A greenhouse from Growhut is one Marilyn dreams about.

A greenhouse from Growhut is one Marilyn dreams about.

Spring in the mountains makes most gardeners wish they had a greenhouse to putter in while they wait for the weather to warm up outside. This was so true for all of the crummy days in April. I have a small run-down greenhouse — nothing fancy, but I swear it saved me from tearing my hair out when the skies remained gray and the snow just kept falling.

Lots of folks here have built or put up some sort of greenhouse on their properties. These greenhouses vary widely in their simplicity or fanciness and size.

They might be made out of salvaged glass windows cobbled together, or they could be “kit” greenhouses purchased and put together on weekends by do-it-yourselfers.

One of my gardening buddies has a large fiberglass structure that allowed her to seed large pots of lettuce and arugula inside it on March 27 this year. Oh! The super fresh salads she can enjoy by June.

I also know a couple of people who have built greenhouses to exclusively grow tomatoes. After all, in a mountain climate what could be better than a perfectly vine-ripened tomato or a BLT with a “real” juicy tomato instead of a hard tasteless grocery store one?

My little greenhouse is made out of polycarbonate sheets. Although traditionally greenhouses have been constructed out of glass panels (glass is really prettier), this synthetic material is so much sturdier. Polycarbonate will easily withstand high-elevation snow loads. It is basically unbreakable. Twin-walled polycarbonate is also more insulating in a cold climate. A good choice for Jackson Holers.

I recently drove over the pass to look at some prebuilt greenhouses being sold under the name Growhuts. How often I have driven past this business located right along the road at the outskirts of Victor, Idaho, and thought “if only.” These wood-framed polycarbonate structures will extend the all-too-short growing season here on either end. I think one would be ideal on my property. After all, I am still waiting for the last of the snow to melt where I live. I must say, that’s kind of depressing for a gardener in May.

Now if I can only talk my sweet hubby Mike into sharing my need for a Growhut.

These buildings are not cheap, but I am sure they would be well worth the cost.

Speaking of weather, did anyone know that the first Saturday in May of every year is the official World Naked Gardening Day? Yep, it really is an official “thing.” I can’t imagine wanting to be unclothed to work in my garden that early in the year in Jackson. A gardener would truly need a greenhouse to participate in a naked gardening day in May. Preferably a heated one to avoid hypothermia.

Gardening guru Marilyn Quinn shares her botanical expertise every other week in the spring and weekly in the summer. Contact her at columnists@jhnewsandguide.com.

Your comment has been submitted.

There was a problem reporting this.

Please note: Online comments may also run in our print publications. Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language. Please turn off your CAPS LOCK. No personal attacks. Discuss issues & opinions rather than denigrating someone with an opposing view. No political attacks. Refrain from using negative slang when identifying political parties. Be truthful. Don’t knowingly lie about anyone or anything. Be proactive. Use the “Report” link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Share with us. We’d love to hear eyewitness accounts or history behind an article. Use your real name: Anonymous commenting is not allowed. . The News&Guide welcomes comments from our paid subscribers. Tell us what you think. Thanks for engaging in the conversation!

Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to read or post comments.

Sorry, no promotional deals were found matching that code.

Promotional Rates were found for your code.

Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos.

Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device.

Sign up to receive local, breaking news alerts as they become available.

Sign up to receive a weekly e-newsletter with a selection of healthcare and wellness news from the Jackson Hole News&Guide. 

Sign up to receive a weekly e-newsletter with a selection of private, public and continuing education news from the Jackson Hole News&Guide. 

Sign up to receive a monthly e-newsletter with a selection of photography and video from the Jackson Hole News&Guide.

Sign up to receive a weekly e-newsletter with a selection of town and county government news from the Jackson Hole News&Guide. 

Sign up to receive a weekly e-newsletter with a selection of arts and entertainment headlines from the Scene section of Jackson Hole News&Guide. 

Sign up to receive a weekly e-newsletter with a selection of economic and business news from the Jackson Hole News&Guide. 

Sign up to receive a weekly e-newsletter with a selection of environmental news from the Jackson Hole News&Guide. 

Sign up to receive a weekly e-newsletter with a spotlight on Jackson Hole's crime, justice and emergency news from the Jackson Hole News&Guide. 

Sign up to receive a daily e-newsletter with a selection of local, state and regional news headlines from the Jackson Hole Daily. 

Sign up to receive a weekly e-newsletter with a selection of inspiring stories about the faces and places of Jackson Hole from the Jackson Hole News&Guide. 

Sign up to receive a weekly e-newsletter with a selection of outdoors, sports and recreation news from the Jackson Hole News&Guide. 

Sign up to receive a weekly e-newsletter with a selection of trending local news headlines from the Jackson Hole News&Guide.

Sign up to receive a weekly e-newsletter with a selection of news headlines from the Jackson Hole News&Guide. 

Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in.

Check your email for details.

Invalid password or account does not exist

Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password.

An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the e-mail address listed on your account.

Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in.

A receipt was sent to your email.