Greenhouses and Growing

With a greenhouse you can start sowing earlier in spring, keep tomatoes and peppers warm for longer and give potted plants a frost-free spot in winter. On this page you compare garden greenhouses, growhouses, cold frames and greenhouse accessories side by side, with the key specifications and the current price at the retailer. Boender Outdoor does not sell anything itself: you always order from the retailer, with their delivery and terms.

What will you find in this category?

• Garden greenhouses: freestanding greenhouses and polytunnels in polycarbonate or glass, and lean-to greenhouses that stand against a wall or fence.
• Growhouses and cold frames: small growhouses, raised growhouses, plastic greenhouses, tomato greenhouses, plant overwintering tents, cold frames and propagators with a lid.
• Greenhouse accessories: growing tables and staging, automatic window openers and roof vents, shade netting and greenhouse heating.

Polycarbonate, glass or plastic film?

The cladding largely decides how a greenhouse behaves. Twin-wall polycarbonate is light, does not break easily and insulates better than a single pane of glass. The thicker the sheet, the better the insulation; Klasika, for example, offers polytunnels in 4 mm and 6 mm. Glass lets in the most light and stays clear, but it is heavier and can break. Plastic film is used on light plastic greenhouses, tomato greenhouses and overwintering tents: affordable and quick to put up, but less sturdy and less durable. The Material filter shows the cladding of each greenhouse straight away; if only the frame is listed, the title does not mention the cladding.

Which size suits you?

Start with the spot in your garden and measure it, including the space needed to open the door. With the Floor area, Width and Length filters you compare greenhouses from under 2 m² to over 10 m². A small growhouse or cold frame is enough to give cuttings and seedlings a head start. If you also want to grow tomatoes, cucumbers or peppers, a narrow greenhouse soon feels small: choose a width that fits a bed or growing table on both sides with a path in between. A lean-to greenhouse is handy if space is tight, as the wall forms the back and holds on to warmth.

Base, anchoring and wind

A greenhouse catches a lot of wind. Always place a garden greenhouse on a level, firm surface and anchor it as the manual describes, for example on a base frame, a concrete edge or with ground anchors. Some models come with a base or base frame; the With base frame filter shows which ones according to the title. After a storm, check that the panels are still firmly in place. A light plastic greenhouse or overwintering tent also needs pegs or weights, or a gust of wind can blow it away.

Safety: glass, polycarbonate and children

If children play in the garden, a greenhouse with polycarbonate or safety glass is a calmer choice than one with ordinary horticultural glass, which breaks into sharp shards. Do not place a glass greenhouse next to a play area or football patch, and keep the door closed when you are not around. If you heat the greenhouse in winter, follow the manufacturer's instructions and make sure there is enough ventilation.

Do you need planning permission?

Whether a greenhouse needs a permit depends on where it goes, its size and the rules of your local council or municipality. Small structures in a back garden are often exempt, but not everywhere. Check with your local authority whether your greenhouse is permit-free before you order it, especially for a large greenhouse or one in a front garden.

Ventilation and accessories

On a sunny day, the temperature inside a closed greenhouse rises quickly. An automatic window opener opens the roof vent on its own when it gets warm, without electricity. Shade netting keeps out the strongest summer sun. With a growing table or staging you work at a comfortable height and make use of the space above the floor. See the greenhouse accessories for openers, roof vents, tables and heating.

Compare brands

Have a look at the brand pages of Klasika (polycarbonate polytunnels), Westmann (aluminium greenhouses, raised growhouses and overwintering tents), Royal Well (greenhouses, growing tables and accessories), Talen Tools (the Nature range) and Esschert Design. For every product you see the current price at the retailer, and a price alert tells you when a greenhouse gets cheaper. Working on a vegetable patch too? Take a look at garden tools and planters.