I grow most of the plants on my allotment from seed each year, so for me a mini greenhouse is an essential garden tool. The right one can help to extend your planting season, increase resilience against pests and raise warmth-loving plants. Equally, finding that your greenhouse has toppled over, destroying or damaging your lovingly raised seedlings, is the stuff of gardening nightmares.
While the ideal may be a full-sized greenhouse, a mini or pop-up one is a great alternative if you don’t have the space. They should provide a warm enough space for raising seedlings or potted plants and fit around your existing garden furniture.
Some are “pop-up” tent-like structures with multiple tiers that are easy to put up and take down, while others are wooden-framed, polycarbonate greenhouses. You can even find small glass ones. Prices range from £20 to £300, and I set out to find the best.
The best mini greenhouses: At a glanceHow to choose the best mini greenhouses
To find the best mini greenhouse for you, firstly consider its eventual use. To raise some seedlings in spring, a small, low-cost, pop-up greenhouse such as the Gro-Zone 4 Tier may suffice.
For a more permanent structure, opt instead for a wooden-framed polycarbonate or metal-and-glass greenhouse. Some I’ve encountered, such as the Victorian mini greenhouse from Crocus, are beautiful and would make a lovely addition to any outside space. These are good for year-round growing, as you can raise seedlings in them, or use them for growing warmth-loving varieties such as chilli plants.
Then consider is lifespan. A pop-up greenhouse is typically a short-term solution. I’ve had many of them in my time as a gardener and they rarely last more than a few years before they start showing serious signs of wear and tear. If they are in a particularly windy spot and not properly tethered to the ground, they can last less than 24 hours. While theoretically sturdier metal-and-glass greenhouse should last at least a decade, even these could easily fall victim to storm damage if there are unsecured items in your garden.
How I tested mini greenhouses
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