Building a growhouse

[monkeyboy]

Our garden is far too small for any reasonable sort of greenhouse. Rather than clog up the limited window sill space, I looked at growhouses. Some looked very flimsy with plastic or lightweight metal tubular structures. Indeed, the one we bought from homebase (https://www.homebase.co.uk/2-tier-grow-rack_p579772) distorted in the brief hot weather we had back in June.

I quite like the look of this:
https://www.homebase.co.uk/rowlinson...nhouse_p359303

But I'd rather build something to a custom size so it fits within a particular space.

Has anyone managed to successfully build their own growhouse/minigreenhouse?

[Cadalot]

Monkey Boy - Yep twice as extensions to sheds on both of my allotments



This one normally has short tomatoes in it, but currently it's being used for storage I place a sheet of polycarbonate in the front early on in the year.

Both have polycarbonate roofs the side panels of the one above are made out of an old fence panel



This one has a twin wall polycarbonate panel and a debris netting panel that can be fitted on the front and the side panels are made of waterproof ply left over from my wet room conversion It's is used for hardening off plants early on and a shelf that folds down to use for drying onions etc. and I plant to grow short bush tomatoes in it next year.

[burnie]

I have some old double glazed units from a conservatory to build one this autumn, always found them useful.

[monkeyboy]

Thanks all. I don't have any raw materials to use so was going to look into buying the timber and polycarbonate sheets from Wickes or similar.

Any suggestions on wood?

[SelkirkAlex]

slightly off topic, I bought one of those last year from robert dyas for about £90, just checked that special is over but they have a kingfisher equivalent for £79.95

[Cadalot]

Monkeyboy - Skip diving and keeping your eyes open this cold frame was made using windows rescued from a skip and the sides are gravel boards, the air vents were old ones I replaced when re decorating the bedrooms



Or Timber roofing Batten and Pop Bottles



and this year I made my portable Grow Stations



and created one in the shed

[Stan79]

eBay and Freecycle are good sources of old windows, shower screens, glass doors, etc... Many of these have toughened glass so are pretty strong.

I bought thin twin wall polycarbonate for a second hand potting shed i bought on ebay that needed new glass. It's fine but if i'm honest and if i were doing it again i would try and find some perspex instead of the twin wall poly. It doesn't let enough light through so the plants tend to get a bit leggy if i'm not careful. Perspex is a lot more expensive though (from memory).

[Nicos]

Do double glazing firms pass on old double glazed units if you ask very, very nicely?

[burnie]

I've moved this to the DIY section as it seems most appropriate, good luck with the build and post some pictures so we can follow the build please...................

[nickdub]

some places will give them to you or you can pick them up really cheaply - you do have to be real careful with the glass units when moving them if they are not framed though - I've shattered a couple by stupidly not handling them carefully enough - probably best to frame them up in some scrap wood asap if you do get some.

[geepee]

I made a mini grow out of half an old blanket box topped off with a mini glasshouse as in one of Cadalots pics,
The other half is in the process of becoming my indoor grow light box(yet to be completed.
Attempting to attach photos, my first time so see howw it goes.