UK Greenhouse Statistics 2026: 60+ Figures on Home Greenhouses, Glasshouse Crops and Heating Costs
Greenhouses are in 15% of UK gardens, roughly 3 million overall (HTA, 2024). British glasshouses produced 79,000 tonnes of tomatoes in 2025, 20% fewer than in 2014 (Defra). Around four in five tomatoes eaten here are imported. At full power, a 1 kW heater costs 26p an hour this winter. Ofgem's capped electricity rate is 26.32p per kWh.
Key takeaways
- Ofgem will announce the January to March 2027 price cap on 25 November 2026.
- Growers anticipate another large electricity standing-charge increase in April 2027 (BTGA).
- Around 75% of UK cucumbers, sweet peppers and aubergines come from the Lea Valley.
- Being in nature makes 93% of children aged 8-15 very happy (Natural England).
- The Met Office now puts the expected frequency of summers like 2026 at about 1 year in 9.
Shop the Vitavia 6x6 Green Orion 3800 Greenhouse
Contents
- Top 16 greenhouse statistics
- How many gardens have a greenhouse?
- What does heating cost in 2026?
- How much food is grown under glass?
- How many tomatoes are imported?
- What is happening to growers?
- What can you save growing your own?
- Do children get to grow things?
- How hot was summer 2026?
- What could change in 2027?
- Frequently asked questions
- Methodology and sources
Top 16 greenhouse statistics for 2026
| Topic | Figure | What it measures | Source (date) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home greenhouses | 78% | UK adults with access to a private garden | HTA / YouGov (Nov 2024) |
| Home greenhouses | 20.6 million | Domestic gardens in Great Britain, mapped by AI | RHS (Oct 2025) |
| Home greenhouses | 23% and 28% | UK gardens growing vegetables, and fruit | HTA / YouGov (Nov 2024) |
| Home greenhouses | 33 million+ | UK adults who garden at least once a month | RHS (Oct 2025) |
| Heating costs | 54.83p | Daily electricity standing charge under the cap, Oct to Dec 2026 | Ofgem (Aug 2026) |
| Heating costs | £1,723 | Typical annual dual-fuel bill under the October 2026 cap | Ofgem (Aug 2026) |
| Heating costs | £4.21 | A 2 kW heater running flat out through an 8-hour night | Greenhouse Stores calculation, Ofgem rate |
| Heating costs | +4% | Rise in the typical household energy bill from October 2026 | Ofgem (Aug 2026) |
| Glasshouse food | 866 ha | UK vegetables grown under glass or polythene in 2025 | Defra (Jun 2026) |
| Glasshouse food | £431m | Value of UK vegetables grown under glass in 2025 | Defra (Jun 2026) |
| Glasshouse food | 350 t | Tomatoes grown per hectare of glasshouse in 2025 | Defra (Jun 2026) |
| Glasshouse food | 56% and 14% | Fresh vegetables, and fruit, home-grown in the UK in 2025 | Defra (Jun 2026) |
| Prices and climate | 60-80% | Rise in electricity standing charges for glasshouse growers from April 2026 | BTGA and CPGA (Jan 2026) |
| Prices and climate | +43% | Rise in the average UK tomato price, 2019 to 2024 (£2.14 to £3.06/kg) | ONS (2025) |
| Prices and climate | £55-£92 | Tomatoes a year from six plants in an 8x6 greenhouse | Greenhouse Stores calculation, ONS price |
| Prices and climate | 16.5°C | UK mean temperature in summer 2026, the hottest on record | Met Office (Sep 2026) |
How many UK gardens have a greenhouse?
