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About Our Tomato Greenhouses
Tomatoes are the crop most people buy a greenhouse for, and they reward you for it. Grown under glass they start earlier, escape the late-summer blight that ruins outdoor crops, and carry on cropping well into autumn. We have picked out 19 greenhouses that grow tomatoes well, from £229 up to roomy walk-in models, across mini, lean-to and growhouse styles.
For a heavy crop, match the greenhouse to how you grow. Cordon (single-stem) tomatoes need height, so a tall growhouse or a full-height greenhouse beats a low mini. Bush varieties are happy in something smaller. Whatever the size, a roof vent matters more than floor space: tomatoes set fruit poorly in stale, over-warm air.
Why We Chose This Range
"Tomatoes taught me how much ventilation matters. The first year I fitted my own greenhouse I kept it shut to trap heat, and the flowers dropped without setting. Open the roof vent and a door on warm days and the fruit sets every time. For a small space I rate the Access growhouses, they are tall enough for a cordon to run right up to the ridge against a sunny wall, which is exactly where tomatoes want to be."
— Matt, Founder of Greenhouse Stores💡 Tip: Stand grow bags or pots on the warm side and train cordons up a string to the roof. Pinch out the side shoots weekly and you will fit far more fruit into a small greenhouse than you would expect.
🔧 Matt's Installation Tip: Site it for morning sun
Put a tomato greenhouse where it catches early sun and gets some shelter from the wind. Morning light dries the leaves and cuts disease; a baking, airless suntrap in the afternoon does the opposite. Leave room to open the door fully for cross-flow.
Matt's Pick: Access Half Growhouse
Best For: Growing cordon tomatoes in a small or wall-side space.
Why I Recommend It: It is tall enough to run a cordon to the top, sits neatly against a sunny wall, and the toughened glazing holds warmth for an early, even ripening.
Price: from £355
Which tomato greenhouse suits you?
| Type | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Mini / cold frame | Seedlings, a few bush plants | Too short for tall cordons |
| Growhouse / tall lean-to ⭐ Matt's Pick | Cordon tomatoes in a small footprint | Needs a sunny wall |
| Walk-in greenhouse | A full crop plus other plants | Needs more garden space |
Frequently Asked Questions
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Why grow tomatoes in a greenhouse?
Greenhouse tomatoes ripen earlier and crop longer. The glass traps warmth for an earlier start and keeps the leaves dry, which prevents the blight that often wipes out outdoor plants in a wet summer.
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How tall should a tomato greenhouse be?
Tall enough for a cordon to reach about 6ft. Cordon (single-stem) tomatoes grow upward all season, so headroom matters more than floor area. Bush varieties stay low and suit a mini greenhouse.
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Do tomato greenhouses need ventilation?
Yes, ventilation is essential for fruit to set. A roof vent and an open door keep air moving, which helps pollination and stops the humid, stale heat that makes flowers drop without fruiting.
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How many tomato plants fit in a small greenhouse?
A 6x4 holds about six cordon plants in grow bags. Train them up strings, pinch out side shoots, and you will get a heavy crop from a small footprint. Mini greenhouses suit two or three plants.
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What temperature do greenhouse tomatoes need?
Aim for 18 to 24°C by day. Tomatoes stop setting fruit above about 30°C, so shade and vent in a heatwave. They will not ripen well below 10°C, so wait until late spring to plant out.