New Greenhouse

[Limbury Lad]

We are taking delivery of our new greenhouse soon a 6x4 due to space restrictions and are keen to hear any tips about setting up. Our garden is south easterley facing with minimal shade.
We took over an allotment late last year and this site is invaluable.
Thanks

[Jaxom]

Welcome Limbury Lad to the Vine. I'm growing in a greenhouse for the first year so I am fresh from setting it up.
Construct the frame sides and ends then lay them on the ground with the outside facing the floor. Fit both sides to the back end first and get used to only walking into the structure via the door end. You would be surprised how many people smash glass by walking through a section they used to use as a temporary door.
Fit the door end, but leave the door off until the very last thing.
When you build the greenhouse measure the frame diagonally corner to corner to make the frame is square by getting the same measurement both ways.
Next fit the end glass pains in the corners on each side first as this will help square the verticals. Move into the middle with glass along the side elevation and then fit the end elevation glass.
Good Luck

[Geordie]

I have 2 8x6 greenhouses and the most crucial tips, like Jaxom said, is to get the diagnols the same, and to get the base level. This makes fitting the glass so much easier.
If your greenhouse has one opening window & a door it is well worth considering fitting an extra vent somewhere. You can buy a louvre kit, B&Q, Two Wests & Elliot for example. This just replaces the existing pane which you get cut to fit the louvre.
Last tip, if the greenhouse is away from your house fit an automatic opener to the vent, suppliers as above. This makes keeping the greenhouse cool a much more practical solution.
Good luck & take your time!

[bramble]

My tip, make sure your greenhouse has a sound base.

[gcroft]

My advice is make sure your sober i have a lean to greenhouse without a door cause i fell through it half cut :-D

[Squirrel]

Gcroft - brilliant reason as to why you have no door - strust its not shtopped you drinking hic!

[nick the grief]

Best advice I can offer is move house to somewhere with more space. 1 greenhouse is never enough

Seriously, follow all the advice given & you won't go far wrong. If you a planning on having electric in there it may be easier to think about it before you put it up & run some of the plastic water piping underthe base then you can get the cable thru easier.

Also don't do what I did first time around. If you build your own staging don't build it in the greenhouse cos its nice & dry in there ....... you'll not be able to get it thru the door !!!

[andrewo]

Glad I'm not alone, I did this and built it my height, I tell you it was like being in Jack and the Beanstalk...fee-fie-fo-fum I built some staging bigger than my....

[Limbury Lad]

some sound advice thanks all

[dexterdoglancashire]

new greenhouse advice

my hubby had to dismantle one I purchased from ebay (£20 for an 8.5 x 6.5 ft one! billy bargin eh?!) he took photos then we used them if we got stuck! trouble was, at the end it was raining quite heavily - ink ran a bit, but we managed it in the end! dexterdog