The HTA lists greenhouses below water butts, composters and vegetable patches, but just above ponds. Adults with a private garden answered questions about its contents. The results therefore count gardens, rather than separate greenhouse structures.
| What UK gardens contain | Share of gardens |
|---|---|
| Flowers and plants | 76% |
| Real grass | 68% |
| Garden furniture | 68% |
| Paving | 56% |
| Trees | 53% |
| Bird table, feeder, bath or box | 44% |
| Water butt | 31% |
| Fruit | 28% |
| Composter | 24% |
| Vegetables | 23% |
| Greenhouse | 15% |
| Pond | 13% |
Source: HTA, Domestic Garden Size and Contents. YouGov, base 3,147 UK adults with a private garden, fieldwork Dec 2023 (published Nov 2024).
| UK gardens: the wider picture | Figure | Source (date) |
|---|---|---|
| UK adults (16+) with access to a private garden | 78% | HTA (Nov 2024) |
| Domestic gardens in the UK | ~20 million | HTA (Nov 2024) |
| Estimated home greenhouses (greenhouse share x UK gardens) | ~3 million | Greenhouse Stores calculation from HTA (Oct 2026) |
| Average garden size (front, back and sides) | 226 m² | HTA (Nov 2024) |
| Domestic gardens in Great Britain, mapped by AI | 20.6 million | RHS State of Gardening (Oct 2025) |
| Average domestic garden, GB | 244 m² | RHS (Oct 2025) |
| Share of domestic garden space that is paved | 42% | RHS (Oct 2025) |
| Adults who garden at least monthly | 33 million+ | RHS (Oct 2025) |
| Gardeners who say gardening improves their mental health | 77% | RHS (Oct 2025) |
The greenhouse figure comes from a survey, rather than an official count. HTA uses survey responses to count UK gardens. RHS maps GB gardens using aerial imagery, so these totals cannot be compared directly.
We recommend our greenhouse buyer's guide as a starting point. It covers sizes, glazing and bases in plain language. For a compact garden, take a look at our small greenhouses.
How much does it cost to heat a greenhouse in 2026?
Your heater's size and the time its thermostat keeps it running determine the cost. The second table shows maximum costs for common heater sizes at this winter's capped rate. Household electricity has no VAT until 31 March 2027.
| Energy price cap, 1 Oct to 31 Dec 2026 | Figure | Source (date) |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity unit rate (Direct Debit, GB average, no VAT) | 26.32p/kWh | Ofgem (26 Aug 2026) |
| Electricity standing charge | 54.83p/day | Ofgem (26 Aug 2026) |
| Gas unit rate (incl. 5% VAT) | 7.97p/kWh | Ofgem (26 Aug 2026) |
| Typical dual-fuel bill, annualised | £1,723 | Ofgem (26 Aug 2026) |
| Change from July to September 2026 | +4% | Ofgem (26 Aug 2026) |
| Electricity unit rate, January to March 2026 | 27.69p/kWh | Ofgem (Nov 2025) |
| Electric heater | Per hour | Per 8-hour night | 30 nights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 120 W tube heater | 3p | 25p | £7.58 |
| 500 W | 13p | £1.05 | £31.58 |
| 1 kW | 26p | £2.11 | £63.17 |
| 1.5 kW | 39p | £3.16 | £94.75 |
| 2 kW | 53p | £4.21 | £126.34 |
| 3 kW | 79p | £6.32 | £189.50 |
Greenhouse Stores calculation using the capped electricity unit rate above. These maximum costs assume the heater runs continuously at full power. A thermostat turns it off when the greenhouse reaches its set temperature, so actual bills are lower.
Shop the Vitavia 8x10 Black Phoenix 8300 Greenhouse
Expert Tip
We recommend insulation before heating; our insulation guide explains how to line the glass. Horticultural bubble wrap slows heat loss, so a smaller heater runs for fewer hours. Choose greenhouse insulation before you set up the heater. For frost protection, set the thermostat just above freezing.
How much food does the UK grow under glass?
Britain grows glasshouse salads on a small area, with high output for the space used. Tomatoes account for the greatest crop weight. Production has dropped over the past decade, while the area under glass has changed little.
| Protected (glasshouse) crops, 2025 | Figure | Change on 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Protected vegetable area | 866 ha | +4.7% |
| Protected vegetable production | 258,000 t | -0.3% |
| Protected vegetable value | £431m | -1.1% |
| Tomato production | 79,000 t | +4.1% |
| Tomato area | 226 ha | +7.2% |
| Tomato yield | 350 t/ha | stable |
| Cucumber production | 51,000 t | -3.8% |
| Cucumber area | 100 ha | -5.7% |
| Cucumber yield | 510 t/ha | slight rise |
| Protected lettuce production | 14,000 t | -8.9% |
| Protected lettuce area | 458 ha | +6.1% |
| Glasshouse fruit value | £52m | +7.8% |
Source: Defra, Horticulture Statistics 2025 (25 Jun 2026).
