Having served generations of gardeners since the 1930s, Halls greenhouses feature prominently in gardens the length and breadth of the country. Over the years a healthy dialogue has developed between gardeners keen to share their skills and knowledge and the company. With their own resident gardener on hand to offer advice and recommendations on how to get the most from your greenhouse, here are just a few of the hints and tips you may like to put into practice in your own greenhouse.



Experience shows that when buying a greenhouse you should always choose a size bigger than you initially anticipate. Greenhouse gardening rapidly becomes an all-consuming hobby, and as your confidence and skills increase, your crops and planting will become more and more prolific and demand more space. Invest wisely and your greenhouse will meet all your requirements for many years to come.

Several manufacturers, including Halls, provide a metal base on which to site the greenhouse. Rather than going to the expense and labour intensive exercise of placing it on concrete or brick footings, a metal base is a much quicker and perfectly adequate alternative. Provided it is placed on clear, level ground it will even out the weight ratio of the glass and framework and give ample support to the structure.

It's a good idea to prepare a pathway down the centre of the greenhouse using concrete, slabs or bricks. This will give good access to the two beds on either side in which to grow your vegetables or plants. The soil is best prepared using a combination of garden earth, manure and fertilizer. Look for organic fertilizers without chemicals at your local garden centre. If you can, source horse manure and immerse it in a water butt, you'll then have a good liquid manure which produces the best results.

Disinfecting your greenhouse is essential to keep bugs and bacteria at bay. Choose a calm, windless and sunny day in order to throw the doors, windows and vents open and allow fresh air to circulate freely.

Remember to keep your greenhouse doors and windows fully open on still sunny days as this will encourage bees to enter and pollinate.

During hot dry spells it's essential to protect your plants from scorching and wilting under the glass. Use curtain shading to block out the sun's rays and to prevent evaporation and damp down the floor as a means of retaining moisture in the atmosphere.

Rainwater kits are an efficient way of collecting water for irrigation in the greenhouse. By simply slotting a down pipe into the guttering, rain is channeled down into your water butt to ensure that every precious drop is collected and recycled. This is particularly essential during drought conditions when hosepipe bans come into force.

An irrigation system is essential for adequate watering when you're away from home for any length of time. It will automatically regulate the flow of water according to the temperature and can cycle between 10 and 100 litres a day. By placing the kit's drip sticks at regular intervals in your pots or beds, you can be sure that your crops and flowers will still be thriving upon your return, particularly as fertilizer can also be administered via the system.

A good way of ensuring that your greenhouse looks its best, and to prevent the build-up of mould and mildew, is to use a specialist greenhouse care kit. This contains a specially formulated lubricating oil which prevents corrosion of metal rollers, hinges and door catches and makes sure they slide and release as easily as when first assembled. A bio-degradable greenhouse wash prevents the growth of algae and keeps the glass fresh and clear, whilst an anti-fog glass cleaner leaves an invisible coating on the panes to stop the formation of condensation.

There's no better way of giving your carefully tended plants and vegetables the best showcase they deserve.