Collection: Patio greenhouse

Growing on a Paved Surface

A patio greenhouse stands on paving, decking or gravel without needing a soil bed underneath. That single difference is what makes it work where a conventional frame will not: no digging, no bed preparation, and no need for the ground beneath to be anything other than level.

Everything grows in containers, which changes the routine rather than limiting it. Herbs, salad crops, tomatoes and container flowers all crop well, and pots can be moved in and out as the seasons turn.

Close to the House

The practical advantage of a patio position is proximity. A greenhouse a few steps from the kitchen door gets checked daily. One at the end of a long garden gets checked when you remember, and in July that difference decides whether the crop survives.

Watering is the job that suffers most from distance. Containers on a paved surface dry out faster than beds, since there is no reservoir of soil beneath and the paving itself radiates heat.

Anchoring on a Hard Surface

A frame standing on paving cannot be pegged into the ground, which is where most patio installations go wrong. Wind gets under a light frame with no ground fixing and moves it, and on a raised terrace that is a safety matter.

• Expansion bolts through the base frame into the slab give the most secure fixing.
• Ballast trays or weights suit frames that need to stay movable.
• Straps to a wall or rail work where drilling the paving is not an option.

Our anchor kits cover paving and decking as well as soil, and the right one depends on both the surface and the frame.

Heat on a Paved Site

Paving stores heat through the day and releases it in the evening, which is helpful in spring and a problem in midsummer. A patio greenhouse against a south facing wall can run hotter than the same frame on a lawn.

Ventilation matters accordingly. An automatic vent opener handles the daily cycle, and shading takes the peak off in July without you being there.

Choosing a Size

Most patio frames sit under five square metres. The small greenhouse range covers that band, and for a very tight terrace a balcony frame is narrower again.

Measure the clearance for the door to swing before ordering. On a patio that space is usually already occupied by furniture.