Mini greenhouses open a world of possibilities for gardeners, providing a protected environment for bringing on seeds and cuttings, overwintering tender specimens and extending the growing season.
Greenhouses open a world of possibilities for gardeners, providing a protected environment for bringing on seeds and cuttings, overwintering tender specimens and extending the growing season. Commercial Greenhouse
Yet we might all dream of spending days pottering around in their warm embrace, many of us have to base our choices on the amount of space that’s available.
That’s why mini greenhouses are worth their weight in gold, making the most of the room we have to protect more vulnerable plants from the elements, create the right microclimate to encourage seedlings to grow and cuttings to root, and enjoy earlier or later vegetables and fruit.
These structures can come in a range of shapes and sizes, including glazed boxes that fit onto rails and tall cold frames designed to stand against walls, with the bricks or stones absorbing heat during the day and releasing it at night to maintain a warmer environment.
In addition, several leading greenhouse manufacturers produce compact versions of their larger structures for those without the room to accommodate anything too big.
Frames can be made from wood or aluminium, often finished in a variety of colours, and the glazing can be toughened safety glass, polycarbonate or plastic sheets. When making a choice, weigh up factors such as attractiveness and durability and consider things like light transmission, along with the potential for breakages from stray balls, the possibility that some types of plastic may go milky with age and weigh up the overall strength of the structure in the face of storms or snow.
Other factors to bear in mind include shelving and staging, with some companies offering it as standard or an optional extra. Adjustable or folding shelving offers extra flexibility.
Ventilation is an important factor in terms of creating the right growing environment, while automatic watering and misting can also be a positive addition.
A south-facing position is the best spot for a mini greenhouse as it will benefit from plenty of natural sunlight during the day. Make sure it’s in a spot that’s protected from cold winds and well away from large trees that might drop debris on it. Consider putting up blinds if there’s a risk of plants being scorched by bright sunlight.
Whether you’re looking for a mini greenhouse for a balcony, patio or courtyard, the Juliana Urban City Greenhouse is a great option. It’s big enough to accommodate tomatoes or pots of salads or herbs, and its four sturdy wheels allow it to be relocated to the sunniest spots. It can even move to a new home when the time comes. This greenhouse measures 158cm (just over 5ft) high by 80cm (2ft 6in) wide, is glazed with 4mm toughened glass and has a black frame. It can accommodate four removable shelves if required. Juliana greenhouses are made by a Danish company established in 1963 and come with a 12-year guarantee, subject to conditions. Self-assembly required.
* Can be attached to rails or a wall
Whether it’s mounted on rails or attached to a wall, the Juliana Balcony Greenhouse makes excellent use of available space. It measures 60cm (24in) high and 27cm (11in) and provides enough room for chilli peppers or small citrus plants, with the option of a smaller shelf for smaller pots such as herbs.
This balcony greenhouse is glazed with 4mm toughened glass and has a black frame. Juliana greenhouses are made by a Danish company established in 1963 and come with a 12-year guarantee, subject to conditions. Self-assembly required.
This small but useful greenhouse has a number of great features, including high eaves and large roof vents to create a range of climates. It’s made from aluminium, with optional green and black finishes, and fitted with long pane toughened safety glass or opaque twin wall polycarbonate glazing and wide gutters for easy cleaning. A base is included and the doors feature the Zero Threshold ™ ‘no trip’ feature. The smallest model in the range measures 1.2m by 1.2m (4ft by 4ft). Cresting, auto-vent openers and Zero Threshold shading can be added as optional extras. Customers can choose between self-assembly or having their greenhouses put up by specialists.
The attractive free-standing Upright Coldframe from Gabriel Ash is 140cm (4ft 7in) tall, which means there’s enough room for tomatoes, and 130cm (4ft 2in wide). There are two shelves that can be placed at various heights and which, like the frame, are made from Western Red Cedar. This coldframe can be placed against a wall or a hedge. There’s a hinged lid for ventilation. Gabriel Ash coldframes come with a 12-year structural guarantee, subject to conditions, and they arrive boxed for self-assembly. All Gabriel Ash products are made to order and can take up to six weeks to be made.
* Available in powder coated green or anodised aluminium
The Ida 900 from Vitavia is designed for use on balconies or patios or in walled gardens. It comes with 3mm glass or toughened glass and has a roof vent, a high ridge for easy access and a single smooth action sliding door. The smallest Ida 900 has a 1.2m (4ft) by 60cm (2ft) base and is 1.84m (6ft) tall. It is available in a powder-coated green or anodised aluminium finish. A pre-fabricated steel base and shelf set are available as optional extras.
* Made from FSC-certified pressure-treated timber
This space-saving mini greenhouse opens from the top and the front, allowing easy access and plenty of ventilation. It has two internal shelves and enough room at the bottom for a grow bag.
This structure is designed to stand against a wall. It has attractive robust tongue and groove cladding and a smooth planed finish. It is made from FSC-certified pressure-treated timber with Styrene acrylic glazing. It measures 144cm (4ft 7in) tall and is 120cm (3ft 9in) wide and 61cm (2ft) deep.
This mini greenhouse comes with a 15-year anti-rot guarantee, subject to conditions.
