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You can grow plants and vegetables year-round by making your own greenhouse.

Every home gardener dreams about owning a backyard greenhouse, which provides the perfect environment for starting plants from seed and growing flowers and vegetable plants. A greenhouse also allows you to get a head start on spring planting and to extend the growing season well into the autumn.

The problem is that traditional greenhouses are quite expensive and typically too large for the average backyard. Fortunately there are two do-it-yourself options: buy a ready-to-assemble greenhouse kit or purchase plans and build the greenhouse from scratch. (Note that free downloadable plans are also available from various online sources.)

There are a lot of things to consider before choosing the greenhouse that's right for you. Such as:

Check with your town’s building department to make sure you’re even allowed to build a greenhouse on your property. Greenhouses are typically considered outbuildings, so you’ll have to apply for a building permit. And if you live in a community with a homeowner’s association (HOA), you’ll have to get approval from the HOA, which might be difficult because many housing communities have a strict no-outbuildings covenant.

Since the object of a greenhouse is to provide a warm, sunny spot for your plants, it’s important that it be situated properly in your yard. Optimal greenhouse orientation is facing south or southeast in order to capture the early-morning sun. An east-facing orientation works well in most climates, too.

Try to pick a location that receives at least six hours of uninterrupted sun per day. If you live in a region that receives significant snowfall, be sure the snow-load rating of the greenhouse can support a blanket of snow without collapsing.

Glass is the most traditional glazing material for greenhouses. But glass is heavy, fragile and expensive, so most DIY greenhouses are glazed with polycarbonate, acrylic, fiberglass, or polyethylene sheeting.

Panels of polycarbonate, acrylic and fiberglass are resilient, good insulators and have excellent light transmission, although fiberglass can discolor over time. Polyethylene sheeting is very affordable and easy to install, but it’s not very tough and can be easily punctured and damaged.

A majority of greenhouse frames are made of wood or metal. Wood is less expensive, easier to work with and suitable for small- to medium-size greenhouses. Metal is stronger and more weather resistant than wood, but it’s costlier. Aluminum is a good choice because it’s lightweight, corrosion resistant, and strong.

The floor of a greenhouse can be made of any number of materials, including gravel, wood decking, flagstone, metal grates, poured concrete, or just bare dirt. Keep in mind, however, that a dirt floor is only practical if your yard stays bone-dry, otherwise it’ll become a muddy quagmire.

Concrete is extremely durable, but it’s relatively expensive to pour and it doesn’t drain well. A gravel floor is inexpensive, drains well, and can easily be refurbished by simply adding more gravel.

Being able to regulate the temperature inside the greenhouse is critical because it can get stiflingly hot in summer or bitterly cold in winter. To expel hot air, use operable windows, rooftop vents or exhaust fans. And use shade cloths to block out solar heat gain.

When the weather turns cold, maintain a warm greenhouse by installing an electric heater that’s equipped with a thermostatically controlled fan. In moderate climates, passive solar systems can help chase away the cold. Fill barrels with water or stack concrete blocks inside the greenhouse; they’ll absorb the sun’s energy during the day and then release it as heat at night.

Palram Harmony 6 feet x 8 feet Polycarbonate Greenhouse - This kit has a powder-coated metal frame, polycarbonate glazing, and roof-mounted vent.

Outsunny 20 feet x 10 feet x 7 feet Portable Walk-in Garden Greenhouse - Measuring a spacious 10 feet x 20 feet, this greenhouse kit has a steel frame and transparent plastic cover.

Handy Home Products Phoenix Solar Shed - Part greenhouse, part garden shed, this easy-to-assemble kit measures 8 feet x 10 feet and features an attractive salt-box roof.

Free plans for a compact DIY Greenhouse from Black & Decker.

You can view free plans to build this unique greenhouse, which features 2 x 4 framing and polycarbonate glazing, or pay $5 for an ad-free (and much easier to read) download.