Why our Victorian-style hothouse never seems to go out of style
"I DO THINK THERE'S SOMETHING incredibly British about a greenhouse," says Nelly Hall, co-founder of Alitex, a luxury greenhouse manufacturer. "It's also the smell and the atmosphere that really stays with you." That Britishness is undeniable in the company's Victorian-inspired greenhouses, where you can almost see and feel the intense humidity, the passing butterflies and the unmistakeable whiff of tomatoes on a warm summer's day.
We have acquired a few of Alitex's architectural creations for our kitchen gardens over the years, and have them at five of our hotels (and counting). That the family-founded company is based in Petersfield, a hop and a skip from THE PIG, was also a huge draw when it came to acquiring our first, over 12 years ago.
"Our greenhouse has become invaluable," says Alex, the Head Kitchen Gardener at THE PIG. "By creating an artificial climate, we can grow things that we just wouldn't be able to grow outside. Put it this way," he adds, "we tried growing cucamelons in the walled garden last year and they yielded around a kilo and a half. This year we've moved them into the greenhouse and we've produced more than 10 times that.
It's like a jungle. And you can't buy cucamelon anywhere. If you want them, you have to grow them yourself."
Yes, it's fair to say we have some serious Victorian ingenuity to thank for much of our fruit and veg. "There are some classic proportions - those steep pitched roofs, for example - that make these greenhouses work so well," explains Nelly. "Essentially, it's a critical combination of roof ventilation and side ventilation. The key thing is having a really buoyant atmosphere that doesn't overheat or get too cold."
Alitex uses that same 19th-century technology. When it gets too hot inside their greenhouses, wax pistons expand to open the roof vents. The hot air rises, dragging cooler air through the side vents, creating what is known as the "chimney effect". A good gardener, Nelly says, quickly gets confident with vent opening and closing.
Aside from how wonderfully they function, Victorian greenhouses don't look too shabby either. They're the kind you'll find at Kew or in the gardens of stately homes up and down the country. Indeed, Alitex is to thank for the greenhouses at Arundel Castle, Ramsey Abbey and Fulham Palace, and has worked closely with the Royal Horticultural Society, English Heritage, Royal Botanic Gardens and Ireland's Garden & Landscape Designers Association.
"Victorian greenhouses hark back to a time of discovery, a period in which plant collecting was big business," says Nelly. "This was a time when famous botanists would return from their expeditions and present Queen Victoria with a potato or some tobacco leaves or a citrus tree"
For us, gardening never lost its glamour - and based on how many of our guests see the greenhouses as an Insta-worthy photo opportunity, perhaps we're not alone. This is not lost on Alex, who is growing a banana tree and multicoloured corn, mainly just to juice up these moments with a splash of colour.
Ultimately though, keeping a greenhouse is about taking pride in your produce. "I think we align on the value and importance of growing your own food, of time outdoors and of having your hands in the soil," says Nelly. "These things matter not only on a functional and practical level, but they also matter to our soul and our wellbeing."
Take a peek around our greenhouses when you're next at a PIG, to see what fruits (and veg!) we're growing... or better yet, join us for a free Kitchen Garden tour, every day from 11am! Find out more here.