* Full length automatic roof vents
* Eaves height of 1.5m (5ft 6in)
The range of glasshouses from Cultivar start in size at just over 2m (6ft 8in) by 236cm (7ft 9in) and 1.5m (5ft 6in) tall. This light and airy modern range has wider panes of glass and benefits from full length automatic roof vents, which creates a chimney effect drawing heat away from the plants. Choose from ‘glass-to-ground’ or more traditional ‘boarded’ designs. These greenhouses are available with staging and shelving that can be folded down when it’s not being used. Coldframes are an optional extra. Cultivar makes its greenhouses from a combination of FSC-certified Accoya wood and powder-coated aluminium, or purely aluminium.
* Five shelves for seed trays.
For a protective environment capable of holding several plans within a restricted space, the Westminster Classic Small Mini Greenhouse is a useful piece of equipment. Designed to stand against a wall or fence, this aluminium structure is 172cm (5ft 6in) tall and 1m (3ft 3in) wide and has five shelves for holding seed trays. It is fitted with 4mm toughened safety glass with sliding doors. Wall and ground fixings are included and the framework is guaranteed for 25 years. A half-sized version is also available.
* Made from Western Red Cedar
Tall upright coldframes, also known as patio greenhouses, from Woodpecker Joinery combine the good looks and endurance of Western Red Cedar with the greenhouse-making know-how for which this Staffordshire-based Royal Warrant holder is renowned. They are fitted with 4mm toughened safety glass, aluminium hinges and handles, roof lids with opening stays, 15mm thick cedar panelled backs and adjustable height shelving. The tall upright coldframes come in various sizes, starting from 2.1m (7ft) tall by 1.8m (6ft) wide and 90cm (3ft) deep and are guaranteed for three years.
Standing at 82cm (2ft 8in) tall and 121cm (4ft) wide, this Half Wall Frame is ideal for bringing on seedlings in spring and overwintering plants. This lean-to structure is fitted with 3mm toughened safety glass and has two adjustable seed tray shelves and sliding doors and roof panels for access and ventilation. It will stand on any firm surface and doesn’t need a base. The framework is guaranteed for 25 years and can be coated in a variety of colours. Optional extras include automatic louvre vents, mist watering, shading and shelf covers for smaller pots. Other products in the range include a six foot half wall frame and freestanding four foot half grow house.
* Sits on patios or balconies
Compact enough to sit on a small patio or even a balcony, this 80cm (2ft 8in) long and 93cm (3ft 1in) high herb house from Access has an aluminium frame and there’s a choice of three coatings: plain, Cotswold green or anthracite. It is fitted with 4mm toughened safety glass, has sliding doors and roof panels and uses convection ventilation to draw cooler air through the slatted base and send warm air through the louvres at the top. This system starts operating when the air inside the herb house is warmed by the sun. There’s an adjustable seed tray shelf and the options of mist watering, a winter plate to cover the slats to prevent draughts, shading and wide shelf covers for smaller pots. The framework is covered by a 25-year guarantee.
* Built to withstand storms * Available in 15 colours Renowned glasshouse manufacturer Hartley Botanic has drawn on its 80-plus years of experience to create a patio greenhouse that makes the most of available space. It has sliding doors, a hinged lid that can be lifted to aid ventilation, and multiple shelving options. Made from aluminium and fitted with 4mm toughened safety glass, there is a choice of 15 colours, including the limited edition ruby red launched to celebrate Hartley’s 80th anniversary. The patio greenhouse is 138cm (4ft 7in) tall, 127cm (4ft 2in) long and 73.5cm (2ft 5in) wide. It carries a 10-year guarantee, conditions apply.
Hartley’s cottage glasshouse is a customer favourite, with its almost parabolic shape not changing since the mid 20th century, although plenty of modern science has been used in its construction. Key features include 4mm toughened safety glass and the use of thermal plastic rubber to encase each pane. The free-standing model comes in a range of sizes, starting with a length of 229cm (7ft 6in) width of 203cm (6ft 8in) and height of 225cm (7ft 5in), and there’s a lean to version too. Choose from 15 colours.
The smallest freestanding greenhouse in the range from the family-run Griffin company covers a 2.1m (6ft 8in) by 1.6m (5ft 2in) space, is made from durable aluminium and fitted with 4mm toughened safety glass. Choose from a range of hues, with a colour-matching service available for a surcharge. Automatic ventilation is fitted as standard. The Victorian era is reflected in the use of finials, and cast aluminium cresting on the ridge and shelving are optional extras. Each greenhouse is made to measure by the Hampshire-based company. Customers can use local builders or Griffin’s team to undertake foundation and brick works. Each greenhouse has a 25-year structural guarantee.
Building A Shade House This compact greenhouse measures 1.8m (6ft) by 1.2m (4ft) and has a box section base plinth to give it durability and stability. The ridge stands at 2.15m (7ft 7in). The strong aluminium frame is designed to withstand storms and can be finished in a range of colours and it is fitted with grade A 4mm toughened safety glass held in place with rubber glazing beads that make each pane integral to the strength of the overall structure. These greenhouses have automatic roof and louvre side vents, hanging basket rails and a no-trip door threshold with a ramp and there are options to add staging and shelves. Rhino greenhouses are made in East Harling, Norfolk, and have a 25-year guarantee.