Best greenhouses to keep your plants safe from the frosty weather

12 January 2024 , 10:53

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Merica greenhouse sold by Argos (Image: Merica/Argos)

Winter can be a bit of a miserable time, and even more so if you love your garden. Dreams of those summer mornings when you can sit out with a cup of tea as the sun beams down might feel a long way away, but the nice weather will return before you know it.

In the meantime now is a good opportunity to start planning ahead to ensure your outdoor space will look like your own slice of paradise when the time comes to enjoy it. Many plants can be grown early in the year and be planted in spring, but to ensure they have the best chance of surviving many green fingered gardeners use greenhouses to give them protection while the weather is still cold.

They can also help to protect your existing plants that might be susceptible to chilly weather, and be used to grow your own fruit and vegetables later in the year. They can vary hugely in price, but thankfully there are lots of options out there to suit a wide range of budgets. We've run through some of the options out there to get you started.

Read more: Gardening jobs to do in January and the seeds you should plant early

WOLTU Garden Greenhouse

Woltu greenhouse sold by Amazon

We start with an option that isn't going to break the bank, the WOLTU Garden Greenhouse that's priced at £31.99 on Amazon. It's made of plastic, with steel tubes and is fairly basic but it's a solid option for novices who aren't planning to grow industrial scale levels of plants.

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McGregor Walk In Greenhouse

McGregor greenhouse sold by Argos (Mcgregor/Argos)

Here is another very budget-friendly option from Argos, the McGregor Walk In Greenhouse which is priced at £50. It's clearly not as sturdy as a traditional, more expensive greenhouse but represents value for money.

Argos says: "An easy-to-assemble almost-instant walk-in greenhouse with room for loads of plants, cuttings and seedlings. It does not monopolise space like a traditional greenhouse, as you can move it around your garden or only use it for part of the year."

Buy for £50

McGregor Garden Large Tunnel Greenhouse

McGregor greenhouse sold by Argos (Mcgregor/Argos)

Moving up the price scale we come to the McGregor Garden Large Tunnel Greenhouse which is £115 on Argos. Argos says: "There's some serious space in this easy-assemble, steel framed, walk-in greenhouse. Great for growing large floor-standing plants or perhaps fill it with shelves of salad seed trays and enjoy a green feast come summer. The zip-it-down roll-it-up front opening provides easy access."

One shopper praised its size but said it was "flimsy".

Outsunny 6x8ft Walk-In Polycarbonate Greenhouse

Outsunny greenhouse sold by B&Q (Outsunny/B&Q)

The Outsunny 6x8ft Walk-In Polycarbonate Greenhouse from B&Q which is £325.99. The Outsunny polycarbonate green house is perfect for the home gardening enthusiast. The walk in greenhouse's powder-coated aluminium frame and UV-resistant sheets will keep your plants, vegetables and more safe.

Buy for £325.99

Merica Traditional Wooden Greenhouse

Merica greenhouse sold by Argos (Merica/Argos)

If you're fortunate enough to have a larger budget then this Merica Traditional Wooden Greenhouse would make a stylish addition to any garden, but at £610 on Argos it doesn't come cheap. At 4 x 6ft it offers a decent amount of space, with its wooden structure meaning it's built to last.

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One reviewer said: "From ordering through to delivery no problems informed through out process. Greenhouse went together easy drilled holes screwed together. Very happy with purchase."

Buy for £610

Berkfield Greenhouse with Base Frame

Berkfield greenhouse sold by B&Q (Berkfield/B&Q)

If you have plenty of space in your garden then the Berkfield Greenhouse with Base Frame could be a sound choice. B&Q sells it for £820, so it's far from the cheapest choice out there, but it does cover more than 9m2.

The product description says: "It can accommodate a considerable number of plants, and will be a great solution for protecting your plants from the cold weather. Made of polycarbonate panels, this solid greenhouse is UV resistant and thermally insulated. The greenhouse has a sturdy and maintenance-free aluminium construction with a base frame (made up of 4 strong profiles) for extra stability."

Samuel Jones