A SUMMARY OF WHAT TO CONSIDER

FRAMEWORK - Over time an aluminium frame has the most benefits because you are allowed to get on with enjoying your greenhouse gardening without worrying about maintenance. Why do you think most of the nurseries in your area have aluminium framed glasshouses?  Value for money must be your next aim as the market is flooded with manufacturers of aluminium framed greenhouses, most of them not designed by gardeners or nurserymen but designed to a price. There are two manufacturers I recommend for value for money at two price levels. Remember you only get what you pay for. In my opinion you should seriously consider Robinsons Greenhouses, not only for their good looks but for their high quality and numerous features as standard.

FOR SIZE - I would strongly recommend that you take some time to consider a greenhouse as wide as you can afford. At the Chelsea and Hampton Court flower shows each year I get many 6ft wide greenhouse owners telling me that they now wished they had bought a wider greenhouse, after enjoying a very successful first growing season. Remember that although some manufactures allow you to extend your greenhouse later none of them can increase the width. My advice is buy as wide as you can afford There isn't for instance a great deal in price difference between a 6ft wide greenhouse  x 8ft long and an 8ft wide greenhouse 6ft long and you often get a wider door with the wider greenhouse. Choose a manufacturer that offers extensions so if you get seriously into greenhouse gardening, no matter what width you buy then you can add extra room easily and cheaply later.

FOR VENTILATION - Most manufacturers offer an adequate number of roof vents but side or end ventilation is treated as an extra. It is important for good air flow. to add louver (s) to get  good airflow around your plants to avoid all sorts of growing problems. Remember that when growing dense foliage plants such as tomatoes, you must get air within their leaves to avoid problems such as mildew. I advise you to consider purchasing side ventilation to complete the greenhouse's general airflow system. Automatic openers for roof vents are a must and I recommend those manufactured by Bayliss. See my page Some Important Accessories.

FOR OVERALL FINISH - For aluminium frames the green powder coated option (this finish is similar to the finish of your fridge or washing machine) is well worth considering.  Manufacturers charge extra for this finish and the popular colour is a dark green which blends nicely into most garden environments.  A greenhouse with this colouring means that gone are the days of hiding your shiny aluminium greenhouse. Choose toughened glass or the thick acrylic if you have children or frequent elderly visitors to your home. If you choose a steel framed greenhouse make sure it is galvanised and if your choice is timber make sure it is factory treated cedar.

FOR PRICE - Like many other products we buy, you only get what you pay for!

CHEAP GREENHOUSES are mainly sold by large multiple stores and a number of larger garden centres. These greenhouses are manufactured to a price, normally using thin gauge aluminium or softwood frames and are promoted by price. Sadly they often lack features expected for an efficient working greenhouse and many ignore the fact that we have to stand upright to work in them.  Do you want to be ducking and diving to avoid vent handles or openers etc. in the roof space? The strength of this grade of greenhouse does rely on having the steel or aluminium 125mm (5in) high base which is normally offered as an expensive extra. If you avoid buying the extra base it will make a flimsy greenhouse even flimsier and the height even lower. Also note the profile of the base rail is often designed only to fix to a base. This means that without a base the base rail of the greenhouse will not sit flush onto a concreted area and will need packing to avoid the frame twisting, which if it does will more than likely regularly break glass. Also remember an extra base plinth will create the additional problem having to step over the 125mm (5in) high step created by the base at the doorway.

QUALITY GREENHOUSES normally have quality frames and all the essential features as standard, including good looks. Often the extra you pay for a good quality greenhouse is worth it in the long term. Choose a manufacturer at this end of the market that has its designs tried and tested in their commercial structures for the professional grower. Some of the manufactures or dealers in quality greenhouses offer reduced priced packages including some basic accessories which means you finish up with a complete greenhouse to work in from day one, at a cost saving too.

VALUE FOR MONEY is a much more important thing to look for than automatically considering the cheapest greenhouse which normally in the end cuts so many corners to keep prices down and lacks so many essentials that the only cheap thing about them in the end is their quality. I recommend that for value for money greenhouses you look no further that on my page Selected greenhouses.