• Greenhouses
• Lean To Greenhouses

Getting More From Your Garden With a Lean to Greenhouse

Twenty years of greenhouse growing has taught us plenty about greenhouse gardening. We started with a tiny lean to against my kitchen wall - now I help the neighbours set up their own growing spaces. Just last week, I was showing a customer how her new Mini Greenhouse could fit perfectly against her garden wall. Even a mini lean to to can provide you with plenty of fresh salad leaves, tomatoes and herbs for kitchen through the year.

What Size Works Best?

Size matters less than you might think. My neighbour Pat grows fantastic crops in her lean to greenhouse - it's snug against her kitchen wall and gives her fresh tomatoes weeks before anyone else. If you're working with limited space, a Small 2ft Wide Lean to greenhouse might be just right as it'll fit along a wall, even in a narrow space between your house and a wall or garage.

Year-Round Growing in your Lean-to

Got a bungalow or lower walls? Our low height lean to greenhouses for bungalows and garage walls work beautifully. My sister grows year-round in hers - tomatoes in summer, winter lettuce when the cold sets in. The wall's warmth makes such a difference.

Making Your Space Work

A polycarbonate lean to greenhouse suits our British weather beautifully. Mine's stood for 10 years - just needs a wash now and then. That back wall stores heat all day, keeping my peppers happy well into autumn. Most gardeners do well with a 6x4 size - enough room to grow plenty without taking over the garden.

Tips From Experience

Morning sun works wonders in a lean to. I grow climbing veg up strings at the back, keeping shorter plants near the door. Add some hanging baskets from the roof bars - brilliant for strawberries or trailing tomatoes. A small water butt makes watering easier too.

Common Questions About Lean to Greenhouses

Over the years, these are the things most people ask me about before they buy:

• Can I put my lean to greenhouse against a fence?

  While you can fix a lean to to a sturdy fence, I'd suggest a solid wall instead. Fences can wobble in strong winds and might not hold up greenhouse fixings well. If a fence is your only option, make sure it's rock solid and add extra support posts. I've seen it work well with concrete fence posts, but wooden ones need careful checking for rot.

• What makes lean to greenhouses special?

  The wall gives you free heat storage - brilliant for keeping plants warm overnight. You'll save on space compared to a regular greenhouse, get better protection from winds, and usually spend less on heating. Plus, you've got the house wall handy for growing climbers. My neighbour's lean-to stays about 3 degrees warmer than my freestanding greenhouse.

• Where should I put my lean to greenhouse?

  A south-facing wall gives you the most sun, but east-facing works nicely too - gives good morning light and stops things getting too hot mid-summer. Avoid north walls if you can. Check for gutters or pipes that might cause problems, and make sure you can reach the wall for maintenance. Good air flow helps - I left a metre gap at each end of mine.