Buy a greenhouse or not

aylithuk

One of my purchases I want to make for the garden this year is a greenhouse (saved up the funds this year) 

I can fit a 6x4 greenhouse against a brick wall on my patio. It’s would be this one https://www.greenhousestores.co.uk/Vitavia-6x4-Green-Apollo-2500-Greenhouse-Horticultural-Glass.htm#colour

What is stopping me is that I’ve grown everything I’ve wanted without one for two years. Seeding are started off inside and moved to my plastic greenhouse ( https://www.christowhome.co.uk/4-tier-greenhouse-pe.html ) which I’ve not had any issues with E.g not ripping or flying off when windy 

The other two factors are price (everything second hand has been massive!) and two where I’d put it would only have a 2ft gap to enter the greenhouse as I have a tier patio 

So my question had anyone spent the money and thought I am not getting my worth out of the greenhouse?

Brie

I love my greenhouse but it has/does become a bit of a dumping ground for outdoor stuff.  Garden furniture gets moved in, it's not as clean as it should be.  And the automatic opening pane has stopped working.  Admittedly this was here when we bought the place a few years back.  I'm not a great gardening but this does make it easier to do the seeds and gives me a safe place to store plants but a bit too early to plant out when there's a sudden turn to frost.   I like that I can made a mess out there and it's not a major issue to clean up.  All my gardening "junk" (OH's term) has a place to live.  And it means that there's a place to do gardeny type things even when it's tipping down with rain.  Oh - and there's proper height tables with shelving to store all the excess pots and other junk.  (ok so OH has it right for some stuff)

fyi - the entrance faces the garage and initially I had to do aside ways slip to get to it as the previous owners had left the coal bunker in place.  With that gone there's now a generous 3 feet gap so I can get in and out easily even when carrying a large trug of smuggled in plants.

Admittedly I wasn't pleased when our elderly cat thought it was a good place to "go to" when the garden was damp.  I'm not fond of walking face first into spiders dangling from the ceiling (annoying rather than scary) and I hate that the neighbour hasn't been great about clearing the ivy from their side of the fence so it's growing up between the back wall and the fence where I can't reach it.  Oh and how do snails and toads get in there????  

twopenny

My hearts desire is a,greenhouse but it seems I'm not destined for one.
I did make a huge cold frame and now I've moved I miss it. I can still raise seedlings but they don't come on so quickly and are vulnerable to the weather and pests. I'm also ruled by the weather as to when I can sow and pot.
A greenhouse does need maintenance, shading etc but it has advantages.
Early crop of tomatoes? Sowing and potting on at a time that suits you? Being out in the light and able to get on? Storage?
Why do you want a green house? That's quite a large one.

Sapindus

You've been able to grow everything you wanted to, but once you've got a greenhouse you will have so many more possibilities your ambitions will grow.  Winter salads and herbs for example.

Reddleman79

I used to say I didn't need a greenhouse, until I was offered one by a friend. I nearly turned it down until he told me it would go to the tip if I didn't want it, as he needed the ground on which it stood. I'm so glad I took it as I can now start plants earlier than I could outside, and overwinter sweet peas and start the garlic, peas and onions under cover. In summer it's now packed with tomatoes, chillies, aubergines and pelargoniums. It's also a lovely place to do my potting on, listening to the radio when it's raining outside.

Brie

Reddleman79 said:
 It's also a lovely place to do my potting on, listening to the radio when it's raining outside.

presecisely

marycanary

I've had a similar greenhouse for about 5 years. It has taken my growing to a different level. As others have said, early seedlings in the spring, tomatoes and chillis in the summer, and overwintering and storage of onions and squash at this time of year. I would hate to be without it now.

I can't answer your question because I spent the money and I'm glad I did.

greyteam1959

There are usually lots of greenhouses on offer on  Facebook marketplace many of them free to collect.

aylithuk

Thank you everyone. 

My space is 10ft by 6ft LxW so I can do a 6ft by 4ft nicely as opposed to a 4ft by 4ft which would be okay also. One thing I’ve notice is that people always say they wish they got bigger 

I was really hoping to get a second hand one from Facebook marketplace etc but every single one is massive!

Mojisola

We've got two greenhouses - both second-hand from local selling sites.

Worth asking on sites in your area.

fly-catchers

I started off with one greenhouse now have 4! And still I have run out of room! Nice to sitting in there on a winters day and thinking of summer!