Neglected Wooden Greenhouse

[nic73bay]

I’m hoping I can get some initial non growing advice...

Finally (after 5 years of living here) I am ready to focus more on the garden and includes a 13’ x 9’ wooden greenhouse.

As I didn’t want it to get beyond help I’m hoping to sort this before the weather turns. I’m on a low budget as my house requires renovating but I have begun taking the glass out as it was falling out in parts... some however is firm having been either repaired with copious amounts of putty or originally it was puttied in and it’s sitting firm. It’s a struggle with these but 2/3rds done.

Inside is some ramshackle staging (I think beyond help) there are two metal water troughs (one buried partially inside the greenhouse and one outside). Both with stagnant water in 濫
The outside one has holes in. They look impossible to move!

It looks like it’s a earth floor but could be years of debris covering it.

My plan is to clean it up, put preservative on and put the glass back in and set out beds/staging.

It’s close to electric supply. There are nearby ramshackle ‘workshops’ which need to be pulled down before they collapse. A couple of dead trees nearby to chop.

My main foods I wish to grow long term either in the garden or in the house are based on what we eat large amounts of
Tomatoes
Cucumber
Spinach
Salad leaves
Rocket
Courgette
Green Beans
Broccoli
Onions
Carrots
Leeks
Squash
Cabbage...

that sort of thing, not straight away but eventually

The rest of my garden is very mature and slightly overgrown but will grow a mix of flowers and food in the borders. I think this was probably how it was anyway because as I clear I find fruit bushes and herbs as well as an existing a grape and other fruit trees. Therefore I would look to start off /propagate flowers and also grow veg in the greenhouse.

Any advice on how to set get the greenhouse back to life, preserving, putting glass back in, setting staging or for space based for what I will (eventually) growing would be incredibly helpful. I literally know nothing about greenhouse growing.

I’m struggling to add photos but will continue to try.

[Scarlet]

Hi Nic, photos will help here - it's difficult to picture without them. You should be able to post pics now. Are you using a phone to upload? Are you getting an error message? The main reason is usually because the image is too large. If you are on a phone that can edit photos, it takes seconds to crop a little from one side and/or top and bottom. If you are using a computer you can use some photo resize software. It doesn't take long when you get used to it.

#this is worth a read:
https://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gr...one_94345.html

[Baldy]

From your list cucumber and toms are really the only things where you will have some varieities that *need* a greenhouse. Some of the others are growable in the greenhouse though.

13 * 9 is a fair size - if you put some sort of bed along the side(s) (raised or otherwise) make sure you have plenty of space to walk up the middle. Presumably you will be using agricultural glass - if so don't be tempted to fit it bare handed...
Give it a very good clean before staging goes in.
You might want to look at fitting something along the eve to allow you to run support lines down for plants to grow up - I've found this easier/better than trying to use bamboo canes for support.
Good luck.

[nic73bay]

Pictures

With much fiddling using my phone I think I have some...

[nic73bay]

More pictures

Sorry not sure they’re great quality.

[nic73bay]

Thank you for your replies. It took a while then clicked it was file size. I was using my phone so edited the picture by adding so text and it magically shrinks the file size significantly �� Goodness know why it does!

Do I clean with anything particular? ***** fluid or something better/not so strong?

I have no idea what type of glass it is... I assume agricultural... a couple are broken so guess will have to get some new.

I shall take a look at a support system... good idea. Thank you.

[Baldy]

Doesn't look too bad. ..

The sheds don't look salvageable - I'd get rid of them. Give the
glass a good clean.
Cut back what you can of the overhanging vegetation/trees.

[roitelet]

I would dig the soil away from the sides, replace any rotten wood, give the frame a good dose of preservative, clean the glass, and then replace it. Replace the staging with new and preferably removeable, dig over the beds to whatever design you wish. Away you go!!!

[nickdub]

Your GH looks OK and I agree with whats been suggested so far re getting it dug out and giving the wood a coat of preservative - may be ranch paint.
In addition if you have or can get a some aluminum angle lengths, then I'd use some pieces of that to strengthen any suspect glazing bars by screwing it to the insides of them. Also I'd use sheets of plywood to strengthen the base of the walls if necessary and finally I'd consider using poly-carbonate sheets as opposed to glass where you need new bits for the roof - its easier to work with, fix, virtually unbreakable and though it doesn't let through quite so much light the difference is not usually a problem.

[Two_Sheds]

Get yourself a copy of the Greenhouse Expert: Dr Hessayon. Alan Titchmarsh did one too. Order from your library, or for a couple squid on Amazon

[SarrissUK]

Wow, I love the look of that greenhouse! If you are looking for cheap ways of doing raised beds, I can thoroughly recommend IKEA bags - yes, the blue ones that you buy for £1.50 to take your shopping home.

I have used several of them outdoors this summer and they've been a roaring success! They do take a lot of compost, so I'd recommend putting lots of 'raw' stuff in the bottom.

I am putting them around the edges of the greenhouse next year. I just wish I'd thought of it for this year!!

[ESBkevin]

Good looking greenhouse and you've done a good job so far. I agree with the advice above particularly getting the soil away from the timber base sides. Then a good soak in preservative (better at this time of year if it's dry so the wood absorbs lots of it.
Chuck the staging or at least set it aside for serious repair. I would think there is enough timber in those tumble down sheds to cut and make new staging when you get time. Just clean off the glass, after all these years of non use there is unlikely to be much disease lurking there that a wash of the glass and a coat of timber preservative won't sort out.

[bikermike]

+ 1 for clearing the soil away, and cut back any vegetation as that will hold moisture close to it. also try to work the levels so that water drains away from the greenhouse.

In general with any building damp comes up from the ground and down from above, so if you are short of time, concentrate on the roof and the footings.