Collection: Greenhouses 5-10 m²

Greenhouses Between 5 and 10 m2

A greenhouse between five and ten square metres is the most common size in British gardens, and for good reason. It is large enough to hold staging along one side and a bed along the other with a clear path between, and small enough to fit most gardens without dominating them.

For most growers this is the size at which a greenhouse stops being an accessory and starts changing what the garden produces. There is room for a full season of tomatoes, cucumbers and salad crops without the plants crowding each other, and enough floor left to work comfortably.

If you are still deciding, the size guide sets the bands against each other, and the small greenhouse range covers everything below five square metres.

How the Space Divides

The standard layout puts staging down one long side and a growing bed down the other. Seedlings and pots sit at working height near the glass, while tall crops go into the ground where their roots have depth. The path between needs about sixty centimetres to be usable with a watering can in each hand.

• Staging on the sunnier side keeps seedlings closest to the light.
• A ground bed on the shadier side suits crops that dislike scorching.
• Shelving above the staging adds capacity without taking floor space.

Our staging and shelving is sized for standard house widths, so a run can be planned before assembly rather than adapted afterwards.

Materials and Glazing

Glazing choice affects light, insulation and safety, and there is no single right answer. Horticultural glass transmits the most light, which matters through a British winter. Toughened glass costs more and breaks into blunt fragments rather than shards. Twin wall polycarbonate insulates better and diffuses light, so plants near the glass are less likely to scorch, and it does not shatter at all.

Frames are usually aluminium, which will not rot or rust and needs no annual treatment. The material guide sets out the differences in more detail, and replacement glazing is available for every standard pane size if a panel is broken later.

Heat and Airflow

A house of this size heats quickly in spring, which is what makes it efficient for early sowing. The same responsiveness means it also overheats quickly on a bright day in June. One roof vent is rarely enough on its own.

An automatic opener solves this without power or attention. A wax cylinder expands as the air warms and pushes the vent open, then closes it as the house cools. Our automatic window openers fit most standard frames. For the colder end of the year, a thermostatic model from the greenhouse heater range will hold a minimum through frost.

Getting the Base Right

The base carries the frame and keeps it square. Paving slabs, a concrete perimeter or a proprietary base frame all work, provided the ground beneath is level and drained. A frame assembled on an uneven base will not glaze cleanly, and the doors will bind.

Anchoring is separate from the base and equally necessary. Our anchor kits suit soil, gravel, paving and concrete.