A greenhouse dramatically widens what you can grow — earlier, later and warmer than outdoors. The best plants for it are those that love the extra warmth and shelter, or that need protection your climate can’t provide outside. This overview covers the main groups; match them to whether your greenhouse is cold, cool or warm.
Warm-season vegetables (the classics)
The staple greenhouse crops thrive on the heat and shelter: tomatoes, peppers and chillies, cucumbers, aubergines (eggplant), melons and basil. These are the reason many people buy a greenhouse. See best vegetables for greenhouses.
Salad leaves and cool-season crops
For a cool or unheated greenhouse, hardy salads, spinach, winter greens and herbs extend the season at both ends — see plants for an unheated greenhouse.
Fruit
Strawberries, grapes, figs and, in warm greenhouses, citrus and other tender fruit do well under cover. Tree fruit that needs pollination will need help — see greenhouse pollination.
Tender ornamentals and overwintering
Greenhouses are ideal for raising bedding plants, protecting tender perennials over winter, and growing tender ornamentals that wouldn’t survive outdoors in your climate.
Match plants to your greenhouse type
- Cold / unheated — hardy crops, season extension, overwintering hardy plants.
- Cool / frost-free — overwinter tender plants; early and late crops.
- Warm — year-round tender and tropical plants (higher running cost).
See greenhouse temperature to decide. For growing method, start at the greenhouse growing guide.
Quick questions
What is the easiest thing to grow in a greenhouse? Tomatoes, salad leaves and herbs are among the most reliable and rewarding greenhouse crops for beginners.
Related guides
- Best vegetables for greenhouses · for unheated greenhouses · greenhouse growing hub · starting seeds
Growing this under cover? See our guide to choosing and setting up a greenhouse.
