by ANDREA TOMKINS

Looking to extend your gardening time beyond the seasons? A greenhouse could be the answer. Gardeners can benefit from a greenhouse for plenty of reasons, says Alvaro Barrenechea, greenhouse buyer for Costco.

“Greenhouse gardeners can get a jump-start on the season, extend it on the other end or even grow plants that are outside their plant hardiness zone,” says Barrenechea. Greenhouses can also protect plants from being overrun by weeds and from critters and pests that normally haunt hedges and shrubs..

Additionally, a greenhouse shields plants from inclement weather, keeping wind, sleet, snow and heavy rain from destroying young seedlings and other fragile plants.

And there are styles and models for every type of gardener, explains Barrenechea. Here’s a look.

“This is a great entry-level greenhouse,” says Barrenechea. At 6 feet by 8 feet—the smallest greenhouse available at Costco this season—its compact footprint can fit beautifully into a suburban backyard. The aluminum and polycarbonate structure includes a heavy-duty shelf, an automatic vent opener and 10 plant hangers.

Stepping up a notch is the Yardistry Cedar Greenhouse (Item 1902493), the newest addition at Costco. Barrenechea admires Yardistry’s attention to detail and craftsmanship, such as 32-inch-high tongue-and-groove-style cedar base walls. Six-foot-tall side walls maximize interior space and increase light and air volume to aid plant growth