So you've bought your greenhouse, what now? It's surprising the amount of accessories you'll need now that you have your dream space installed. Here are the accessories you need to consider.
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Benching: this is a great way of making the most of your space. Many manufacturers make benching, often called staging, specific to your chosen greenhouse. Choose between integral or free standing. Ensure that at least one bench is a comfortable height to pot up from.
Primrose is a great place to browse greenhouse staging sets. We've picked out this Lacewing two-tier wooden staging (£69.99) and Lacewing three-tier galvanised steel staging (£104.99).
Ventilation: choose between manual and automatic ventilation. A combination of roof and side vents is ideal. On warm days, ventilation is vital. Without it, plants will struggle to thrive, so if you are away a lot, automatic vents would be a great investment.
Buy Gardening Naturally's Automatic Greenhouse Window Opener from Gardening Naturally (£22.99) and Amazon (£22.99)
Shading: protect your delicate seedlings from scorching sun with shade blinds, or shading can be painted on.
Water storage: wherever there is a roof, there is potential for harvesting water. Consider the guttering and downpipes when looking at greenhouses so water butts can be installed. Having an outside tap or water butt nearby is very handy. Have you considered that you might want a hand-washing sink in the greenhouse?
Buy Garden Trading's Classic Water Butt (£176.00)
Lighting: give yourself the option of using the greenhouse at night by adding lighting. An electrical socket will allow you to use heaters, propagators and a kettle, or charge your phone. Also, if you have no choice but to locate your greenhouse in a shady spot, then you can invest in artificial lighting that will support plant growth. Some companies will offer a lighting plan for your greenhouse.
You could also buy a few portable lamps to carry with you for evening watering sessions. We love these rechargeable lanterns. SQUIRREL_TEXT_13212559.
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Vine wires: these can be fitted into the roof and offer climbing plants a place to climb. These will then provide natural shade.
B&Q's trellising kit (£4.98) could work well for wooden-frame greenhouses, while metal ones will need a different version, like the Halls wire system (£69.99) with fixing brackets. You can also browse a selection of metal wires at B&Q.
Floor grates: an attractive and functional addition. They improve drainage and ventilation.
You can find plain and decorative floor grates in a range of shapes and sizes, but for a standard design, try this galvanised grating. SQUIRREL_TEXT_13212572.
You can also find a range of grates at B&Q.
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The latest cool tech to consider
We asked some of the leading greenhouse suppliers what is new and worth considering when investing in a greenhouse. Nelly Hall, Brand Director at Alitex, has developments to share on a new type of base. “The aluminium Wainscot base rethinks the traditional greenhouse foundation, offering the same strength as a brick base but with faster, builder-free installation and full customisation. It’s a streamlined solution that brings a contemporary look and flexibility to a classic Victorian design.”
Paul Smith, Technical Manager at Griffin Glasshouses, says solar-powered watering systems are worth looking at. “We have used one by Harvst. This is an eco-friendly option.”
Dan Houghton, head of sales at Hartley Botanic says they are launching a low carbon produced glass this year and have introduced their own water butts to maximise water storage.
Tori Tomlin, Director at White Cottage Greenhouses told us: “In response to growing demand for darker paint finishes on greenhouses, we’ve expanded our Signature colour palette to include Anthracite, a deep graphite grey, and Puddling Clay, a softer, warmer grey tone inspired by our work with RHS Bridgewater and the heritage of that site. Our greenhouses will be getting even greener, too. We already use Accoya wood, which is sustainably sourced, boasts a lower carbon footprint than aluminium and actually helps remove Co2 over its life cycle, but sustainability advancements coming in the paint we use, including full Life Cycle Assessment, and technical developments will also enable us to greatly reduce waste.”
Nick Francis, Commerce & Marketing Executive for Rhino says: “An area of focus within the greenhouse world is making growing your own accessible to everyone whether you have a garden or not, and it’s something we’ve been focusing on at Rhino. We’ve recently launched our new Patio Greenhouse designed specifically for patios, balconies and other small areas.”
Before making such a big purchase, there are many things to consider, but get it right and your new ‘outdoor room’ could be with you for life, increase the value of your property and extend the scope of what you can grow. One thing is for sure: you will always wish you had bought a bigger one.
Here's our expert guide to buying a greenhouse
