Greenhouse growing

People in glass houses... grow amazing plants! Here's what to consider before investing in a greenhouse for your plot

- HOLLY REANEY

First rising to popularity during the Victorian era, a greenhouse is a must for any keen gardener. Offering a wealth of horticultural potential, it provides a setting in which the increased control over sunlight levels, temperature and soil type allows you to significantly extend the growing season, inspite of the British weather.

Even with an unheated greenhouse, you can delay the effects of frost by several weeks, maximising the yield of crops and protecting plants from frost and dampness. A heated greenhouse will help you continue your horticultural efforts throughout the bleakest months, let you cultivate tropical or sub-tropical plants and advance the growing and harvest periods by several weeks. However, a greenhouse is one of the more costly additions to a garden, so it is vital to choose the correct design and right position to ensure success.

STYLES AND STRUCTURES

While there are endless designs, sizes and shapes, there are only three main styles of greenhouses. These are the lean-to greenhouse, an abutting greenhouse and a freestanding design. Each has its own benefits and drawbacks.

A freestanding type is the classic design and stands on its own base - whether that's soil or slabs and can be any shape and size.

Lean-to greenhouses require a pre-existing structure - such as a garden wall, house wall or shed to support it. Highly compact, it can also benefit from the residual heat from the wall, which will bolster the growth of plants inside.

Abutting greenhouses are a mix of lean-to and freestanding designs. Like a freestanding design, it stands on its own, but its fourth side is made up of an existing wall. The style of greenhouse you choose will depend on the space and structures available in your garden.

PERFECT PLACEMENT