Why a Cheap Greenhouse Might Be Your Best First Step

Starting Small: Why a Cheap Greenhouse Might Be Your Best First Step in Southern Alberta

Gardening in Southern Alberta comes with its own set of challenges—short growing seasons, unpredictable frosts, and the occasional hailstorm that can shred your best-laid plans. But for those looking to extend their growing season and protect their plants, a greenhouse can be a game-changer. 

If you’re new to greenhouse gardening or hesitant to invest big bucks upfront, starting with an affordable, “el cheapo” greenhouse—like the one pictured above—can be a smart move. It’s a low-risk way to dip your toes into the world of controlled growing, learn what works (and what doesn’t), and decide if a bigger, fancier setup is worth it down the road. 

Let’s explore why a budget greenhouse can be a practical, functional choice, and how it can teach you the ropes without breaking the bank.

The Beauty of Starting Small

The greenhouse in the photo is a perfect example of a budget setup: a simple metal frame draped with plastic sheeting, reinforced with some DIY ingenuity. It’s not glamorous, but it gets the job done. The owner of this greenhouse shared that it survived a season in Southern Alberta, even after a hailstorm tore through the plastic. A quick trip to the dollar store for replacement sheeting, some creative patching, and a bit of monitoring kept it functional. The plants inside thrived, proving that you don’t need a high-end structure to see real benefits.

 

Purchasing a cheap greenhouse—think $50 to $150 for a small, portable model—lets you test the waters without a major financial commitment. These setups are widely available at big-box stores, garden centres, or even online marketplaces. They often come as kits with a lightweight frame (metal or plastic) and a polyethylene cover, like the one in the image. While they’re not built to last forever, they’re perfect for learning the ins and outs of greenhouse gardening.

 

Learning Through Trial and Error

A budget greenhouse is like a crash course in what works for your specific climate and gardening style. Southern Alberta’s weather can be brutal—think late frosts in May, scorching summer days, and sudden hailstorms that can turn your garden into confetti. A cheap greenhouse lets you experiment with how to manage these conditions without risking a big investment.

 

For example, the owner of the pictured greenhouse quickly learned that you can’t leave all sides open to the sun. Too much direct sunlight can turn your greenhouse into an oven, cooking your plants faster than you can say “tomato toast.” By monitoring the temperature and improvising—perhaps by adding a tarp to one side for shade, as seen with the blue covering—they kept their plants happy. This kind of hands-on learning is invaluable. You’ll figure out:

 

• How to regulate temperature (ventilation is key—open flaps or doors on hot days, close them at night).
• How to protect against wind and hail (reinforce the frame with stakes or weights, and keep spare plastic on hand for quick repairs).
• What plants thrive in your setup (cool-season crops like lettuce or heat-lovers like tomatoes might need different care).

Mistakes are part of the process, and with a cheap greenhouse, they’re low-stakes. If a hailstorm shreds your cover or a gust of wind bends the frame, you’re out a few bucks and a trip to the dollar store—not a major loss. Each hiccup teaches you something new, preparing you for a sturdier setup if you decide to upgrade later.

 

Economical and Functional: It Doesn’t Have to Be Fancy

The beauty of a budget greenhouse is that it proves you don’t need all the bells and whistles to grow successfully. The one in the photo, with its gravel base, mismatched pots, and DIY reinforcements, still gave its plants a fighting chance against Southern Alberta’s unpredictable weather. It extended the growing season, protected seedlings from late frosts, and gave the gardener a space to nurture their plants—mission accomplished.

 

Here are a few tips to make a cheap greenhouse work for you:

• Choose the Right Spot: Place it on a level surface (gravel, like in the photo, works great for drainage) and in a spot with morning sun but some afternoon shade to avoid overheating.
• Reinforce It: Cheap frames can be flimsy. Secure the base with stakes or heavy objects (like the buckets in the image) to keep it from tipping in the wind.
• Monitor and Adapt: Keep a thermometer inside to track the temperature. If it gets too hot, open flaps or add shade with a tarp or cloth. If it’s too cold at night, close it up tight or add a small heater (even a string of Christmas lights can provide gentle warmth).
• Start Small with Plants: Try easy growers like lettuce, spinach, or herbs to get the hang of it. The owner of this greenhouse had a mix of potted plants, likely including some flowers and veggies, which is a great way to experiment.

Why It’s Worth the Test

A cheap greenhouse isn’t just about saving money—it’s about gaining confidence. It lets you see firsthand how a controlled environment can benefit your garden. In Southern Alberta, where the growing season can be as short as 90-100 days, a greenhouse can add weeks to your harvest, letting you start seeds earlier and keep plants going into fall. It’s also a shield against the elements—hail, wind, and frost are no match for even a basic plastic cover.

 

Plus, the act of gardening itself is a boost for your mind and body, as we’ve talked about before. Tending to your greenhouse, even a simple one, gets you outside, moving, and connected to nature. And when those plants start producing—whether it’s a handful of fresh herbs or a bumper crop of tomatoes—your pantry (and your soul) will thank you.

 

Ready to Grow?

If you’ve been curious about greenhouse gardening but hesitant to dive in, a budget model is the perfect way to start. It’s a low-cost, low-pressure way to learn what works for you and your garden in Southern Alberta’s unique climate. You don’t need a big, fancy setup to make a difference—sometimes a metal frame, some plastic sheeting, and a little creativity are all it takes to grow your own food and flowers. So, why not give it a shot this season? Grab a cheap greenhouse, set it up, and see what you can grow. You might be surprised at how much you learn—and how much you harvest—along the way. What will you plant in your first greenhouse? Let’s hear your plans!