Greenhouses

Vegetables are ideally suited to be grown and cultivated within a greenhouse. Though vegetables will likely be able to reach their maximum growing potential in a large, heated greenhouse, a small and unheated structure can still allow gardeners to extend the growing season beyond what it would be in the often vicious outdoors.

The types of vegetables which are to be grown in your greenhouse will ultimately dictate what time of year is best to begin the growing process.

You can grow just about anything you desire within the toasty walls of a greenhouse. The clearest benefit of a greenhouse is that it enables you to grow vegetables, flowers, herbs and so on, at a time of year and during periods of cold weather, when they couldn’t otherwise be grown outdoors.

Simply being able to regulate and maintain a warm temperature opens up numerous growing possibilities which would otherwise not be an option in large swathes of the world. For example, the notoriously spicy Carolina Reaper chili pepper will rapidly decline when exposed to temperatures below 16 Celsius.

Though, it is important to bear in mind that the cost of warm-weather crops during the winter will naturally be higher. So, be sure to consider these additional costs before deciding on what you intend to grow in your greenhouse.

This is largely dependent on what type of greenhouse you have/intend to purchase. The polycarbonate glazing on our greenhouses allows them to last for an extended period of time, thanks to being stronger and more durable than glass.

A greenhouse which is well looked after and not exposed to exceptionally horrendous weather conditions all year round can be expected to last for a number of years.

Assuming your greenhouse is of a high quality - such as the ones sold here at Garden Buildings Direct - then you’ll be able to use it effectively for the vast majority of the calendar year, with the only anomaly being in periods of exceptionally cold weather. Heated greenhouses negate this, allowing for year-round use, but often aren’t cost effective.

There are numerous additional means of heating a greenhouse during particularly frosty periods of the year.

• Bubble Wrap - Horticultural bubble wrap can withstand UV light, so can provide warmth to plants whilst minimising light loss. Simply peg this down as necessary around your plants. Horticultural fleeces will also work in the same way.
• Greenhouse Heating System - Electric heating is your safest option in this regard, with another choice being a fan heater. If your greenhouse isn’t equipped with mains power, then propane and paraffin heaters represent suitable options.

Garden Buildings Direct offers greenhouses in two distinct materials - metal and wood - with each being equipped with polycarbonate glazing.

Metal designs are a cheaper option, with far less maintenance required and can be easily coated in a range of colours to best suit your garden aesthetic. Meanwhile, wooden greenhouses offer a more conventional and attractive look which is better suited to matching the majority of gardens. They’re generally more expensive but can maintain a constant temperature more effectively.

Honestly, if this is a question you’re even contemplating in the first place then the answer is almost certainly yes!

Greenhouses are relatively inexpensive yet provide an environment where plants, fruit and vegetables alike can be successfully grown all year round, irrespective of temperature and weather conditions.