Quick Answer

The best greenhouse for a small yard or urban garden is one that fits your space, gets good winter light, and supports a practical layout for everyday use. At BC Greenhouse Builders, we recommend starting with measurements and a quick winter sun check, then choosing a size that keeps the yard usable. To extend the growing season, select glazing that matches your goal, such as twinwall polycarbonate for spring and fall, or more insulating fivewall polycarbonate or Low-E double pane glass for colder weather.

Quick Answer:

What should you know before building a new greenhouse? Start by identifying your space, climate, and goals—whether it’s year-round food production, a plant haven, or a cozy garden retreat. Choose between freestanding or home-attached structures, and consider features like polycarbonate for insulation, drop doors for height, and automatic vents for heat control. From concrete foundations to seating areas and self-watering beds, thoughtful planning ensures your greenhouse meets your specific needs. Whether you're downsizing or adapting to a colder climate, the right design and features will transform your growing space into a functional and relaxing extension of your home.

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Building a New Greenhouse: Best Features and Design Ideas

What is the best feature of your existing greenhouse? And what would you change if you could do it all over again and build a new greenhouse from scratch?

Growing Soil with Hügelkultur

When I moved homes and built a new greenhouse, I was in for quite a surprise. The natural soil on my new lot is sand. Pure, yellow sand. This means it drains really well. It also means it does not hold nutrients to feed my plants.

Quick Answer:

What are the tips for greenhouse gardening in March and April? Early spring greenhouse gardening involves starting fruit cuttings like raspberries over heat mats to encourage rooting, transplanting hardy crops such as peas for early harvests, and directly sowing cold-tolerant seeds like radishes, spinach, and arugula in unheated soil. By managing space, timing crops carefully, and using seasonally appropriate strategies, gardeners can extend their growing season and enjoy fresh produce well before outdoor gardens mature. This approach maximizes greenhouse productivity while creating a rewarding, year-round gardening experience.

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Sunshine on Your Face in the Greenhouse Garden

I close my eyes as I bask in the sun, heat on my face. I take off my jacket and then my hat. My neighbors, friends and family have gone away to Martinique, Belize and Spain but I am experiencing the best holiday. I am sitting in the sun at home – in my Greenhouse Garden.

Quick Answer:

A sensible greenhouse gardening plan involves growing only what you love, measuring and planning seed orders carefully, using the greenhouse for propagation and early starts, managing heat for both cool and warm crops, and scattering quick-growing plants to maximize space and productivity year-round.

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Greenhouse Growing is Planning for the Future

I am eating a lot of Kale and Bok Choi from my cool Greenhouse Garden right now.  The winter-sown spinach is suddenly starting to explode as the days get longer too. There are still a few beets and carrots in the greenhouse and the season of overlapping crops is about to begin.  This is a normal life with a greenhouse growing.

A Testament to the Durability of BC Greenhouse Builders Products

Big thanks to Larry Clarkson for telling us the story of his two used Traditional Greenhouses

Larry won the greenhouse lottery and found two used BC Greenhouse Traditional model greenhouses on, of all places, Craigslist. It's worth saying that we do not sell used greenhouses. After this story broke, our email blew up with requests from customers wanting to buy refurbished greenhouses. 

Quick Answer:

What Are the Best Tips for Soil Amendments & Nutrients in a Greenhouse Garden?
Optimizing greenhouse soil requires building “super soil” by blending quality soil-less mix with compost, biochar, and worm castings, plus adding essential nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and micronutrients through amendments such as seed meals, lime, kelp, and gypsum. Recognizing nutrient deficiency signs—like purple leaves from low phosphorus or brown spots from potassium shortage—helps timely fertilization and soil management, ensuring healthy plant growth and improved crop flavor. Regular soil amendment and fertilization tailored to plant needs foster vibrant, productive greenhouse gardens year-round.

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Importance of Soil Amendments & Nutrients in Greenhouse Gardening

A few years back my greenhouse tomato leaves were purple, yellow and spotted. Not all at once, but over time and on different leaves. It was the second year I was growing in my greenhouse and the commercial potting soil I bought was low on phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium. The leaves on the plants were telling me what was going on. And it didn’t look good.

Quick Answer:

Can You Move a Greenhouse Multiple Times?
Yes, a well-designed greenhouse can be disassembled and relocated multiple times without compromising its durability or plant environment. Charles Russ, a loyal B.C. Greenhouses customer, successfully moved his greenhouse five times over 30 years, praising its sturdy construction, adaptable features, and exceptional customer support. This demonstrates that investing in quality greenhouses ensures long-term flexibility and lasting value for gardeners on the move.

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Read our customer's story about moving his beloved greenhouse five times

Thank you once again, Kyle, for taking the time to look after me yesterday. I did, again, appreciate so much your thoughtfulness in assisting me with my own reconstruction dilemma of a few weeks ago. As with everyone there, you showed such warmth and kindness, and as always, I am away with such a good feeling of support and confidence about my maintenance of my beloved little greenhouse.

Quick Answer:

What do I need to know when preparing a greenhouse foundation? Every greenhouse needs a solid, level foundation—typically wood or concrete—built to exact dimensions for proper fit, stability, drainage, and long-term success. Why is foundation planning essential for greenhouse performance and longevity? A well-prepared foundation supports structural integrity, ensures easy access to utilities, accommodates local conditions like slope or shade, and sets the stage for efficient growing and maintenance.

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Do all greenhouses require foundation?

The simple answer is YES

Over the years we have had hundreds of greenhouse-related questions and many of them are related to foundations.

Quick Answer:

How Do I Grow Arugula in My Greenhouse From Seed to Salad?
Arugula is an easy, hardy winter green that thrives in cool greenhouse conditions, reseeds itself naturally, and requires minimal pest control with simple mesh covers in spring. Growing your own arugula lets you enjoy fresh, flavorful leaves and edible flowers all winter long, perfect for salads or toppings. Understanding its growth cycle helps you maximize harvests and incorporate this nutritious green into your seasonal meals confidently.

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My go-to recipe

My potluck arugula salad is sprinkled with jewel-toned tropical pomegranate seeds. My neighbour Barbara is excited and quickly tells me how much she loves the bitter taste of arugula. So I tell her I grow arugula as a winter crop and now she is all ears.