Collection: Rectangular greenhouse

The Standard Greenhouse Shape

A rectangular greenhouse has parallel side walls and a pitched or gable roof. It is the shape most people picture, and it remains the most common for a straightforward reason: everything else in the greenhouse world is designed around it.

Staging comes in straight runs. Shelving is sized for standard bay widths. Raised beds are rectangular. Glazing panels are cut for these frames, and replacement panes are stocked in their sizes. Choosing this shape means every accessory fits without adaptation.

Why the Layout Works

The internal arrangement almost designs itself. Staging along one long side, a bed along the other, and a straight path between. That path can run the full length without turning, which is what makes a barrow usable in the larger sizes.

• Straight walls take standard length staging and shelving without cutting.
• A gable roof sheds water and snow evenly to both sides.
• The shape extends by adding bays, so a house can be lengthened later.

That last point is worth knowing before you buy. Extending a rectangular frame is usually possible; extending a hexagonal or round one is not.

Sizes

Widths start around two metres and run upward, with length varying in bay increments. The size guide sets out what each floor area allows in terms of layout, which is a more useful comparison than frame dimensions on their own.

For a compact garden the small greenhouse range covers frames under five square metres. Above ten square metres, the large greenhouse range covers walk in houses with room for permanent beds.

Siting

A rectangular house is usually set with its long axis running east to west, which puts one long side facing south and gives the most even light through the day. Running it north to south is not wrong, but it produces a shaded flank.

Set it clear of buildings and trees where you can. Check what shades the site across a whole day rather than at the moment you measure.

Base and Fittings

A rectangular base is the easiest to lay square, which matters because a frame assembled out of true will not glaze cleanly. Level, drained and square is the requirement, with an anchor kit fitted during assembly.

If the shape does not suit the ground you have, a corner model or a narrow frame may fit where a rectangle will not.