Small Greenhouse wanted

brownfrog

Do you mean the really light mini greenhouses with a plastic cover (eg http://www.diytools.co.uk/diy/Main/sp-2-1733-4375-4-tier-mini-greenhouse.asp) or the narrow lean-to greenhouses (like http://www.greenhousepeople.co.uk/greenhouses/lean-to-greenhouses/silver_lean_to_4x2/)? The first are OK for a couple of years so to raise cutting and seeds etc, but they do rust quite quickly, and they are quite light, so you do need to fasten them to the wall. The second are more like a real greenhouse, just much narrower.

Lidl often have this sort of thing (the first type) in the spring, and can be quite cheap. Or you could try Freecycle and get one to try out for a season or two.

There are lots of manufacturers making both sorts of greenhouses. A search round the internet should turn up lots and if you have a look at the gardening mags, they carry lots of ads. One that you'll see a lot of ads for is Norfolk Greenhouses. They're very cheap, but they're a nightmare to put together (the holes never, ever line up), and they're also very light and flimsy, so a strong wind can do a lot of damage.

teedy23

I got one for £30 from Woolworths, it has guy ropes, just like a big tent really. I dont know how it will perform in the winter but right now my toms are loving it. It,s in a corner of the garden and tied on to fence at three sides and old fashioned washing pole (it,s bedded in concrete) at the other. So that should keep it keep it earthbound. I,m sure it will give a fair bit of protection and I,m sure it will be worth the money.

kazwookie

I bought one of the small ones (in the first link) from instore last week it was £9.99.

Took about 5 mins if that to put together, I would def recommend anchoring it, as it does seem light weight.

madrhino

Hi

Thanks for all the info.

It is the mini lightweight one that I am looking for.

Woolworths don't have any in stock, neither do Argos, as it's more something that's sold in the spring. Have seen some lightweight ones on Amazon and Ebay, just not sure which one to opt for.

Unfortuinately I don't have an instore near me (am in Nottingham and I don't drive), which is a pity as it looks like a good shop, and cheap too, have looked at their website and they don't have a delivery option.
We did have a poundstretcher a few years ago but it's gone now.

susieb

I bought a deluxe mini greenhouse last year in the B+Q sale it was £15 reduced from £30 so more expensive than the woolies type but well worth it its on wheels very heavy and survived all the winds earlier. Its also prettier as its curved at the top.

susieb

Here it is - reduced and well worth it, I am very pleased with it
http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav/nav.jsp?action=detail&fh_secondid=9372193&fh_view_size=6&fh_start_index=6&fh_location=%2f%2fcatal!!!1%2fen_GB&fh_search=growhouse&fh_eds=%c3%9f&fh_refview=search&ts=1218552060940&isSearch=true

sillyvixen

susieb wrote: »

Here it is - reduced and well worth it, I am very pleased with it
http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav/nav.jsp?action=detail&fh_secondid=9372193&fh_view_size=6&fh_start_index=6&fh_location=%2f%2fcatal!!!1%2fen_GB&fh_search=growhouse&fh_eds=%c3%9f&fh_refview=search&ts=1218552060940&isSearch=true

i have got the 4 shelf version of this and it is very sturdy. not blown over in the 2 years i've had it.

full-time-mum

I started with a plastic covered shelving unit but have now graduated onto a proper greenhouse.

If you are going for plastic shelves then you are right about them blowing over. We put some breeze blocks on the bottom shelf to weight it down and allowed it to sink into the gravel on which it was standing. I only used it to raise plug plants for my pots and baskets and it was better than nothing.

My OH then brought me a plastic greenhouse (ditto the blowing over problem). I grew my tomatos in it quite successfully for one year and then got given a proper greenhouse. The main problem I had was with condensation - you have to religiously open the door every day. If you position it in a very sunny spot, then the plastic will eventually go brittle and yellow. I didn't use mine over winter so don't know what the performance is then.

It will help you control the slugs but don't expect it to completely solve the problem. This year I've had loads inside my greenhouse and have finally had to resort to pellets as well as the usual tricks (eggshell/beer/copper). I actually wondered whether I could attach a battery to the metal staging to deter the little .....

Have you considered growing herbs in hanging baskets? I find that these are generally much easier to keep the slugs out of and am trying a hanging basket tomato this year.

Putting copper around the legs of the shelves may help but, as you've pointed out, they can get in by climbing other plants and slithering across or climbing up the plastic/glass.


They are certainly a cheap way of finding out whether you would use a greenhouse. You never know, but you might find a glass one on freecycle.

twiglet98

I got a £14.99 four-shelf mini greenhouse and a £9.99 growbag house in the garden centre in May. The plastic tubes that slot together split on assembly and had to be reinforced with gaffer tape. They are on the concrete patio, against the west facing wall either side of the patio doors but not secured to the wall - stupidly. First strong wind they both went across the garden, lifted up like tents. The growbag house is unrepairable, all the tubes broke and the cover tore. Six 60-cell trays of seedlings went flying with the mini greenhouse. We put it back together, laid a slab across the bottom shelf and have left the cover off for the summer. My neighbours have theirs securely tied to their post-and-rail fence, feeding cable ties through holes they made in the cover. Theirs survived last winter and this summer so far.

Davesnave

I made my own low greenhouse out of fence posts, (concreted-in) ranch style fencing wood and roofing battens + some polytunnel cover. If you have a panel fence facing the right way, it is easier, as this can be the rear wall.

Seven years on and my poly top/side covers could do with replacement, but otherwise, being tanalised wood, there's no rot. I'd expect it to last about as long as I do!