Greenhouse costs

Ganga

Silvertabby said:

Paspatur said:

Well done, happy new greenhouse
My Rhino was 5 years old 2 weeks ago
Has withstood many storms including Malik when a tree came down nearby and killed someone
Best thing I ever bought, had so much enjoyment from it
Mine included installation but I don't think they offer this now

Bought mine last year, and Rhino supplied a list (well, if two names can be called a list!) of local approved fitters.

The chap we went for was lovely, and had the whole thing done and dusted in less than a day.  He said that he was putting up 5 or 6 Rhinos a week.  He charged £400 for our 6X6 with shelving, etc, but it was money well spent as our DIY skills wouldn't have been up to it.  And after spending nearly £3K I wanted it perfect, which it is.

I hadn't realised until I received my brochure that Rhino export to the Falklands, as they are one of the few brands strong enough to withstand the VERY high winds down there (says she who had to be rescued from a hedge by two squaddies, after being literally blown off my feet by a blast!)

Can i ask Silvertabby did you have staging/racking on both sides? i have 2 ft staging on one side and was thinking i maybe should have bought some for both sides but then it would only leave 2 feet down the middle.

Silvertabby

Ganga said:

Silvertabby said:

Paspatur said:

Well done, happy new greenhouse
My Rhino was 5 years old 2 weeks ago
Has withstood many storms including Malik when a tree came down nearby and killed someone
Best thing I ever bought, had so much enjoyment from it
Mine included installation but I don't think they offer this now

Bought mine last year, and Rhino supplied a list (well, if two names can be called a list!) of local approved fitters.

The chap we went for was lovely, and had the whole thing done and dusted in less than a day.  He said that he was putting up 5 or 6 Rhinos a week.  He charged £400 for our 6X6 with shelving, etc, but it was money well spent as our DIY skills wouldn't have been up to it.  And after spending nearly £3K I wanted it perfect, which it is.

I hadn't realised until I received my brochure that Rhino export to the Falklands, as they are one of the few brands strong enough to withstand the VERY high winds down there (says she who had to be rescued from a hedge by two squaddies, after being literally blown off my feet by a blast!)

Can i ask Silvertabby did you have staging/racking on both sides? i have 2 ft staging on one side and was thinking i maybe should have bought some for both sides but then it would only leave 2 feet down the middle.

No - just down one side.  I have a solid base, and grow my toms and chillies in 10" pots (with saucers) on the other side.  The toms grow to roof high, so wouldn't have fitted on staging.

I have the narrower staging above the 2' staging - find it invaluable for seed trays and greenhouse bits and bobs.

Ganga

Silvertabby said:

Ganga said:

Silvertabby said:

Paspatur said:

Well done, happy new greenhouse
My Rhino was 5 years old 2 weeks ago
Has withstood many storms including Malik when a tree came down nearby and killed someone
Best thing I ever bought, had so much enjoyment from it
Mine included installation but I don't think they offer this now

Bought mine last year, and Rhino supplied a list (well, if two names can be called a list!) of local approved fitters.

The chap we went for was lovely, and had the whole thing done and dusted in less than a day.  He said that he was putting up 5 or 6 Rhinos a week.  He charged £400 for our 6X6 with shelving, etc, but it was money well spent as our DIY skills wouldn't have been up to it.  And after spending nearly £3K I wanted it perfect, which it is.

I hadn't realised until I received my brochure that Rhino export to the Falklands, as they are one of the few brands strong enough to withstand the VERY high winds down there (says she who had to be rescued from a hedge by two squaddies, after being literally blown off my feet by a blast!)

Can i ask Silvertabby did you have staging/racking on both sides? i have 2 ft staging on one side and was thinking i maybe should have bought some for both sides but then it would only leave 2 feet down the middle.

No - just down one side.  I have a solid base, and grow my toms and chillies in 10" pots (with saucers) on the other side.  The toms grow to roof high, so wouldn't have fitted on staging.

I have the narrower staging above the 2' staging - find it invaluable for seed trays and greenhouse bits and bobs.

Thanks for the reply ,i thought that might be the case ,i suppose i could always buy the 12 inch staging later but i am still enjoying tinkering in the greenhouse as the weather is still fairly good ,that reminds me i need to buy a thermometer to hang up ( among other things ) 

Paspatur

I had a thermometer in the greenhouse which was useless when I couldn't even open the greenhouse door for snow
Christmas present of a Govee thermometer linked to my phone means I can read the  temperature from my phone
Fascinating info, amazing how hot it gets when sunny but windy and cold outside

Last 12 months minus 5.5 to positive 57.3 (I was on holiday and someone missed opening the door one day)
Lowest is minus 7.3 in December 2022 but I lost some data from before that which was lower

In the last month which should be summer my greenhouse has reguraly gone under 10 degrees but the tomatoes have not died

Ganga

Paspatur said:

I had a thermometer in the greenhouse which was useless when I couldn't even open the greenhouse door for snow
Christmas present of a Govee thermometer linked to my phone means I can read the  temperature from my phone
Fascinating info, amazing how hot it gets when sunny but windy and cold outside

Last 12 months minus 5.5 to positive 57.3 (I was on holiday and someone missed opening the door one day)
Lowest is minus 7.3 in December 2022 but I lost some data from before that which was lower

In the last month which should be summer my greenhouse has reguraly gone under 10 degrees but the tomatoes have not died

As well as a thermometer i will probably buy a small paraffin type heater ,i have no electric near the greenhouse ,the high temperatures i could live with ,love going abroad to sunnier climates ,in fact i often say to my wife things like " wish i had brought my tomatoes with us "  when we are siting in Greece in 35/40 temps    as opposed to the pitiful temperatures we have endured in the N E of England this year.  