| Ten-year change | 2014 | Change to 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Tomato production | 99,000 t | -20% |
| Protected vegetable production | 289,000 t | -11% |
| Protected vegetable area | 855 ha | +1% |
| Protected vegetable value (cash terms) | £348m | +24% |
Source: Defra Horticulture Statistics 2014 (30 Jul 2015) and 2025 (25 Jun 2026).
Expressed per square metre of glasshouse, the tomato yield is around 35 kg.
How many of our tomatoes are imported?
For most shoppers, British tomatoes are mainly available in summer. Winter supermarket supplies depend on heated Dutch glasshouses and growers in Morocco and Spain.
| Tomatoes and salad supply | Figure | Source (date) |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh tomatoes eaten in the UK each year | ~500,000 t | BTGA tomato facts, Kantar data (accessed Oct 2026) |
| Tomatoes eaten per person per week | 160 g | BTGA (accessed Oct 2026) |
| Share of tomatoes eaten that are British-grown | ~1 in 5 | BTGA via HortiDaily (Apr 2021) |
| UK 2025 tomato crop as a share of annual consumption | ~16% | Greenhouse Stores calculation from Defra and BTGA |
| British share of supermarket tomatoes in summer | up to 50% | BTGA (accessed Oct 2026) |
| Home production as share of UK tomato supply, 2014 | 19.4% | Defra (Jul 2015) |
| Annual UK spend on tomatoes | £921m | BTGA tomato facts, Kantar data (accessed Oct 2026) |
| Share of UK tomato imports from the Netherlands, Morocco and Spain | 91.4% | Hortoinfo from UN Comtrade (2021 data, May 2022) |
| Share of fresh vegetables supplied by UK growers, 2025 | 56% | Defra (Jun 2026) |
| Same figure in 2023, the lowest since records began in 1988 | 53% | Defra via FarmingUK (Aug 2024) |
| Share of fresh fruit supplied by UK growers, 2025 | 14% | Defra (Jun 2026) |
| Vegetable imports, 2025 | £3.2bn / 2.1m t | Defra (Jun 2026) |
The ~16% calculation is approximate because BTGA's consumption total uses rounded retail panel data.
What Britain's tomatoes really cost. Free to use with a link to this page.
What is happening to British glasshouse growers?
Commercial glasshouses face their greatest pressure from energy costs, as winter crops require heating and lighting. During the 2023 salad shortage, disrupted imports quickly left supermarket shelves empty.
| Glasshouse industry | Figure | Source (date) |
|---|---|---|
| Rise in electricity standing charges for growers from 1 April 2026 | 60-80% | BTGA and CPGA press release (28 Jan 2026) |
| Further rise expected by 2030 | 60% | BTGA and CPGA press release (28 Jan 2026) |
| Extra yearly cost for some glasshouse businesses | up to £1m | BTGA and CPGA press release (28 Jan 2026) |
| Share of UK cucumbers, sweet peppers and aubergines grown in the Lea Valley | ~75% | Lea Valley Growers Association (accessed Oct 2026) |
| Lea Valley glasshouse area today | ~450 acres | LVGA (accessed Oct 2026) |
| Lea Valley glasshouse area at its 1930s peak | 1,300 acres | Lea Valley Food Task Force (May 2018) |
| Purchase limit per shopper on tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers, Feb-Mar 2023 | 2-3 items | ITV News (9 Mar 2023) |
| Fall in Spanish and Moroccan tomato imports, Feb 2023 vs five-year average | -17% | FarmingUK (Aug 2024) |
How much can you save growing tomatoes in a greenhouse?
