A greenhouse — even a small one — dramatically extends what you can grow and when. It allows you to start tender crops weeks earlier, ripen heat-loving crops that struggle outside, and protect plants from frost.
Types of Greenhouse
Glass greenhouse: Best light transmission, most durable, heaviest and most expensive.
Polycarbonate greenhouse: Lighter, easier to assemble, better insulation, slightly less light. A good choice for most home gardeners.
Polytunnel: Much cheaper per square metre. Excellent for vegetable production. Less attractive.
Mini/cold frame: No investment, no planning permission needed. Good for hardening off plants.
What Can You Grow?
Key Challenges
Ventilation: Greenhouses overheat rapidly in summer. Automatic vent openers are a worthwhile investment.
Watering: Under glass, plants need watering more often — and water can't be seen from outside. Check daily in summer.
Pests: Whitefly, red spider mite, and aphids thrive in warm, sheltered conditions. Yellow sticky traps are essential.
Starting Out
Grow tomatoes in year one. They reward the conditions a greenhouse provides better than almost anything else.
