so confused about greenhouse

dollparts

I will be getting some money for my birthday and have decided to put it toward a greenhouse (get me eh?!)

I have been staring at greenhouses for days online and in gardening mags and I am so confused as to what type to get.

I have figured I need to work out exactly what I need one for, budget and the rest will be dictated by those 2 factors I guess.

So, I have decided that I will just need something large enough to pot up what needs to be protected, and for my cuttings and seed trays.

I am stuck as to what kind to buy though? I have seen some of the plastic covered ones that are larger than the 'standard' 4 tier mini greenhouses but even with a fleece cover, will that be enough to keep the cold air out?

Or should I go for a mini wooden type and perhaps get a heater for it?

I'm assuming anything made of plastic will not be able to withstand any heat and in any case if it's not sealed then surely heating would be a waste of time anyway?

I have also seen these green mesh types that look a bit like tarpaulin-you anchor them to the ground but again, draught and frost may be a problem?

So confused, can anyone give me some advice please?
Thanks

Lotus-eater

Well surely we need to know how much you have to spend and how big you want it?

It sounds like you need a larger cold frame to me. I did see !!!!!! Strawbridge has a design for a home made cold frame, which is kept warm by having a load of rocks or glass bottles filled with water, underneath it. I liked the idea and it can save you a fortune compared to buying some flimsy rubbish from a shop.

cubegame

If you can stretch to £320, B&Q have a very nice greenhouse with good reviews. It's a 10 foot by 6 foot with polycarbonate glazing.

SailorSam

You should buy one as big as you can afford and have space for, you'll be surprised how quickly you fill it up.

Kevstir

i wonldnt recommend a Gardman greenhouse, i have a lean to one and it was a right nighmare to put up, the instructions are terible, i learned more from the picture on the box than the instructions, im sure it was designed by monkeys as its so badly designed, their cheap for a reason..

Kay_Peel

I have had umpteen problems with so-called mini-greenhouses. Let's face it they are not greenhouses at all. They are shelves covered in plastic or mesh and they fall over, get blown away unless properly anchored and are beloved by passing hedgehogs and colonies of slugs. The wooden ones are even worse. They may look nice, I find, but they are unstable cupboards.

I used to have a proper greenhouse and it was wonderful - a warm dry place to potter around with plenty of space and worktops. How I miss it.

Based on my experience I would steer people away from cupboards and shelves. There are far better alternatives,like:

* a little polytunnel - a few hoops of wire sunk into the ground, with a fleece or plastic body that can be closed at either end. Cheap as chips but so effective
* a cold frame - a glazed box with a shingle floor acting as an unheated greenhouse
* windowsills, porches, garages, sheds, spare bedrooms for seedlings and cuttings that need heat.

No, I really don't like shelves and cupboards and wouldn't buy one again.

dollparts

I've seen those polytunnels, will they protect plants in pots that are not tolerant to frost?

dollparts

The problem I'm having is that having sash windows means I have no windowsills so bringing anything indoors isn't an option, no spare room either!

Kay_Peel

dollparts wrote: »

I've seen those polytunnels, will they protect plants in pots that are not tolerant to frost?

It's always a risk putting frost sensitive plants in pots outside. I lost quite a few hardy plants to frost and snow last winter - and they were in a covered shelf unit (mini-greenhouse) in a sunny spot. it was exceptionally bad last winter and I preferred to wrap this kind of plant in a fleece before putting it in a cold frame or inside a shed/garage.


The polytunnel really comes into it's own in late winter/very early spring: it warms up the earth and raises the temperature inside so that you can plant things earlier than usual or harden off cuttings and seedlings.

Good luck finding the right solution for you :beer:

katenut

I got one of these as a wedding present from my mum this spring and its great value, absolutely fantastic! Its covered in plastic which I was a bit dubious about, but it seems really secure and the plants are thriving. Not sure how long it will last - will see how it fares over the winter!

http://www.norfolk-greenhouses.co.uk/shop/shop-infopage.php?longref=175~0

Oooh, first time I have managed to post a link on here - how exciting! Now to work out how to do pictures....