A cordon tomato plant grown in a greenhouse produces 3-5 kg of fruit per season. Shop prices have risen since 2019. A well-used 8x6 can supply two or three people with tomatoes for a year. Compare sizes in our greenhouse range.
| Greenhouse | Cordon plants (our estimate) | Yield per season | Shop value at the 2024 average price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6x4 | 2 | 6-10 kg | £18-£31 |
| 8x6 | 6 | 18-30 kg | £55-£92 |
| 8x10 | 10 | 30-50 kg | £92-£153 |
| Average UK tomato price | Pence per kg |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 214p |
| 2020 | 214p |
| 2021 | 232p |
| 2022 | 276p |
| 2023 | 313p |
| 2024 | 306p |
| January 2025 (last published month) | 301p |
Source: ONS, RPI average price: tomatoes per kg (CZNJ, last updated Feb 2025).
Matt's Pick for growing your own
Shop the Vitavia 8x6 Black Venus 5000 Greenhouse, Toughened Glass, for £649
Best suited to: Families who want to grow about six cordon tomatoes
Why I suggest it: I recommend it for families who want room for about six cordon tomatoes. The black powder-coated aluminium frame has extra steel bracing in the corners and roof. I value the 3mm full-length toughened safety glass with children around. A single sliding door, built-in aluminium gutters and one opening roof vent are included; automatic openers help during hot spells. It needs a base; Vitavia recommends its steel base to keep the frame square and rigid. The frame and base have a 12-year warranty.
Yield guidance: BBC Gardeners' World (2.75-5 kg per plant, May 2025) and RHS growing guidance. Greenhouse Stores calculation provides the plant counts and values. Annual consumption is about 8.3 kg a year per person (Greenhouse Stores calculation from BTGA).
Our guide explains when to plant tomatoes in a greenhouse.
Do children get to grow things?
Shop the Vitavia 8x6 Apollo 5000 Greenhouse
Most children in England visit a garden each week and say time in nature makes them happy. Fewer have the chance to see how their food grows. Schools are creating growing and wildlife areas. Access to a home garden still varies with household income.
| Children, families and schools | Figure | Source (date) |
|---|---|---|
| Children aged 8-15 who say being in nature makes them very happy | 93% | Natural England (Aug to Oct 2025) |
| Children with a high connection to nature (44% in 2021) | 65% | Natural England (Aug to Oct 2025) |
| Children who spend time in a garden every day or most days outside school | 57% | Natural England (Aug to Oct 2025) |
| Children from households earning under £15,000 with no garden at home (1% over £50,000) | 7% | Natural England (Aug to Oct 2025) |
| Children who garden for wildlife to help the environment | 37% | Natural England (Aug to Oct 2025) |
| Children who have lessons outside (not PE) every day or most days | 35% | Natural England (Aug to Oct 2025) |
| Schools, nurseries and colleges registered with the National Education Nature Park | 7,500 | Natural History Museum (Oct 2025) |
| 14 to 16-year-olds who think tomatoes grow underground | 1 in 10 | British Nutrition Foundation, 5,000+ children aged 5-16 (Jun 2017) |
Natural England's Children's People and Nature Survey covered 3,993 children aged 8-15, with fieldwork August to October 2025. These figures are accredited official statistics for England. The British Nutrition Foundation asked its question in 2017 and has not repeated it in the same form.
How hot was summer 2026?
The UK summer temperature record fell again in 2026, a year after the previous record. Inside a closed greenhouse, temperatures rise far above the outside air. Shading and ventilation mattered as much as heating this year.
| Summer 2026 | Figure |
|---|---|
| UK summer mean temperature (series from 1884) | 16.5°C |
| Previous record (summer 2025) | 16.1°C |
| Highest temperature (Hartpury College, 13 Aug) | 38.2°C |
| Weather stations breaking their all-time maximum | 54 |
| How much more likely climate change made the summer | ~130 times |
| Expected frequency of a summer like 2026 in today's climate | 1 in 9 years |
Source: Met Office (1 Sep 2026, updated 17 Sep 2026).
We recommend greenhouse shading and automatic vent openers to keep temperatures below levels that damage plants.
