Where to site a greenhouse (2024)

FAQs

Where to site a greenhouse? ›

Generally, if you're going to be growing flowers and vegetables, the best place for your greenhouse is on the south or southeast side of your garden. The more south-facing your greenhouse is, the more sun your plants will get, and the more they will grow and yield.

The best position for a greenhouse is in as much sunlight as possible during all seasons of the year. One of our most important greenhouse position tips is to avoid locating your greenhouse in the shadow of tall trees, boundary fences or walls as these will obstruct light.

Site your greenhouse east to west

If you want to grow crops all year round, it's best to line up the ridge of the structure to run east-west, as this will maximise light during the winter. It will also help it to heat up more quickly after cold nights.

Choose a site with good drainage and good sun exposure throughout the day. Position the greenhouse so it will face south and an open sky. This will maximize sun exposure during the cold months. The site should also be level or close to level.

Where to site the Greenhouse on the Allotment. Just as with a garden, you want to place your greenhouse on sheltered level ground, free from shading and avoiding frost pockets. Allotments are sadly often subject to vandalism and nothing seems to delight bored schoolboys more than the sound of breaking glass.

The best spot to place a greenhouse is the sunniest spot. It's important that the structure (and therefore the plants within it) receive at least six hours of winter sun exposure.

Mostly south-facing is the goal, but in cases where that is not possible, a southwest or southeast facing greenhouse is doable. Southeast is preferable to southwest because it will get the morning sun, which helps heat up the greenhouse after it's cooled down overnight.

Generally, the best spot for a greenhouse is on the south or southeast side of the house in a sunny area that gets the most sun from fall through winter (November to February in most places). If this option doesn't exist, the next best location for the greenhouse is the east side.

Greenhouses with a single aisle down the center are typically 8, 10 or 12 feet wide. 10 ft. widths offer the most efficient utilization of bench space because you can put 3 ft. wide benches on both sides and have a 3-4 ft, wide aisle with room for plant to overgrow the benches.

Concrete Pad

By far the most practical and durable foundation for any greenhouse is a solid concrete base. A good option for large greenhouses and can be set above ground level quite easily.

Can a greenhouse get too much sun? ›

Greenhouses, whether of glass or plastic, can overheat in sunny weather. Plants can be protected from excess heat by shading and ventilation.

Direct sunlight can cause internal temperatures to soar to potentially harmful levels. Enter shaded structures, which prevent excessive heat buildup inside a greenhouse. The intensity of sunlight can be reduced with the help of shade cloths, lattices, or trees.

The ideal location would be south or southeast of any existing structures. If that is not an option, the next best location would be east of existing structures to capture the most winter light. It is best to avoid building around trees that will block out too much sunlight.

Where to site a greenhouse. Ideally, greenhouses should be sited where they can receive uninterrupted sun throughout the day. Provide screening or shelter from cold northerly or easterly winds, which can keep temperatures low in spring and slow the growth of seedlings and young plants.

Greenhouses need as much light as possible – shade is not a friend to greenhouse plants. Try to place your greenhouse away from potential sources of shade, including tall buildings. Keep in mind that buildings that are far away might cast shade during the winter when the sun is lower in the sky.

If the sun rises and runs the length of your structure east to west, it will bring optimal natural light, sun, and photosynthesis to your crops— if north to south, however, some crops receive more sunlight than others, which get shaded out.

The north side is the last resort and the least optimal site for a greenhouse. Try to situate the greenhouse lengthwise from north to south rather than east to west. This position provides the structure with more light and less shade.

Generally, if you're going to be growing flowers and vegetables, the best place for your greenhouse is on the south or southeast side of your garden. The more south-facing your greenhouse is, the more sun your plants will get, and the more they will grow and yield.