UK’s best mini greenhouse with 2-4 tiers that are plastic, wooden, and metal framed reviewed

Priced sensibly on Amazon, this CHRISTOW Mini Greenhouse 4 Tier cost you a little bit less than similar products like the Gautzsch Siena garden model, and if you ask me, it’s definitely better so that makes it a bargain!

Standing 69 x 49 x 158 cm (W x D x H), with four iron mesh shelves, each being able to hold about 15kg worth of plants, you have enough space to grow a decent variety of plants, and any of the shelves can be removed to give more space if needed.

The frame is made from thick powder coated steel pipes held together by hardy polypropylene connectors. This frame is covered by a plastic mesh, but unlike some other, cheaper products, this mesh cover is made thick and heavy duty, making it much stronger and durable than transparent plastic covers used by some this mini greenhouse’s competitors. In terms of stability some throw a sack of compost on the lower tier – not my preference – it you have a wall facing the right direction, I’d anchor it to that so you don’t waste the lower shelf – depends on your situation though I guess.

The large front door features a good quality resin zipper that works very smoothly, and a door design that rolls all the way up to the top, providing a lot ventilation.
This is a good thing because if left fully zipped up, a lot of humidity can build up inside due to the thickness of the mesh cover. This could be problem if you forget to open up the door in the warmer months, but in winter the cover does a great job of protecting the plants inside.

Like most mini greenhouses, this one was a doddle to set up, although I would recommend having a rubber mallet or something that can act as a substitute to help assembly along – that’s what the instructions say – however, a wriggle and a bit of leverage and you can easily do without. It wasn’t a problem though as common sense is all you need to put this thing together.

While still not what I would call ‘premium quality’ (what can you except for such a low price?) it does have enough features that place it high enough above some of the other mini greenhouses in the same price range to warrant paying a bit more for it.

It’s more stable, has a better quality cover, higher quality zip, and a thicker frame and connectors. I think that’s worth an extra few quid over the cheaper options, don’t you?

If you want a sensible alternative to the CHRISTOW then you’re probably going to pick the Display4top 4 Tier Mini Greenhouse. In real terms they are almost identical – if it wasn’t for the fact this clear plastic isn’t as durable as the mesh on the CHRISTOW then the lower price would definitely have me picking it – you may still pick it for the saving!

The assembly isn’t rocket science – the unit itself is just like all the cheaper mini greenhouses – you’ll need to figure a sensible way of keeping this on the floor – it’s essentially a kite without anything in, a good one at that. Some peg it, some throw in a bag of compost on the lower tier. Some also feel the need to tie down shelving in an attempt to bolster the overall strength of the unit – each of those works just fine in my mind but the best solution (which may not be practical) is to fix this with to a solid wall or fence – much depends on the orientation of said wall – you want to maximise your sunlight!

What about the bad bits? So you’re paying less than a lunch out for two – expecting miracles is not on the cards – you’re buying a unit you may get three to four seasons out of if you’re gentle with the zipper and careful with the PVC cover. It’s not the highest grade frame either, but what it is if used sensibly, is extremely good value for money but has flaws – it’ll keep you gardening in Winter though!

Pros:

• Bargain
• Reasonable quality for the money

Cons:

• Not built to last
• Zipper will fail, just when.

One of the main complaints I hear about mini greenhouses is that they can be quite susceptible to the wind, and in a place like the UK, where we get more than our fair share of not so mild gusts blowing through, I can see why some gardeners get annoyed.

The problem is that often the best place for sunshine in a garden, is also the least protected by the wind, so your choices are either anchor your mini greenhouse down, create barriers to block the wind, or go for a heavier, wooden version like this Gardman wooden house from Grow it.

The Gardman mini greenhouse is a 110 x 57 x 76cm FCS certified timber construction with polycarbonate windows to ward off that winter chill. It makes a great place for your summer plants to be protected in until the weather changes for the better and they can go back out in the open.

