Which greenhouse 'shape' is more usable?

[Gael]

If the choice of greenhouse was either long and narrow, or shorter but wider, which do people think might be more usable in practice? Or is it 6 and half a dozen?

I think the all over size might end up being fairly similar so I don't think one would necessarily give more space than the other. It would just be different space, iyswim.

Both possible spaces are in sun and quite sheltered.

I don't have specific sizes presently, I'm just mentally trying to picture where a greenhouse would be best in the garden and I'm not sure if shape is an issue, I've never had a greenhouse before.

[veggiechicken]

Have the largest you can fit in!
Get yourself some squared paper and draw on it the GH sizes you're thinking of. Then draw a central path on each of about 2' wide. What is left, on both sides of the path and across the far end away from the door is the amount of space you can use for growing (roughly!).

[SarzWix]

I'd go for length personally, extra width isn't particularly useable unless you're looking at something like 12ft upwards and could then fit in 3 rows or beds.

[Gael]

Thanks both.

I've just read a thread where a link was given to a 'build your own' site and I'm now wondering about utilising an existing shed and building my own greenhouse off it.

I think it would be quite useful having a shed end for storage and a greenhouse end for growing.

My ideas were simple till I came here. I'm now building allsorts in my head.

Will need to mull things over.

[Paulieb]

I'd go for length personally, extra width isn't particularly useable unless you're looking at something like 12ft upwards and could then fit in 3 rows or beds.

Exactly. I've got a 14x8 greenhouse, and with a single row of tomatoes down each side there is a large gap in the middle, which is difficult to utilise efficiently.

Just putting in a double row of tomatoes (on each side) I think might produce too much shade, so last year I had a single row of toms in buckets down the middle of the greenhouse, but once they got going it was difficult to get around without knocking them over, or just damaging the branches.

So personally I'd try to go for either 6ft wide, or 10ft wide.

[veggiechicken]

Exactly. I've got a 14x8 greenhouse, and with a single row of tomatoes down each side there is a large gap in the middle, which is difficult to utilise efficiently.

Just putting in a double row of tomatoes (on each side) I think might produce too much shade, so last year I had a single row of toms in buckets down the middle of the greenhouse, but once they got going it was difficult to get around without knocking them over, or just damaging the branches.

So personally I'd try to go for either 6ft wide, or 10ft wide.

I have a 10x6 and a 10x8 but have about the same amount of growing space in each because, as Paul says the middle isn't very usable.
This thread has made me rethink the layout of the 8' wide one and I'm going to try the 2' wide potting bench in the centre and have an 18" wide planting strip along the outer edges. First empty the GH

[veggiechicken]

Excuse the mess but this might work I've put a growbag sized gravel tray along each side - just for an idea, and the potting bench is slightly offcentre to give more room on the right for working. Because its under the apex of the roof, I could grow taller things on it that I can when its on the outer edge - or squashes that trail down from the bench.
I'll give it a go this year Thanks for making me think about it

Edit - adding a photo of the original layout for comparison

[Mikey]

I would go for a long and wide everytime, the end furthest from the door is the warmest spot and is perfect for your cucumbers, unlike tomatoes they won't tolerate the cold by the door.

Mine is 10 x 6, and is a little small really, I would much rather my potting bench and seed bed was up the middle and my toms and salads were around the perimeter.

[veggiechicken]

Just like I've done in mine then Mikey This one is 10 x 8

[Mikey]

Just like I've done in mine then Mikey This one is 10 x 8

Which location is the greenhouse you are talking about?

One of my neighbours has a 12 x 10 greenhouse, which I covert. I'm waiting for him to give up on his hydroponics and let me buy it off him!!!!

[veggiechicken]

In Cardiff, Mike, its the one I acquired from the neighbours over the wall.

[Darwin.]

I've got a 14' x 8' greenhouse and a 26' x 10' polytunnel. The extra 2' in the tunnel doesn't really give me much extra growing space for planting. The longer you can get the better for me.

[Scarlet]

I've got an 8x20, only pic I could find. I have a double row on each side, the plants closest to the glass are in the ground, the second row usually in pots with a path down the middle. The slats in my work bench get taken out when the toms are planted in which gives a frame to tie into. It does get like a jungle in there during the summer but its no hardship to take a few pots out and rearrange if I can't get to the back.

[Two_Sheds]

I'd go for length personally, extra width isn't particularly useable .

Speak for yerself

I'm now building allsorts in my head.

Don't forget space for a hammock, in the gh.

There's nothing like sitting in it,while it's raining outside, you're surrounded by tomatoes, with a book and a glass in your hands

[RedThorn]

Personally I had a 8ft wide by 6ft long and a 6ft by 12 ft greenhouse, 6ft was a little too narrow for me and my plants, I'm not a small fella though so for me, 8ft wide is preferable to 6ft wide.... Horses for courses though, VC was correct, get the largest your space/ pocket can afford, assuming that you will use the investment to it's max

EDIT: That said, I built a small retaining wall for mine to raise it up as I'm also not short... It saved me loads of bruises