Compare growhouses and cold frames: tomato greenhouse and propagator

No room or budget for a large greenhouse? A small greenhouse or frame still gives seedlings, cuttings and tomatoes a sheltered spot. On this page you compare growhouses, plastic greenhouses, tomato greenhouses, overwintering tents, cold frames and propagators from brands such as Westmann, Talen Tools (Nature) and Esschert Design.

Which type suits you?

• Growhouse: a small greenhouse, on the ground, on legs or as a raised box with a cover, for seedlings and herbs.
• Plastic and tomato greenhouse: a light frame with plastic film and often a roll-up door, for tomatoes and other tall plants.
• Overwintering tent: a plastic cover to protect potted plants in winter.
• Cold frame and propagator: a low box with a clear lid for sowing early in spring.

Sowing and raising plants

In spring it is often still too cold outside for young plants. Under a cover or lid it stays a few degrees warmer and out of the wind, so seedlings and cuttings can grow steadily. A propagator with a lid and vents is handy for the first weeks; a growhouse or tomato greenhouse then gives room to plants that grow taller. A heated growhouse adds extra warmth, so you can sow early in the year.

What to look for

Look at the size and how easily you can reach in: a raised growhouse is comfortable to work at without bending. A plastic greenhouse is light and therefore sensitive to wind; secure it with pegs or weights, or place it against a sheltered wall. Open the lid or door on warm days so it does not get too hot inside. The Material filter shows whether a greenhouse is made of plastic film, polycarbonate, wood or metal.

Compare prices

For every product you see the current price at the retailer. A price alert on the product page tells you when a growhouse or cold frame gets cheaper. You always order from the retailer. For a larger greenhouse, see the garden greenhouses.