The polycarbonate glazing is double layered and provides a good level of insulation. This is backed up by the good fitting doors that close up tight without huge gaps letting draughts in.

The reason that not just the doors but all components line up well is that this flat pack has been well engineered and the pre-drilled holes give a good level of alignment throughout the mini greenhouse which is something often lacking in cheaper models. This also makes assembling the product incredibly straightforward and quick, and doesn’t require much more than a good Phillips screwdriver.

Inside the mini greenhouse doors you will find three tiers to place your plants upon, with the two upper shelves also being made out of wood and having a clever slatted design to help with drainage of excess water.

These shelves play a major part in the solidity of the overall structure of the greenhouse and so it isn’t a good idea to remove them. This does limit the height of the plants you can grow on the lower two tiers, but hinged lid can be opened up wide to allow taller items on the top shelf.

A word of advice, if you do decide to go with this wonderful wooden mini greenhouse, invest a couple of quid in some finish like creosote or wood stain and give it a nice coat, as this will help to fight of any damage caused from the weather and insects.

This product impressed me and I think it would make a wonderful addition to any garden, not just small ones. It arrives quickly, can be assembled in an hour or so, and with a bit of coating, looks fantastic.

It’s quite common that the problem with smaller gardens and balconies is more to do with the lack of width than that of height, and if this rings true with you, this Kingfisher GHPRO four tier mini greenhouse could be right up your alley.

Standing 130cm high, but only 50cm wide and 45cm deep, this mini greenhouse fits nicely into any crook or corner and won’t have you tripping over it or feeling too cramped.

The narrowness is nicely balanced out by the four tiers of wire shelves which still provide you with enough storage space to keep and grow a good selection of smaller plants.

If growing larger plants or flowers is more your thing, you don’t have to buy a different mini greenhouse, you can just remove some of the shelves to suit your purpose. The shelves are really easy to take out and also to reinsert so you can swap and change whenever you feel like it.

I’ve seen some reviews of this product where they complain that it is a little flimsy, and while I can see their point to some degree, you also have to keep in and that this is a very low cost product that has been designed to be lightweight (under four kilograms) for ease of assembly and transportation.

Actually, I wouldn’t call the Kingfisher GHPRO mini greenhouse flimsy as that implies it was supposed to be super strong but failed.

It is quite similar in sturdiness and build quality to most of its closest competitors of similar design. These mini greenhouse are very lightweight, and are meant to be weighed down by the plants inside them, or anchored down, not withstand gale force winds freestanding while empty. If you want that then you should look at a wooden mini-greenhouse like the Grow it Gardman model.

The Kingfisher GHPRO comes with a transparent plastic cover that can keep pests away or provide protection from cold winds. In the hotter months it can be unzipped and opened, or even removed completely to reduce the temperature for your plants.

This easy to assemble mini greenhouse is a very affordable substitute for people who can’t have that full size model.

I appreciate this Access Growhouse Mini Greenhouse isn’t going to be to everyone’s taste but if you’re looking for a long term solution in your garden to year round growing then this is the top kit. Metal framed with a quarter of a century in warranty – yes, that’ll probably see me out and still be in warranty when I pass it on! I’ll have to be sure to keep the receipt handy for the kids 🙂

It’s not just the frame either, the design is professional standard. The ventilation is top notch and well though out, but so simple too! You’ve got front and side sliding panes so you can essentially move your plants outside in the hottest conditions without lifting a plant! Furthermore – one if my biggest hates of greenhouses with the kids (or pets) is greenhouse glass smashing – these guys have gone one further and safety toughened it for you. If you’re unaware, this is basically a heat treatment that results in the glass becoming extremely tough, and if you do manage to break it, then it splits into hundreds and thousands of little pieces – the same technology that’s on your car window basically.

Assembly won’t send you around the twist but there is a fair bit – the shelves and frame but their step by step video for assembly makes the process both easy to follow and enjoyable – some flat packs are a total drain – not so on this one. Talking of flat packs, they’ve taken excellent steps to keep this sensible. It doesn’t arrive in one stupid jumbled mess, you’ve got 5 separate packages arriving. Three glass, two the frame.

