If you want the added benefit of growing under glass but don’t necessarily have the space for a full-sized greenhouse, tiny greenhouses offer possibilities within a much smaller footprint.
Glasshouses are designed to be practical protection for plants that fare better when not exposed to the elements. Light is allowed to reach inside whilst wind and rain are kept out. The result is a mild, often warm microclimate that’s perfect for all kinds of potted garden plants, from brand new seedlings to tomato vines.
We’ve collated a list of some of the best mini greenhouses on the market, from table top glass terrariums to 6ft wooden and metal glass houses, available to buy online in the UK.
For more inspiration on growing with greenhouses, discover some of the best Victorian greenhouses for your garden.
The best mini greenhouses to buy in 2024
Outsunny 3-Tier Outdoor Garden Wooden Greenhouse
Key specs
Material: wood with anti-UV PC board
Size: 110cm high, 47 wide
Extras: Hinged roof and latch
Pros: cupboard style, budget-friendly
Cons: polycarbonate panels rather than glass
If you're looking for a budget-friendly alternative to the traditional glass-pane Victorian greenhouse, this fir-wood edition uses anti-UV PC board as a durable protective barrier.
Two slatted shelves offer space for stacking seedlings. A hinged roof can also be left open to give plants an extra boost of sunlight. There's a latch at the bottom to keep the door securely shut which is handy for exposed gardens.
This mini greenhouse is 110cm in height, so it's a super way to show off your plants whilst protecting them. At just 47cm in width, it should be ideal for narrow spaces.
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Forest Garden Mini Greenhouse
Key specs
Material: styrene insulated walls, wood, glass
Size: Height 144 cm width 120cm depth 62cm
Extras: 15 year guarantee
Pros: cupboard style, handles for easy access
Cons: styrene panels rather than glass
The props to hold up the glass roof of this Forest greenhouse are a nice feature, as are the two front doors hinged at the side for easy access. Thanks to styrene-insulated walls, this mini greenhouse offers great plant protection during winter months.
There are also two internal shelves and a space at ground level for storing bags of compost, plant pots or garden tools. A 15-year rot guarantee comes as standard.
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Juliana Vertical Greenhouse
Buy from Two Wests & Elliott (£633.00)
Key specs
Material: aluminium, glass, wood
Size: Height 1420mm width 710mm depth 330mm
Extras: wheels
Pros: stylish design, glass panels, comes with wheels and worktop
Cons: more expensive than other options
Make the most of your space with this ‘vertical greenhouse’ from Juliana. As well as a plant store, it also has a handy cedar worktop and a trellis to support climbers.
As part of this smart, multipurpose greenhouse, you’ll get an aluminium frame, sliding glass doors and wooden shelving and worktop details. Plus, the whole structure is on castor wheels, so you can easily move it around your garden, patio or balcony.
Victorian Grow House - Rectangular
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Key specs
Material: steel, glass
Size: Length 70cm width 41cm height 51cm (H33cm without lid)
Extras: stacking potential, versatile
Pros: vintage-inspired look, toughened glass and steel construction, versatile design, comes in other shapes and colours
Cons: smaller than other options
There can’t be many miniature greenhouses more attractive than this one. With Victorian styling and robust, steel construction, it’s a beautiful yet practical option for anyone limited on space.
The clever design makes this mini greenhouse a versatile product. All the elements simply stack on top of each other, so you can easily remove the lid, sides and handled base tray to access your plants. You can even detach the upper parts to use as a garden cloche in your flower beds.
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Rowlinson Hardwood Mini Greenhouse
Key specs
Material: polycarbonate panels, eucalyptus frames.
Size: Height 144cm width 120cm depth 63cm
Extras: shelves
Pros: cupboard style, two separate lids for ventilation
Cons: polycarbonate panels rather than glass
Twin walled polycarbonate glazed panels form the panes of this two-tier mini greenhouse.
It's recommended that you use a good quality wood treatment on the FCS certified Eucalyptus frames to keep them weatherproof for long periods, but this mini greenhouse is made of sturdy stuff. It should provide well insulated shelter to all your little plants.
The two lifting lids have separate lid stays, so this lovely garden feature offers varying ventilation options. The lids should also make it easy to reach into the top shelf.
Victorian Lean-to Greenhouse by Forest Garden
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Key specs
Material: wood, acrylic
Size: Height 198cm width 147 cm depth 74cm
Extras: 15 year guarantee, watertight
Pros: attractive design, spacious, handles and latch on doors, opening roof vents, collapsible shelf for tall plants
Cons: acrylic glazing rather than glass
This three-tiered wooden mini greenhouse is designed to stand flush against a wall and has a sloping roof to channel rainwater away from its contents, making it a good option if space is at a premium.
Its tongue-and-groove construction is made of pressure-treated wood and designed to be watertight, whilst protected by a 15-year guarantee against rot for good measure.
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Juliana Balcony Greenhouse
Buy from Two Wests & Elliott (£489.00)
Key specs
Material: glass, aluminium
Size: Length 60cm depth 27cm 74cm
Extras: good for balconies
Pros: fixes to railings, glass and aluminium construction, stylish look
Cons: smaller and more expensive than other options
This is the optimal of a space-saving mini greenhouse, designed to hover above the ground and be attached to sturdy railings or barriers.
Indoor and outdoor space can be at a premium, particularly in city settings. So a greenhouse that doesn’t take up any floor space like this Juliana Balcony Greenhouse provides glasshouse protection in an unobtrusive package.
