| Even the simplest greenhouse can be expensive and | | | | aluminium and readwood kits are comparable. They |
| ready made ones are seldom just what we want. A | | | | are engineered to high standards. An aluminium frame |
| ready made greenhouse may not fit our plot or may | | | | greenhouse will never look as beautiful as a redwood |
| not provide quite enough space for what we plan to | | | | one but they have the advantage that the frame |
| grow. Constructing your own greenhouse from a kit | | | | needs no maintenance. Once an aluminium |
| may the best option for many gardeners. | | | | greenhouse is built that is all you have to do. from |
| So if you are working to a tight budget or dream of | | | | the the gardener's point of view they are trouble |
| a custom designed greenhouse a kit may be just the | | | | free. |
| thing you need. The level of skill involved is within the | | | | Also good for those with limited budgets is the |
| range of most of us. If you can carry out simple | | | | Juliana range of greenhouse kits. These are made of |
| tasks around the home and follow basic instructions | | | | aluminum frames and have twin wall polycarbonate |
| then you can probably assemble a greenhouse from | | | | glazing. They start as low as $65 making them an |
| a kit. | | | | ideal choice for the price conscious. |
| First of all you must think about what you want from | | | | For those on a really tight budget the Little |
| your greenhouse. How must it look? If you want an | | | | Greenhouse range of kits may be the ideal option. |
| elegant design that is going to look good, then one | | | | These greenhouse kits are covered with four |
| of the redwood greenhouse kits may the thing for | | | | millimeter polyethylene sheeting on a PVC frame. |
| you. Take a look at the Sunshine range. These are | | | | They are less durable than the types of greenhouse |
| made from solid redwood frames with polycarbonate | | | | kits already discussed but they are more economical |
| glazing. | | | | and good for the beginner. |
| This type of greenhouse kit is easy to assemble | | | | If you are not yet sure if you want to make a big |
| because the glazing is built into the frame, so you | | | | investment of time and money then a Little |
| have no cutting to do. Cutting glass is a tricky | | | | Greenhouse kit may be a good starting point. |
| business. Fitting glass into a frame is even more | | | | Perhaps you do not intend to stay long at your |
| difficult and you may have many broken panes | | | | present home and do not want to commit to an |
| before you succeed in getting a good fit. | | | | expensive structure. They are even useful if you |
| Polycarbonate is also safe. This is especially important | | | | already have a more permanent greenhouse but |
| when there are children about. | | | | want that extra bit of space. This kind of |
| Redwood greenhouse kits are good choice. The | | | | greenhouse kit may be the ideal one for all kinds of |
| drawback is their cost. They range from $1000 to | | | | reasons. |
| $4000. | | | | If you need to cover a large area and the |
| If budget is an important consideration for you take | | | | appearance of the structure is not important to you |
| a look at aluminum framed greenhouse kits. These | | | | then you could try a portable greenhouse. These are |
| range in price from $2,500 to £30,000. At the | | | | made of a steel frame covered with plastic sheeting. |
| lower end of the range you may find a design that | | | | You can get these for as little as $300. They look like |
| suits your needs. They are less elegant than the | | | | the commercial polytunnels they are but the hobby |
| redwood greenhouse kits but Cross Country range | | | | gardener can put them to good use. Inside you can |
| are very well designed and will provide years of | | | | create a tropical paradise if you use a double layer of |
| gardening service. | | | | polythene. |
| Priced at $1000 to $2000 there is the Hobby | | | | Polythene is always a cheap option for a greenhouse |
| Gardener range of greenhouse kits. These have | | | | kit. But is does not have the durability of |
| "snaplass" panels made of polycarbonate. They | | | | polycarbonate or the light transmission properties. A |
| provide a good height that makes working in them | | | | polythene cover will need to be changed every year |
| easy and plenty of space for the plants. Their hinged | | | | or so. Polycarbonate will last for years. In addition |
| door and vent system allow the gardener to create | | | | twin walled polycarbonate reduces heating costs |
| an ideal microclimate inside the greenhouse. | | | | because it provides insulation and endures less heat |
| In terms of features such as doors and venting | | | | loss to the outside environment. |