Which greenhouse should you buy for your garden?

What is a greenhouse?

A greenhouse is a garden structure made of glass or plastic, usually transparent, that lets in the sun’s rays. Greenhouses are designed to help your garden grow by providing a controlled environment for seedlings, cuttings, vegetables... Their benefits really add up: they can be used to extend the growing season, save your little green buddies from the elements, or create an ideal microclimate for particular species. They vary in size from small portable structures, such as mini greenhouses and cold frames, to large permanent buildings.

Greenhouses can be heated or unheated and can be equipped with irrigation, ventilation, lighting and humidity control systems to create optimal growing conditions. Some greenhouses also come with added accessories, such as shelves or racks for storage of tools, potted plants and seedlings. There are a range of brands available, including Canopia by Palram, Vitavia and Mercia. And they come in a variety of materials: polycarbonate, glass, wooden or metal-framed... Read on for all the information you need to help you choose the best new home for your plants.

What are the advantages of a greenhouse?

Greenhouses offer many advantages when it comes to helping your garden grow:

• Extending the growing season: in the safety of the greenhouse, plants can continue to thrive in an environment that meets their needs at any time of year, even when the outdoor temperature is too cold for optimal growth.
• Reliable protection against bad weather: greenhouses save plants from being damaged by wind, snow, rain, hail, frost or even extreme heat. All of the above can take their toll on your plants and vegetable garden. For example, if you’re growing tomatoes, the wind will be your worst enemy! But you won’t need to worry about it if you keep them safe in a greenhouse.
• More precise control of growing conditions: greenhouses certainly act as a barrier between plants and the great outdoors but that’s not all they do! You can also control plants’ growing conditions in the greenhouse. For instance, you can manage the temperature, humidity, light and ventilation: all these factors can help maximise plant growth.
• Effective protection against diseases and pests: greenhouses can help to save your plants from garden pests and prevent the spread of disease by creating a physical barrier between the plants and the outdoors.
• Ability to grow exotic plants: greenhouses let you create a warmer environment than outdoors, so they make ideal structures for growing tropical plants.

In short, a greenhouse in your garden is an efficient and convenient way to cultivate a wide variety of plant species, providing optimal growing conditions and helping to maximise production.

What are the disadvantages of a greenhouse?

As we’ve just seen, there are many pros to having a greenhouse in your garden. However, there are also some disadvantages that you may want to bear in mind:

• Price:  Greenhouse prices can vary quite a bit. Of course, a basic greenhouse will cost less than a top-of-the-range product. Size is another factor that can affect the price of your greenhouse. The cost can soon add up if you're looking at a high-end option with lots of accessories. If you're looking to buy one, you should also consider any delivery charges (although free delivery may be available in some cases).
• Careful and regular maintenance: To give your plants the best chance of thriving, your greenhouse needs regular maintenance.  This means controlling humidity, temperature, ventilation, insulation... So be sure to keep an eye on all these factors and make adjustments according to the seasons. In winter, for example, it’s a good idea to clean the greenhouse panes thoroughly to make sure light gets through.
• A limited amount of space: You’ll want to make sure your greenhouse is big enough for the number of plants you are planning to grow. So it’s important to pick the right size of greenhouse to make sure you have enough space, especially if you might add more plants later on. Also think about whether you need storage space for tools or other items.
• Watch out for overheating: it can be a problem if the temperature inside your greenhouse goes above a certain threshold. So be sure to keep the greenhouse properly ventilated in order to prevent overheating, which could leave your flowers and vegetables looking more brown than green! Too high a temperature is also bad news during the growing season. Ideally, the temperature in a greenhouse should not exceed 30 degrees.
• A risk of infestation: A greenhouse can be a double-edged sword if you’re not careful! As we’ve seen, it can limit the amount of parasites and disease that come in from the outside. However, just because your plants are in a greenhouse, it doesn’t necessarily mean they are totally immune to infestation all year round. If you don’t keep an eye on humidity levels and ventilation, diseases such as anthracnose can strike.   

Greenhouses have undeniable advantages but they can be expensive and take some effort to maintain. The Netatmo Smart Home Weather Station is a helpful product to buy as it tells you the exact temperature and humidity level in your greenhouse. You can check the exact measurements taken by the Smart Home Weather Station directly on your smartphone!

How to choose your greenhouse?

What are the different types of greenhouses?

A wide variety of greenhouses are available on the market, in different shapes, made of different materials etc. Each type of greenhouse has its own particularities, so it’s worth reading up on them before you start shopping.

Toughened glass greenhouse

Toughened glass is a type of glass with better heat resistance than normal glass. It’s a durable material that’s easy to clean. So, toughened glass greenhouses are weather resistant and let in sunlight while providing protection from UV rays. On top of that, these garden buildings are popular for their aesthetic, transparency and durability.

Polycarbonate greenhouse

Polycarbonate is an impact resistant plastic material that can also withstand very high and very low temperatures. It also has great insulating properties so it’s ideal for maintaining the desired temperature inside your greenhouse. Price: costs less than a glass greenhouse.

Plastic greenhouse

Plastic greenhouses are lightweight, economical and easy to install. They can be made of polyethylene or PVC. Although they're a good option if you're looking to save money, plastic is less durable than glass or polycarbonate, and is a material that can warp or discolour over time. So bear that in mind if you view appearance as an important factor.

What material should you choose for the frame of your greenhouse?

Wooden greenhouse

Greenhouses with a wooden frame are appreciated for their attractive appearance and good insulation. However, wood requires regular maintenance and can deteriorate over time.

Metal frame greenhouse

Metal frame greenhouses are durable and weather resistant. They can be made of aluminium, galvanised steel or stainless steel. However, aluminium can corrode over time and steel needs to be painted to keep rust at bay.

What other forms of greenhouse are available?

Grow tunnel

Made of metal hoops and a tarp or plastic film, grow tunnels have one considerable advantage: their price. You will save money with this option and their design also makes them very simple to assemble. Nevertheless, they’re less visually appealing than toughened glass greenhouses, for example, and their wind resistance isn’t the best, so watch out for gusts!

Cold frame

Cold frames are a kind of small greenhouse. These lightweight items can fit in almost any green space, whether on a balcony or in a garden. Cold frames and mini greenhouses are a good choice if you are short on space or want to separate one or a few plant species in particular from the rest of your garden.

Finally, each type of greenhouse has its advantages and disadvantages in terms of cost, durability, quality of light, weather resistance, thermal insulation... Your choice will depend on your budget, your needs and the criteria you view as most important.

What is the price of a greenhouse?

Obviously, greenhouses vary in price. It depends on their size (length, width...), range, glass quality, integrated accessories etc.

But here’s a rough idea of what you can expect to pay for the different types of greenhouses:

• Glass greenhouse: generally the price of a glass greenhouse varies between £400 and £4,000. This type of greenhouse is quite expensive because they are aesthetically attractive products and glass is an expensive material.
• Polycarbonate greenhouse: between £130 and £2,600 for a medium size greenhouse.
• Plastic greenhouse: allow between £40 and £400 for a medium size plastic greenhouse.
• Grow tunnel: these can cost between £40 and over £400 depending on the quality of the product.
• Cold frame and mini greenhouse: usually between £35 and £180.

Of course, these prices are only a rough guide and may vary depending on the brand, supplier, region, delivery and installation costs. It’s important to compare prices and choose a greenhouse that meets your needs and budget.

There are many factors to consider when you're looking to buy a greenhouse but fortunately, a wide range of products are available and it’s easy to find the best option by comparing different suppliers’ catalogues. Take your time before choosing: your plants will thank you for finding them the ideal home!