Hampton Mini Greenhouse
Buy from Garden Chic (£479.00)
Key specs
Material: glass, aluminium
Size: Length: 1.0m, height: 1.76m, depth: 0.53m
Extras: comes with fixings, space for drainage
Pros: toughened glass and aluminium construction, spacious, built-in two-tier mist watering system with hose attachment
Cons: internal shelf separates greenhouse into two sections
If you have a wall or fence that could do with some cheering up, the Hampton Mini Greenhouse is designed to stand against them and comes with fixings for attaching it securely.
Its aluminium structure comes with a 25-year framework guarantee and 4mm toughened glass lets the light in whilst keeping wind out. Particularly nice are the rung bars that make up the shelves. The spacing allows excess water to drain. Plus if you have plants that like to hang down, they're allowed to freely do so.
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Mini Wooden Greenhouse
Key specs
Material: wood, aluminium
Size: Height 119.5cm width 69 cm 49 cm
Extras: good for small gardens, easy to assemble
Pros: compact design, removable shelves, budget-friendly
Cons: polycarbonate panels rather than glass
We love this diminutive greenhouse from Homebase, which is a great option if you have a collection of small to medium plants.
Whether you’re keen to harden your seedlings or have simply run out of space for pot plants indoors, this small wooden greenhouse should offer much needed protection.
4ft Aluminium Tomato Grow House
Buy from Garden Chic (£475.00)
Key specs
Material: aluminium, glass
Size: Length 1.83m, height: 1.49m, depth: 1.21m
Extras: 25 year guarantee
Pros: toughened glass and aluminium construction
Cons: no lifting lids, sliding doors could restrict access
An aluminium grow house which comes with a 25-year guarantee; a fair indication that it has been designed to last.
It’s purpose-built for tomato plants and offers unobstructed room for vines to grow upwards without being vulnerable to the elements like wind. There’s no base, which allows for good plant drainage and means it can be sat on the patio or anchored into gravel or soil.
Halls Wall Garden Mini Greenhouse
Buy from ShedStore (£274.99) and Garden Chic (£469.00)
Key specs
Material: aluminium, glass
Size: 4ft x 2ft
Extras: slim frame, roof vent, sliding doors
Pros: glass and aluminium construction, spacious, roof vent
Cons: limited shelving
Another upright option for protecting your plants is this aluminium finish small greenhouse. The slim frames mean plants within get almost unobstructed sunlight without having to withstand wind.
The shelving is optional, which is good if flexibility is something you’re looking for when it comes to a mini greenhouse. There’s also a roof vent for climate control.
Halls 6ft x 2ft Greenhouse
Buy from Garden Chic (£305.00) and Buy Sheds Direct (£309.99)
Key specs
Material: aluminium, glass
Size: 6ft x 2ft
Extras: slim frame, roof vent, sliding doors
Pros: glass and aluminium construction, spacious, roof vent
Cons: limited shelving
The bigger sibling to the 4ft x 2ft Halls greenhouse above and gives you an extra 2ft and another movable set of shelves.
Its charm arguably lies in its simplicity - built for easy assembly and minimal faffing. Horticultural glass conducts heat and allows UV rays to reach your plants so you can count on this mini greenhouse being a slightly warmer environment for keeping your plants in.
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Patio Glasshouse by Hartley Botanic
Order from Hartley Botanic
Key specs
Material: wood, glass
Size: Width 735mm length 1270mm height 1384mm
Extras: slim frame, roof vent, sliding doors
Pros: toughened glass construction, hinged lid, lots of colour options
Cons: price unclear
This quality Patio Glasshouse from Hartley Botanic is an ideal option for balconies, small gardens and patio areas. It's made from BS6206 toughened safety glass and measures 138.4 x 127 x 73.5cm in total.
Hartley Botanic specialise in bespoke glasshouses to suit your design needs, so you can customise this small glasshouse with a choice of stylish colours such as, Ruby Red, Forest Green, and Verona Stone.
Is it worth getting a mini greenhouse?
This depends a little on the type of gardener you are and the size of garden you have. If you're keen on cultivating seedlings, but lack any warm inside space, then a mini greenhouse could be the perfect way of keeping seedlings happy and warm and not covering your house in soil.
If you like to have a long growing season then mini greenhouses can also extend the time you'll have tomatoes and other half hardy plants. Perhaps you have no space for a full blown greenhouse, a mini greenhouse can be perfect for those with limited space. You can usually slot them into corners, against walls and fit them into tight spaces.
If you like to grow plants that don't fair well in harsher conditions, a mini greenhouse can help you make sure they get the best start in life too.
What to grow in a mini greenhouse
There are lots of things you can grow in a mini greenhouse that you might not be able to grow outside. The only restriction is space. Tomatoes are a good option, but really only the smaller plant varieties, and in mini greenhouses that have enough height for plants. Chillies are perfect, and aubergines can be started off in a mini greenhouse too.
Trays. of salad leaves would work well in your mini greenhouse and don't forget that trays of seedlings will love the protection from a mini greenhouse. Here are more suggestions of things to grow in a greenhouse. A heated propagator will also be of help through the winter.
Where to position a mini greenhouse
It's important to get the right spot for your mini greenhouse. Many mini greenhouses are designed to be popped up against the wall, so you'll need somewhere that isn't in the way, and won't be blown down. Many cold frames are happy just popped on the floor. But the main thing to think about with a mini greenhouse is light. Aim to pop your greenhouse in the sunniest part of your garden, anywhere it gets plenty of natural light.
Protection from wind and frost is important when it comes to plants, and though you mini greenhouse will help with that, you'll want to put it in a spot that's least bothered by wind and frost.