Greenhouse Buying Guide: The Best Greenhouse for Beginners

Buying your first greenhouse can feel like a lot of choices at once: size, frame, glass, vents, staging and base. This guide takes them one at a time, in plain English, and shows which of the greenhouses we sell suit a first-time grower.

1. Size: go one bigger

Almost every grower says the same thing: the greenhouse filled up faster than they expected. Tomatoes, seedlings and overwintering pots all compete for space by the second year.

• Mini or lean-to: patios and small gardens, seedlings and a few tomatoes against a warm wall.
• 6×4ft: a good first greenhouse, with staging down one side.
• 8×6ft: the popular choice, with staging on one side and a growing border on the other.
• 10×8ft and up: keen growers, overwintering tender plants and room for a chair.

Always plan around the actual dimensions on the product page, not the name. Greenhouse sizes can differ quite a lot from the headline figure. Our size guide explains nominal and actual sizes, and the space to leave around the building.

2. Where to put it

• Light first. Choose the sunniest spot you have, away from the shade of trees, fences and the house.
• Shelter second. An exposed, windy spot puts more strain on the frame and glazing. A hedge or fence a little way off helps.
• Near water. You'll be watering most days in summer, so a tap or water butt nearby saves a lot of trips.
• Level ground. A greenhouse that isn't level and square puts stress on the glazing and makes doors stick.

3. Frame: aluminium, steel or timber

Frame guarantees are the manufacturers' own: 10 years on Elite frames (20 years on Titan-bar models) and 10 years on Vitavia frames. See our Warranty and Guarantees page for full terms.

4. Glass or polycarbonate?

• Horticultural glass: the standard, lower-cost option, with the clearest light. It leaves sharp pieces if broken.
• Toughened glass: stronger, and breaks into small granules rather than shards. The one to choose around children and pets.
• Twin-wall polycarbonate: light, very hard to break and holds heat better, but less clear.

Our glass vs polycarbonate guide compares them in full, with the options on each model.

5. Ventilation: the thing beginners underestimate

On a sunny day a closed greenhouse gets hot very quickly, even in spring. Overheating is one of the most common problems in a first greenhouse. Look for:

• Roof vents to let hot air out at the top. Larger greenhouses need more than one.
• A louvre or side window low down, so cool air can come in as warm air leaves.
• Automatic vent openers, which open the vents as the temperature rises. They're a big help if you're out at work all day.

For example, the Elite Compact package includes a roof vent, a louvre and automatic openers for both. Vitavia models have 1 to 4 roof vents depending on the model and size. Vitavia also sells additional vents as accessories.

6. Staging and shelving

Staging is the bench you work and grow on, and it's where seedlings spend their first weeks. Check whether it's included:

• Elite packages such as the Compact and Streamline include staging and a shelf.
• Coppice Collection greenhouses such as the Ashdown Apex include staging on each side as standard.
• Vitavia staging is sold separately, for example 1-tier, 2-tier and folding staging.

7. The base

Every greenhouse needs a firm, level base. How it's fixed varies:

• Most Elite greenhouses have an integral aluminium base, and Elite base materials are available to anchor and level them.
• Some Vitavia models, such as the Freya and Phoenix, come with an integral base. Others, such as the Venus, pair with the Vitavia Greenhouse Base, sold separately.
• Coppice Collection greenhouses need a level, solid base the same size as the floor, and are installed for you.

See choosing and preparing a base for slabs, concrete and timber options.

8. Putting it up

Elite greenhouses such as the Compact, Streamline and Easygrow are supplied as a self-build kit with free delivery. Vitavia greenhouses are delivered direct to your home by Vitavia. Coppice Collection greenhouses are installed by trained technicians. If you'd rather not build a kit yourself, ask us what's possible in your area before you order.

Good first greenhouses from our range

Browse all greenhouses, or read our Elite and Vitavia buying guides.

Your first season: simple habits that help

• Open up early on sunny days, even in spring, and close up in the evening to hold the warmth.
• Add shading in high summer to stop leaves scorching.
• Collect rainwater with a water butt connected to the gutters.
• Keep it clean. Wash the glazing in autumn to let in as much winter light as possible.
• Use a thermometer to learn how warm your greenhouse really gets.

Common questions

What is the best greenhouse for a beginner?

A greenhouse with an aluminium frame that needs no upkeep, enough roof vents or louvres (ideally with automatic openers), staging included and a firm, level base. Starter packages such as the Elite Compact include staging and automatic vent openers, which makes the first season easier.

What size greenhouse should a beginner buy?

A 6×4ft greenhouse is a good first size, and 8×6ft is the popular all-rounder with staging on one side and a border on the other. If you have the space, go one size bigger, as greenhouses tend to fill up quickly.

Is glass or polycarbonate better for a first greenhouse?

Glass gives the clearest light and stays clear for life. Toughened glass or twin-wall polycarbonate is the safer choice if children or pets use the garden, and polycarbonate holds heat a little better.

Does a greenhouse need a base?

Yes. Every greenhouse needs a firm, level base. Many aluminium greenhouses have an integral base that is anchored and levelled on soil, paving or brickwork, while others need a separate base, so check the product page for your model.

Do I need planning permission for a greenhouse?

Usually not in England, as long as it meets the permitted development rules for outbuildings, including a maximum height of 2.5m within 2m of a boundary. Listed buildings, conservation areas and some other properties are different, so check with your council if unsure.

This guide is general information, not professional or legal advice. Specifications vary by model, so always check the product page, and check planning rules with your council.