Ganga

Well as now have a greenhouse can i ask the following:

I would like to grow tomatoes ,chillies, peppers etc. but how do others manage ,buy young plants or grow from seed?
if from seed do you take them out of current produce or buy packet seed.
if buying packets of seed does it matter if you buy good quality/ expensive or cheaper such as  the likes of Aldi ,Lidle etc
Any help/answers much appreciated.

Silvertabby

Strangely enough, although I don't have a problem with growing chillies from seed, I struggle with tomatoes.  So, I start my chillies off at the end of February in heated seed propagators in the conservatory.  Once pricked out, the little pots go on the window sills of the hobby room and study (remembering to keep the doors closed at all times - cat owners will know why).

I then buy my tomatoes as young plants from our local garden centre.  Both chillies and tomatoes are potted on into their final 10" pots and migrate to the greenhouse in mid May, weather permitting (we are well north of Watford Gap).

Hardy and half hardy annual flower seeds are planted in seed pots in the greenhouse (extra narrow shelf above the 2' staging comes in very handy here) from early April.

I buy well known seeds rather than the supermarket cheapies - one because 'the names' have larger selections and new varieties, and two because you don't know how long the supermarket seeds have been hanging about in a possibly damp off-season store room.

The 'names' are starting to send out their 2025 seed catalogues now - received my Thompson and Morgan issue last week.  One of the little joys of gardening is curling up in a comfy chair with a brew and a seed catalogue - you can't do that in Lidl!

Farway

Ganga said:

Well as now have a greenhouse can i ask the following:

I would like to grow tomatoes ,chillies, peppers etc. but how do others manage ,buy young plants or grow from seed?
if from seed do you take them out of current produce or buy packet seed.
if buying packets of seed does it matter if you buy good quality/ expensive or cheaper such as  the likes of Aldi ,Lidle etc
Any help/answers much appreciated.

Tomatoes, the answer is infuriatingly "it all depends"!

Depends on what you like to eat & use, love cherry toms, grow them, want beef steaks, grow them

Part of the joy is growing something different each year, as well as old favourites

Unless growing the Heirloom type of toms I would advise against saving or using current produce. OK to try but be prepared for disappointment, don't rely on them.

By heirloom, I mean the older varieties that come true from seed, you will see them listed.

Young plants can work well, but you have little or no choice on variety

Price seems to be irrelevant, to quality of seeds.

I tend to buy from mail order big boys, like T & M, but wait for offers. For instance, Sungold recently on offer.

This time of year there are many RFQS at under \ pound a packet that would be nearer a fiver, so worth experimenting just out of curiosity

This time of year many garden centres are clearing out seeds to make way for Halloween, Christmas etc, so a browse there could be a useful

If you follow the "Awful weather etc" thread on the Garden section, offers are posted thee as they are spotted

Ganga

Silvertabby said:

Strangely enough, although I don't have a problem with growing chillies from seed, I struggle with tomatoes.  So, I start my chillies off at the end of February in heated seed propagators in the conservatory.  Once pricked out, the little pots go on the window sills of the hobby room and study (remembering to keep the doors closed at all times - cat owners will know why).

I then buy my tomatoes as young plants from our local garden centre.  Both chillies and tomatoes are potted on into their final 10" pots and migrate to the greenhouse in mid May, weather permitting (we are well north of Watford Gap).

Hardy and half hardy annual flower seeds are planted in seed pots in the greenhouse (extra narrow shelf above the 2' staging comes in very handy here) from early April.

I buy well known seeds rather than the supermarket cheapies - one because 'the names' have larger selections and new varieties, and two because you don't know how long the supermarket seeds have been hanging about in a possibly damp off-season store room.

The 'names' are starting to send out their 2025 seed catalogues now - received my Thompson and Morgan issue last week.  One of the little joys of gardening is curling up in a comfy chair with a brew and a seed catalogue - you can't do that in Lidl!

I googled T & M and joined their gardening club ,£10 but that only works out at about 20p a week so not a fortune ,do you have to request a current catalogue or do they send you one automatically? 

Farway

Ganga said:

Silvertabby said:

Strangely enough, although I don't have a problem with growing chillies from seed, I struggle with tomatoes.  So, I start my chillies off at the end of February in heated seed propagators in the conservatory.  Once pricked out, the little pots go on the window sills of the hobby room and study (remembering to keep the doors closed at all times - cat owners will know why).

I then buy my tomatoes as young plants from our local garden centre.  Both chillies and tomatoes are potted on into their final 10" pots and migrate to the greenhouse in mid May, weather permitting (we are well north of Watford Gap).

Hardy and half hardy annual flower seeds are planted in seed pots in the greenhouse (extra narrow shelf above the 2' staging comes in very handy here) from early April.

I buy well known seeds rather than the supermarket cheapies - one because 'the names' have larger selections and new varieties, and two because you don't know how long the supermarket seeds have been hanging about in a possibly damp off-season store room.

The 'names' are starting to send out their 2025 seed catalogues now - received my Thompson and Morgan issue last week.  One of the little joys of gardening is curling up in a comfy chair with a brew and a seed catalogue - you can't do that in Lidl!

I googled T & M and joined their gardening club ,£10 but that only works out at about 20p a week so not a fortune ,do you have to request a current catalogue or do they send you one automatically? 

They'll send one, or two, or three, four.

Seriously, they send out seasonal & specials, you'll get them

Plus now they have your e-mail you'll get regular offers, some are good, like free P & P, reduced seeds etc and others are not so but may suit some, fruit trees for instance