my greenhouse

[petal]

My greenhouse was destroyed by high winds friday night - I awoke to a pile of rubble and twisted metal and plants hurled all over the place - sob!
The insurance covers it, so does anyone have any recommended brands of greenhouse that would replace it? Are polytunnels sturdier?

[The Reverend]

Good afternoon Petal sorry to hear your bad news.

I have a Robinsons greenhouse and can not recommend them highly enough, thay are a little more expensive than some, but well worth the money i feel.

[piskieinboots]

rotten luck petal - I only have a plastic jobby so can't recommend a good g/h, hope you get it sorted soon

[kirsty b]

What a horrible thing to happen. Hope you get it sorted soon.

[Armorel]

Oh petal, what a miserable state of affairs

I can't imagine losing an entire greenhouse, plants and all (although I came very close to losing my Alton cedarwood, then brand new, in the hurricane that blasted the islands in 1989)

Wind resistance depends a lot on the site. