What size greenhouse?

[veg4681]

Without thinking, I ordered various tomato seeds and some of these are beefsteak which I gather must be grow in a greenhouse or equivalent. The size I would like is based on how many plants I can get in for my planting needs. Upto 10 tomatoes (but 6 is enough), 2 peppers, 2 aubergine, 1 or 2melon (optional) and small shelf space for raising seedlings.

I like those walk-in type plastic cover greenhouse because they're cheap and besides, you can put them away when not in use. Any advice much appreciated.

[Snadger]

Some of the beeefsteak, Marmande for example are marketed as outdoor toms!

The stock answer for the greenhouse is, whatever size you get it will be too small!

[Farmer_Gyles]

last year i bought an 8ftx6ft greenhouse - wish i'd bought twice the size

on the right hand (south / sun) side i have the 2 4ft staging things for seed trays etc - it's about right sort of size

on the left i have 6 tomato pots - these take up the whole of the 8ft length of the greenhouse
a couple of months ago i had 4 toms and 2 cucumbers on the left side, with a few peppers standing in front of the toms, but was always tripping over the peppers - last few have been moved onto the staging

i want to get a small water butt to go just inside the greenhouse so i can drip-feed the tomatoes - and that means less space for tomatoes etc

if i'd realised just how big plants grow, i'd have bought a greenhouse twice the size (and probably still filled it!)

don't forget you can grow toms and peppers outside - my outdoor toms were destroyed by blight but the greenhouse ones did very well - the greenhouse peppers have done better than the outside ones

my sister has teh frames for another 8x6 so i might put that up to back onto existing greenhouse next year

and from what i've read, probably best to avoid those cheap plastic things if you can afford a proper greenhouse

[Dobby]

there never big enough
last year I got a plastic 6by8 green house
then we got a 8by10 greenhouse free of friday ads like loot
then we got a 8by8 green house for the back yard for free
so dont buy one get one or 2 for free
and use all 3
4 we got a small seedling one too
our outside tome got blight as well Farmer Gyles
going to get the blight risitent ones from tomson and morgon this year (next year)

[veg4681]

last year i bought an 8ftx6ft greenhouse - wish i'd bought twice the size

on the right hand (south / sun) side i have the 2 4ft staging things for seed trays etc - it's about right sort of size

on the left i have 6 tomato pots - these take up the whole of the 8ft length of the greenhouse
a couple of months ago i had 4 toms and 2 cucumbers on the left side, with a few peppers standing in front of the toms, but was always tripping over the peppers - last few have been moved onto the staging

Thanks for the descriptive space usage on your 8x6ft greenhouse. It works out like 6 plants on each side which will be just about adequate for my needs. I may have to compromise space for raising seedlings since I already have a small plastic greenhouse. It's somewhat big than I would have liked (was thinking of 6x6ft originally) but it's useful to know the options.

[veg4681]

there never big enough
last year I got a plastic 6by8 green house
then we got a 8by10 greenhouse free of friday ads like loot
then we got a 8by8 green house for the back yard for free
so dont buy one get one or 2 for free
and use all 3

If one is going free or substantially cheaper than buying brand new, that will be a real bonus. Some of these cost around £300 and over!

The annoying thing about eBay is they've been raided by retailers that you don't see much of the bargains from genuine private sellers (not daytime private ebay traders).

The free ones tend to get snatched up quickly unless you're lighting fast. I think the local ad is a good bet and nothing as expensive as eBay.

[nick the grief]

Keep you eye on e-bay a 10x8 went for £70 last week and and an 18x10 for about the same. Try freecycle they're a usefull source. I know the plastic nes you are on about & to be honest they're not worth the money really - the covers don't last ( especially if we have any high winds).

If you speak nicely to Piglet he may tell you how he built his polytunnels .....

PS they are right they are never big enough I've got a 12x8, 8x6 and two coldframes & am looking to get a polytunnel for up the lottie as I've nover got enough room

[Seahorse]

I'd go for one as big as you can accomodate. I know people don't rate the plastic ones very highly but I was given one at the start of this year and am lucky to have a space sheltered on three sides to put it. It's been fabulous for me, providing me with peppers, tomatoes and aubergines, even after a late start.

Claire

[Dobby]

I found friday adds not many people know about it thats how we got our first one
http://www.friday-ad.co.uk/SearchResults.asp?Class=193
the phone call is a rip of thow just ask them for there number and call them back

[Matt.]

As everyone has said go for one as big as you can. I have a 6x6 greenhouse obatained for £25 from adtrader.co.uk. In this I've managed to fit five growbags - two down each side and one opposite the door. This allows me to get nine tomato plants and four cucumber. I grow seedlings for the allotment in trays on the floor!

Its fantastic to have and suits my garden but its really not big enough for everything I want to do. If you want to propogate a lot of seedlings you'll want twice the size or more.

One final tip if you want a green greenhouse don't bother with the expensive powder coating. Just get a tin of hammerite and paint it before you put the glass in. You don't even have to paint it all - just the sides you can see!!