Gone GREEN Again: Can You Use a Greenhouse in a Texas Summer?

Greenhouse ideas

Every gardener eventually runs into the same challenge—protecting young plants from hungry wildlife and unpredictable weather. After finding evidence that a nighttime visitor had been digging through my containers, I decided it was finally time to invest in a small greenhouse. Looking back, it became one of the best additions to my garden.

Why I Decided to Buy a Greenhouse

My goals were simple:

• Protect seedlings from squirrels and birds.
• Start vegetables earlier in the season.
• Extend my growing season into cooler months.
• Have one place dedicated to starting heirloom vegetables.

Can a Greenhouse Get Too Hot in Texas?

That was one of my biggest concerns. A greenhouse can become much hotter than the outside air during a Texas summer if it's not ventilated properly. Opening doors or windows, using shade cloth, and providing good airflow are important during periods of extreme heat. During the cooler months, however, that extra warmth becomes a real advantage for starting seedlings and extending the growing season.

Wildlife Is Part of Gardening

Over the years I've learned that gardening isn't just about growing vegetables—it's about sharing the space with birds, squirrels, insects, bees, frogs, and lizards. While they sometimes create challenges, many also help create a healthier backyard ecosystem. Finding practical ways to protect young plants without harming wildlife has become one of my gardening goals.

After arriving home from our trip to Hamilton Pool Preserves... 

Hamilton Pool Preserve

We discovered a critter (more than likely a squirrel) had been digging around the garden.

Squirrel damage in container plants.

Holes were dug in pots, and an Impatient was uprooted from the ground.
Between this, and the problem with birds stealing our tomatoes, I went online and purchased a small greenhouse (identical to the one pictured above.) Probably a pipe dream for protecting my vegetables, but I figured it would be less unsightly than having all kinds of netting and everything else draped over my plants.

The only thing is that I'm not sure how to maintain a greenhouse in sweltering central Texas. Today we hit 103 --- Imagine how much hotter it would be inside the greenhouse? Before I turned on my AC today, my house got up to 88. My pool water hit 80. What would a greenhouse maintain?

If anything, I'm hoping to be able to grow vegetables this winter and get an early start next spring...

Looking back, that little greenhouse became the beginning of many future gardening projects. It gave me a place to experiment with heirloom vegetables, seed saving, and season extension—skills that eventually became a big part of my homesteading and preparedness journey.

WANTED Dead or Alive: How to Stop Squirrels from Digging in Your Garden

Greener in Greenhouse: Starting a Year-Round Garden in Texas