The greenhouse at Kew’s kitchen garden

At the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, the Kitchen Garden supplies produce for the restaurants on site while demonstrating to visitors how food can be grown in a variety of ways. To extend the growing season and make the space more versatile, a freestanding greenhouse measuring H 3m x W 2.6m x L 4m with a flat fronted lobby was installed.

Inside, the design is deliberately simple – the entire footprint is soil, with no paving or benching, allowing maximum flexibility for planting. Strawberry board shelving provides extra space for pots, while an Arthur Jacks water butt collects rainwater from the roof.

Why Alitex?

For Kitchen Gardener Helena Dove, who uses the greenhouse daily, choosing Alitex was an easy decision. Having worked with our glasshouses throughout her career, she knew them to be, in her words, “incredibly well made and easy to work in on a day-to-day basis.”

She also appreciated that the team understood the specific challenges of placing a structure in a public garden. “The greenhouse needed to be viewed from all angles and also had to meet strict health and safety requirements.”

A colour that belongs

When it came to choosing the colour, Helena wanted something timeless. “I knew I wanted a heritage shade that would blend into the site and not date,” she said. The final choice, made with Garden Designer Richard Wilford, shifts with the light: bright green in sunshine, softer and more muted on cloudy days.

This subtle character means it feels as though it has always been part of the historic landscape. As Helena reflected, “Considering the site is a Georgian Kitchen Garden that would once have had a glasshouse, it feels like full circle.”

First crops inside

Helena’s priority was preparing the soil, mulching the entire space to create one large growing bed. “Before the plants went in, I just enjoyed sitting in there, playing with the windows – the mechanism is very pleasing,” she joked.

Soon after, strawberries were potted up onto the shelves. Traditionally, kitchen gardeners aim to produce strawberries in time for Wimbledon and thanks to the glasshouse, Helena managed it. “We had loads of really red, ripe strawberries to munch on during the matches,” she recalled.

Now, the soil beds are filled with tomatoes, aubergines, peppers and even a watermelon, while the shelves hold different basils harvested weekly for the restaurant at Kew.

Extending the growing season

For Helena, the real value of the greenhouse lies in how it changes the growing calendar. “It will really extend the season – crops that struggle outdoors in winter, like miner’s lettuce, should keep thriving under cover,” she said. It also provides a safe home for overwintering her citrus collection and more tender herbs.

Looking ahead, Helena is excited about the opportunities it brings: “It shows visitors how glasshouses can be used year-round. Winter will be when it really proves itself, and I’d love to experiment with crops from other climates too.”

A flexible structure

One of the most unusual aspects of this greenhouse is its lack of flooring. For Helena, this has been a great advantage: “It works for me – the space is incredibly flexible, and the soil holds more moisture, which reduces the hours I spend watering.” She is now setting up a solar-powered irrigation system, using rainwater harvested in the water butt.

A space that sparks conversation

Since being installed, the greenhouse has become a focal point in the Kitchen Garden. “It has sparked so many conversations with visitors, from rainwater harvesting to which cultivars do best under glass,” said Helena. “It’s a brilliant chance to show people the possibilities.”

Kew’s Kitchen Gardener’s top tip

Helena’s advice to other Alitex owners is simple but effective: “Keep your windows clean – the more light that gets in, the better your crops will be.”