Collection: Half greenhouse

What a Half Greenhouse Is

A half greenhouse is a frame cut lengthwise so the flat side sits against a wall or fence. It occupies roughly half the ground area of a freestanding house of the same width, while keeping full standing height at the front where you work.

The format suits gardens where a boundary limits how far a structure can project: a side passage, a courtyard, or a plot where the only free ground runs along a fence. It also suits sites where planning or site rules restrict a full depth building.

How It Differs From a Lean To

The two are often confused. A lean to greenhouse has a single sloping roof running down from the wall, so the wall carries part of the structure and stores heat that radiates back overnight.

A half greenhouse keeps its own ridge and a full roof profile, standing against the wall rather than depending on it. It gains less warmth from the masonry but does not need a wall in sound enough condition to fix into, which makes it usable against a fence.

Working in Half the Depth

Everything happens along one side, so reach matters more than circulation. Anything deeper than about sixty centimetres from the front will be awkward to get to, which shapes how you fit the space out.

• Tiered shelving uses height instead of depth and keeps everything within arm's length.
• A single run of staging at working height suits potting and propagation.
• Tall crops go at the back where the roof is highest and the wall gives support.

Our staging and shelving suit narrow runs, though it is worth measuring the internal depth before ordering rather than assuming a standard unit will fit.

Siting

A south or west facing wall gives the longest hours of direct light. A north facing one will work for shade tolerant crops and propagation but will not suit fruiting plants.

Check what the wall does with rainwater before siting. A frame placed under an unguttered eaves line takes the whole roof discharge down its glazing every time it rains.

Related Formats

If the constraint is width rather than depth, a narrow greenhouse may suit better. For a corner where two boundaries meet, a corner model uses the angle. And where the footprint is very small, the small greenhouse range covers frames under five square metres.