What could change for greenhouse growers in 2027?
| Date | What happens | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 25 Nov 2026 | Ofgem announces the January to March 2027 price cap | Ofgem |
| 31 Mar 2027 | Temporary removal of VAT from household electricity ends, unless extended | Ofgem |
| Apr 2027 | Growers expect a second standing-charge rise similar to 2026 | BTGA (Jan 2026) |
| Jun 2027 (expected) | Defra publishes Horticulture Statistics 2026, in line with its usual late-June release | Defra |
Conclusion
Average UK tomato prices rose 43% between 2019 and 2024. British glasshouse tomato output fell 20% between 2014 and 2025. For home growers, a 1 kW heater costs 26p an hour at full power. Allow for heating costs when you compare your harvest's shop value.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to heat my greenhouse in winter?
Heating is needed for tender plants or early seed sowings. Hardy salads, herbs and overwintering broad beans can stay in an unheated greenhouse. Pelargoniums and citrus need frost-free conditions; early tomato sowings need extra warmth.
What is the cheapest way to keep a greenhouse frost-free?
Start with insulation, then use a small electric heater with a thermostat. Horticultural bubble wrap reduces heat loss through the glass, so the heater runs for fewer hours. For frost protection, set the thermostat just above freezing instead of a growing temperature.
Why are British tomatoes harder to find in winter?
Winter crops need costly glasshouse heating and lighting. Most British growers focus on the spring to autumn season. Winter supermarket supplies rely on imports from heated Dutch glasshouses, southern Spain and Morocco.
What size greenhouse do I need for tomatoes?
A 6x4 fits two cordon plants; an 8x6 fits about six. Tall tomato plants need ridge height as much as floor space. Allow space for staging if you want to raise seedlings too.
How often is this page updated?
These statistics are updated every October. This includes Defra's June horticulture figures and Ofgem's winter price cap. We also correct figures whenever a source revises them between updates.
Can I use these greenhouse statistics?
You can quote figures or use our graphics with a link. Please credit this page with a source link. The Free to use section below has the infographic's embed code.
Related articles
- How to heat a greenhouse
- Greenhouse too hot? A cooling guide
- Greenhouse glazing options
- Greenhouse tomato problems
- What to grow in an unheated greenhouse
Methodology, sources and how to use these figures
Methodology
The Greenhouse Stores team compiles this page. We used the latest official and trade-body figures available on 28 October 2026. Our calculated figures are labelled "Greenhouse Stores calculation", with the public inputs shown beside them. Survey results are identified as surveys. We will refresh the page every October.
Free to use
You can quote these figures or use our graphics if you include a link to this page.
UK greenhouse statistics 2026 infographic. Free to use with a link to this page.
Embed the infographic
High-resolution downloads (2160 px wide): full infographic / tomato prices and supply.
Sources
Government and official statistics
- Defra, Horticulture statistics 2025 (25 Jun 2026)
- Defra, Horticulture statistics 2014 (30 Jul 2015)
- Ofgem, Changes to energy price cap between 1 October and 31 December 2026 (26 Aug 2026)
- ONS, RPI average price: tomatoes per kg (CZNJ)
- Natural England, The Children's People and Nature Survey for England: 2025 update
- Met Office, Summer 2026 provisionally hottest on record for the UK (1 Sep 2026)
Trade bodies and charities
- HTA, Domestic Garden Size and Contents (Nov 2024)
- RHS, UK State of Gardening 2025 (Oct 2025)
- British Tomato Growers' Association, Growers warn of 1 April energy cost shock (28 Jan 2026) and Tomato facts
- Natural History Museum, Over a quarter of schools in England are transforming their sites for nature (8 Oct 2025); British Nutrition Foundation Healthy Eating Week survey, reported by The Caterer (12 Jun 2017)
- Lea Valley Growers Association, lvga.co.uk; Lea Valley Food Task Force, Closing the Gap (May 2018)
News and reference
- BBC Gardeners' World, How to grow tomatoes (May 2025)
- HortiDaily / Hortoinfo, UK tomato import origins (May 2022)
- HortiDaily, British tomato growers ready to meet increased demand (30 Apr 2021)
- ITV News, Supermarkets lift limits on fresh produce (9 Mar 2023)
- FarmingUK, UK self-sufficiency in fresh vegetables hits record lows (14 Aug 2024)
