Your enjoyment of gardening may be extended throughout the year by bringing it under cover, by making use of a greenhouse, conservatory or simply a sunny position in your house. Indoor gardens can allow you to grow a whole range of plants that would not be able to endure the British weather, they can act as a nursery for cuttings and seedlings and they can provide a frost-free shelter for plants that spend the summer outdoors.

What you use your indoor garden for will depend on whether or not it is heated: a warm, humid environment can supply you with just the right conditions to grow tropical and sub tropical plants, whilst a cool environment is excellent for protecting tender and half-hardy plants over the winter. Regular maintenance is required to keep greenhouses and conservatories clean and in good working order. A thorough clean and maintenance check in the autumn will reduce problems from overwintering pests and diseases.

The exact set-up of your indoor gardening space will depend on how you intend to use it. There are a number of elements that go towards creating the right conditions for your plants, including lighting, heating, shading, insulation, watering and ventilation. You will also need to consider the equipment that you might need, such as staging, shelves, beds, and connection to the mains services for electricity and water.