Small Greenhouses and Mini Greenhouses: Options for Urban Farmers and Backyard Growers

Small greenhouses and mini greenhouses are popular among urban farmers and backyard growers seeking to supplement their food supply amid rising living costs. While the two terms may be used interchangeably, they are not exactly synonymous.

Understanding the differences between small and mini greenhouses can be a useful first step towards making the right investment if you are seeking to have a greenhouse within your urban residence.

Read along to learn everything you need to know about small greenhouses and mini options available for urban farmers and backyard growers.

What Are Small or Mini Greenhouses?

As the name suggests, a small greenhouse is a compact greenhouse structure designed for growing crops within a limited growing capacity. The structure’s limited footprint and capacity serve as the basis for defining it, often a few square meters or backyard-sized units that can fit within a residential compound.

A mini greenhouse is even smaller and often used for growing seedlings, herbs, or short-cycle crops rather than for growing crops at full scale. This capacity, therefore, is the basis for differentiating between a small and a mini greenhouse.

Common Types of Small Greenhouses Used in Kenya

If you want to invest in a small greenhouse, you will want to know what options are there, as different small greenhouses are designed to fit different environments, so you need to choose what best matches your space.  Here is a look at the types of small greenhouses to consider.

1. Compact tunnel-style greenhouses. These are small greenhouses that resemble poly tunnels and are suitable for small plots or backyards.
2. Frame-based backyard greenhouses. These can have metal or wooden frames and plastic covering. They boast more stability in confined spaces.
3. Balcony-sized units. These are small greenhouses with narrow, vertical, or shelf-based designs suited for apartments and townhouses.

What You Need to Know About Mini Greenhouses

We already noted that mini greenhouses are primarily intended for growing seedlings, herbs, and certain vegetables, including spinach, lettuce, and coriander. Mini greenhouses are also popular for starting plants before transplanting them to a more permanent structure.

If you are considering a backyard option, a mini greenhouse may be an option if you want to maintain a small amount of fresh produce close to your kitchen. Otherwise, a backyard greenhouse would be preferable.

Using a mini greenhouse as a more permanent solution for your urban crop production needs can be unideal. A mini greenhouse can experience heat buildup due to the confined space. The limited airflow that characterizes these structures can also form a petri dish for fungi, creating the risk of fungal diseases.

Portable Greenhouses

These are lightweight, portable greenhouses designed to create controlled environments for plants, protecting them from unfavorable weather elements. They are easy to assemble and can be moved or dismantled as necessary, making them a practical urban option.

More importantly, portable greenhouses offer flexibility, which makes them ideal for the inherently space-conscious urban users.

The portable aspect is especially useful for renters or households that may need to relocate or reconfigure their space.

While portable greenhouses bring a high level of convenience to urban growers, they tend to fall short in durability scores. They are also sensitive to wind and other weather elements that can easily damage them.

What You Can and Cannot Grow in Small Greenhouses

Crops such as leafy vegetables, seedlings, and herbs tend to do well in small greenhouses. Therefore, you can use your small greenhouse as an excellent way to save on groceries by planting your own onions, kales, capsicum, and more.

On the other hand, tall plants and long-cycle crops will likely struggle in small greenhouses. This means you may want to set aside a budget for indeterminate tomatoes, melons, large peppers, and fruits rather than try to plant them in your backyard greenhouse.

What to Consider Before Investing in a Small Greenhouse

Whether you are buying or installing a small greenhouse for use in your urban residence, consider that you have sufficient sunlight where you wish to have the small greenhouse. Also, make sure that you have access to water and drainage for your intended greenhouse.

Additionally, think about ongoing maintenance for your greenhouse. Any small greenhouse you choose will require you to replace the covers from time to time, and they will wear out sooner than their more standard cousins.

Final Thoughts

Small greenhouses and mini greenhouses offer solid opportunities for urban growers and backyard farmers to plant crops in a controlled environment and reap better yields. These structures also present an opportunity to contribute to food security.

We hope this article helps you understand what you can do with a small greenhouse or mini greenhouse. With this knowledge, you can transform your backyard by installing the right type of small greenhouse.

Let us know your thoughts in the comments.