Overall it’s expensive but worth the money – this is an outfit that clearly understands gardening in practical terms and that resonates almost every step of the way here.

Pros:

• 25 year guarantee
• Selling for years and very few complaints
• Solid build with safety glass for kids and pets

Cons:

• The price – otherwise it’s spot on.

In direct competition with the Kingfisher GHPRO is the Sienna garden mini greenhouse from Gautzsch. It has a strikingly similar design, if in slightly different dimensions, and sits in the same thirty to forty pound price bracket, albeit at the lower end of the scale.

If you put this mini greenhouse side by side with the Kingfisher, you wouldn’t think that this is the cheaper product. Its tubular steel frame is more robust, and also weighs more than its competitor at 6.5kg. That’s still super lightweight though, and you’ll need to anchor it down in strong winds.

While the Kingfisher stands tall and narrow with four tiers of shelves, the Siena garden mini greenhouse only has three tiers, but they are wider at 70cm, and overall you can fit the same amount of plants in both models.

The shelves are removable, just like with the Kingfisher

Where the Gautzch product falls behind the Kingfisher is with the transparent plastic cover. Quality-wise, it’s probably on par, but I found that it just fitted a little too tightly over the frame and it made me worry about tearing happening after not too long.

Small things like this are to be expected from a product that costs thirty pounds though, and you can’t really grumble too much. Besides, there are good quality covers that you can buy separately for very little money all over the internet these days, so it’s not the nail in the coffin you would think.

Apart from that, this mini greenhouse does what it’s supposed to. It’s incredibly easy to set up, and you can do it on your own in no time. Then you just place it anywhere you have a bit of space that’ll get some sunshine, pop your little plants on the shelf, and ta-daa! You’re in business.

Before you know it, you can be admiring your home grown flowers, or slipping those herbs into your favourite recipes, and it won’t cost you the earth to do it.

If you want to keep those delicate flowers and plants alive during the frostier times of the year, or just want to continue exercise those green thumbs all year round, you should opt for a cold frame.

A cold frame is basically a wooden framed mini-greenhouse that requires no additional heat source in order to keep the contents alive and growing how you want them to.

This 60 x 61 x 80 cm Rowlinson model is one of the best out there, combining a practical design with an affordable price tag.

The pre-treated FSC hardwood frame and double walled polycarbonate glazing are not just an eye pleasing combination, but also provide excellent insulation for your green wonders encased inside, sparing them from the harshness of the frost and wind chill.

Inside this wooden mini greenhouse are two tiers of slatted shelves, but these shelves are really wide and deep and you can fit a lot on them. They have a slatted design to help with drainage and they are good quality, but the plastic parts that are meant to support them could be better.

This mini greenhouse is one of the easiest to put together that I’ve ever had a go at. There are very few parts, and armed with only a Philips screwdriver, I had this up and ready to be filled in a jiffy. There are pre-drilled holes for the shelf brackets to be slotted into, the shelves fit straight on top of them, and then you just screw the lid and doors on. It’s that straightforward.

The good sized, polycarbonate glazed lid can be lifted open and locked in place at various angles, the widest of which will allow for a good amount of direct sunlight and ventilation. The front of the mini greenhouse is a single, large door that opens up from one side and this makes accessing your plants really easy with plenty of space to maneuver yourself to one side while gardening.

Empty, this timber construction weighs about 10 kilograms or so and won’t be blown around, even in strong winds. Once filled with plants, it is obviously heavier, and therefore even steadier on its four legs.

For under a hundred and twenty pounds, you certainly can’t grumble at something as small as some of the plastic parts not being as good as you’d liked, and the quality of the rest of the Rowlinson mini greenhouse definitely makes up for that small flaw.

Overall, this is a great little product, well worthy of consideration.