Thinking About Getting a Greenhouse for Your Backyard?

The winter season can be a challenging time for those of us with a green thumb. Greenhouses are basically little plant retreats that can keep our gardening spirits alive throughout the coldest months of the year.

We've all seen (and probably coveted) the now-internet-famous Costco greenhouse selling for "just" $1,499.99. That price tag might be worth it for some of you with shorter growing seasons, considering how useful greenhouses can be. The warm conditions inside a well-maintained greenhouse are perfect for hardening off seedlings in the spring, curing tubers and bulbs for long-term storage before winter, rooting cuttings, nurturing exotic and tropical plants that wouldn't survive cold winters in your climate, and extending your growing seasons for frost-tolerant plants.

With those many uses in mind, here's a roundup of our favorite greenhouses to inspire you this winter.

This Greenhouse Has a Heater

Even when the world outside is a winter wonderland, a greenhouse can greet you with a burst of life and color (mostly green) when you step inside. The sight of thriving plants in the depths of winter is a testament to the power of controlled environments.

Greenhouses are typically heated to keep them operational year round. (If you're interested in learning techniques to grow in unheated greenhouses, check out The Winter Harvest Handbook by Eliot Coleman.) Heating options for your greenhouse include gas, electric, and solar, with gas typically being the least expensive option.

This greenhouse is heated by a Modine Hot Dawg Heater, which is made for greenhouses, garages, and workshops. It uses gas, so you would need gas piping and electrical wiring to run it.

This Greenhouse Is a Cozy Retreat

Greenhouses are not only a sanctuary for plants. They're for people too. During the winter, when outdoor activities are typically limited, your greenhouse could become a therapeutic retreat—a place to cozy up with a good book and feel the warm sun on your face.

If you miss gardening, you could still spend time amongst your plants in the greenhouse. Tending to their needs and observing their growth can have a calming and rejuvenating effect on your soul. We all need opportunities to connect with nature, even when the weather outside is frightful. (The grow lights in my basement will have to do for now until I can get my dream greenhouse.)

This greenhouse, built by Mary van der Kruik, or "Meg", of This Mess Is Ours and her husband, features an inviting daybed amidst tropical plants and ferns.

I always talk about how important it is for the kitchen garden to feel like a part of your home, but I think this greenhouse could actually become my favorite room in the house. Can't you just picture hanging out with family or entertaining guests here?

Meg and her family put in the elbow grease themselves to make this gorgeous greenhouse happen. You can learn more about their build and see pictures of their kitchen garden on Instagram @thismessisours.

This Greenhouse Provides Year-Round Harvests

One of the most practical and rewarding aspects of having a greenhouse is the ability to keep the harvests coming over the winter. You can grow a variety of vegetables and herbs throughout the winter months inside your greenhouse. The easiest plants to cultivate, of course, are those that prefer cooler temps anyways. Think: carrots, spinach, kale, and cabbage. With careful planning, some gardeners even manage to harvest homegrown tomatoes in February—talk about gardening inspiration!

The ability to control the environment inside your greenhouse really allows you to dream big without the limitations normally imposed by the weather.

This gorgeous little greenhouse was featured in House & Home.

This Greenhouse Is Also a Living Classroom

Greenhouses offer valuable educational opportunities, for children and adults alike. During the winter months, when outdoor exploration may be limited (and parents might feel like they're at their wit's end), your greenhouse could be your living classroom. A place where kids can get hands-on learning experiences about things like plant life cycles, ecosystems, and the importance of conservation.

You can pretend you're Professor Sprout giving a lesson on botany in your very own herbology class. Just like the garden, the greenhouse can be a nurturing environment where you spend quality family time learning and doing together... without screens.

This Greenhouse Has a Sturdy Foundation

Having some kind of foundation for your greenhouse is a must, since some of these structures can weigh 1,400 pounds or more. Some people prop their greenhouses up on concrete blocks or pour concrete foundations.

Beyond the base, it's also a good idea to create a pathway to your greenhouse to provide easy access to your plants. This also helps to set the greenhouse apart from the landscape the same way you might with a kitchen garden.

This greenhouse is from Peaches to Pearls.

This Greenhouse Was Made with Old Windows

Greenhouses can be a showcase for more sustainable garden practices, especially when they're made from recycled materials.

This family featured here in Better Homes and Gardens used 22 antique windows found on Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist to construct their gorgeous little greenhouse. The project cost them just $500 in supplies and furnishings total. That's pretty impressive considering greenhouse kits can run anywhere from $1,400 to $9,000, depending on the size and panel type.

This Cold Frame, or Mini Greenhouse, Extends the Growing Season into Winter

Cold frames, AKA mini greenhouses, are a great way extend your growing season in a cold climate if you're not ready or able to commit to a larger greenhouse structure.

Cold frames are five-sided structures that sit on top of your raised garden beds during the colder months of the year to protect your plants from snow, sleet, and ice. The angled roof allows snow and rain to slide off instead of collecting on top. And if you face the angled roof toward the South, you can capture heat from the sun during the day so that your plants stay nice and cozy inside.

Using a cold frame allows you to extend your growing season in the fall and winter for frost-tolerant and frost-resistant plants. It won't allow you to grow tomatoes or basil when it's 19°F outside. Even the hardiest of plants will die back or go dormant for the winter once you reach below-freezing temps around the clock. Even so, cold frames are a great investment to help you garden later into the fall and earlier in the spring.

You can find done-for-you cold frames online or follow these steps to build your own cold frame.

Time to Install a Greenhouse for Your Plants

Greenhouses are so much more than mere structures; they are sources of inspiration, growth, and tranquility, especially during the winter season. As the world outside hibernates beneath a blanket of snow, the greenhouse comes to life with vibrant greenery and endless possibilities.

So as the winter chill sets in, we can all at least dream about creating our own little thriving oasis of greenery and life in our backyards.

Thanks for being here and making gardening ordinary again, even in the middle of winter!