should consider choosing a greenhouse with a pitched roof. Pitched roofs reflect the sun’s rays back onto the plants.

How Long Does It Take To Build My Own Greenhouse?

Depending on the size of the greenhouse, it could take anywhere between 1 week and 6 months to complete.

Is It Possible To Build A Greenhouse Out Of Wood?

Yes – you can build a small greenhouse out of wood or even a large one. Wood is very easy to work with, so it’s a great material to start with.

Can I Install Solar Panels On Top Of My Greenhouse?

A: Solar panels on greenhouses seem like a good idea at first, as it would help to make them carbon-neutral structures, but there’s a slight problem with this theory… solar panels are opaque.

This means that they’d block the sun that all your little plant children need so very much to thrive. There has been some talk of certain companies trying to develop transparent panels, but this is still something of a pipe dream. Here’s hoping for the future, though!