So, you have your greenhouse… congratulations! Now comes the fun part; turning it into a thriving growing environment. While the structure itself is essential, the right accessories can make all the difference, helping you stay organised, maximise space and provide the best conditions for your plants. Here’s an Alitex “greenhouse accessory starter kit” to get you going, with a few Alitex accessories to consider to kickstart your growing journey. If you already have a greenhouse and, after a season or two, have spotted ways to enhance your growing potential, the good news is that all of these accessories are available to retro-fit.
Greenhouse Benching
A sturdy, well designed benching system is the foundation of an organised and efficient greenhouse. It provides a space for potting, sowing, and general maintenance, while keeping plants neatly arranged and easy to access. Our Greenhouse Benching combines traditional craftsmanship with modern durability, featuring powder-coated aluminium frames and cast legs for lasting strength and style.
Once you’ve chosen your benching, the layout possibilities are endless. Many gardeners opt for benching along both gables to maximise growing and working space, or for serious growing, a full U shape, leaving a clear central path for easy access. Others prefer a single run of benching along one side, keeping the opposite wall free for taller plants or a built-in planter. A full-width bench across the back of the greenhouse is ideal for potting, displaying plants, or creating a focal workspace.
Different growers will naturally gravitate towards different layouts. Enthusiastic propagators and collectors often favour extensive bench space for trays and cuttings, while vegetable growers may prefer a more open floor plan to accommodate climbing plants and fruiting crops. Optional additions, such as our new ‘Under-bench drawer’, provide clever storage for tools and labels, helping keep your workspace tidy and efficient.
Whatever your growing style, thoughtful benching and layout planning will make your greenhouse both more productive and more enjoyable to use.
Potting Shoe
One of the main tasks in any greenhouse is potting up plants and seedlings, so having an organised, dedicated space makes all the difference. Efficient and tidy potting is effortless with our Potting Shoe – also known as a potting tray. This versatile workspace is ideal for filling pots and seed trays while keeping compost off your benches and floor.
Powder-coated to complement your greenhouse, the Potting Shoe sits neatly on our Greenhouse Benching, yet is really light and easy to remove and store elsewhere when not needed.
Available in standard and large sizes, the Potting Shoe features a taller back section for convenient compost storage and a spacious front area for comfortable planting, pinching out and potting on.
Strawberry Board greenhouse shelving
Something customers often say is that they wish they had chosen a bigger greenhouse. Creating extra space, however, can be as simple as adding our Strawberry Boards. These high-level greenhouse shelves really boost your growing area, fitting neatly along the eaves or gable ends to maximise space and efficiency.
By positioning plants closer to the glass, Strawberry Boards help them benefit from extra sunlight and warmth, reducing the risk of leggy growth and encouraging stronger, healthier plants. During the busy growing season, they provide valuable extra room for young plants or smaller pots that might otherwise clutter your benching.
As well as being practical, Strawberry Boards also make attractive display shelves, perfect for showcasing trailing plants, herbs, or decorative collections that bring charm and character to your greenhouse year round. They are also pretty impossible for mice to reach, so a perfect spot for seed trays that are prone to being raided by mice!
Arthur Jack Dipping Tank
Your Alitex greenhouse can be used to harvest rainwater, helping you make the most of natural resources to water your plants more sustainably. Rainwater collects in the greenhouse gutters and flows down the downpipes into your chosen storage solution. Collecting rainwater not only reduces reliance on mains water but also provides your plants with a soft, nutrient-rich supply that’s kinder to both soil and foliage.
Adding to our rainwater harvesting options, we’ve introduced our exclusive Dipping Tank, created in collaboration with Arthur Jack. Thoughtfully designed to collect and store rainwater, it holds up to 355 litres, giving you an abundant, eco-friendly source of water for your greenhouse and garden.
Featuring the iconic Arthur Jack décor and the Alitex logo, this stylish trough is as practical as it is attractive. The easy-to-lift lid allows you to dip your watering can directly into the collected rainwater, while the grated top ensures no wildlife is at risk.
A beautiful and functional addition to your greenhouse, the Dipping Tank helps you garden more efficiently and sustainably, all while complementing the timeless style of your Alitex structure.
Greenhouse Heater
Maintaining the right temperature is one of the most important factors in successful greenhouse growing. Consistent warmth encourages healthy plant development, protects tender seedlings, and extends your growing season well beyond the limits of the weather outside. Whether you’re overwintering delicate plants or starting early crops, effective temperature control helps create a truly stable environment for your plants to thrive.
For precise and reliable warmth, the Alitex Greenhouse Heater is an essential addition. Compact yet robust, this heater delivers excellent thermal efficiency with a high-capacity circulating fan that distributes heat evenly throughout your greenhouse.
Constructed from durable stainless steel with an elegant brushed silver finish, the heater can be positioned on its supplied feet or suspended from the roof using chains for greater flexibility. Its thermostatically controlled heat output ranges from 0–26°C, allowing you to maintain the perfect conditions or simply provide frost protection when needed. Please note that this heater requires a power supply to your greenhouse to operate.
Your greenhouse starter kit
Together, these accessories form the perfect starting kit for any greenhouse. The Benching provides structure, the Potting Shoe ensures tidy planting, Strawberry Boards maximise space, the Arthur Jack Dipping Tank secures a sustainable water supply, and the Greenhouse Heater protects your plants from cold. Combined, they create an organised, efficient, and productive growing environment.
Planning your greenhouse dreams
Beyond performance, there’s the unmistakable beauty of an Alitex structure. On crisp winter mornings, the elegant lines of aluminium and glass glisten with frost, creating a picture perfect centrepiece in any garden. Inside, your plants remain protected and thriving; a living showcase of craftsmanship, quality and style.
And this is just the beginning. Alitex offers a wide range of additional accessories to further enhance your greenhouse, from propagation tools to advanced irrigation systems, making it easy to tailor your setup as your gardening ambitions grow. If you need any advice, our friendly team is always happy to help in any way they can. Many of our accessories can be added after your greenhouse has been installed, giving you flexibility as your growing needs evolve.
If you are at the start of your greenhouse journey and hearing about our accessories has inspired you, please request an accessory or greenhouse brochure, or book a visit with one of our sales designers. They can come out to see you, discuss your greenhouse dreams, and help you plan your perfect growing haven. With an Alitex greenhouse and Alitex accessories, you can create the ideal environment for you and your plants to thrive.
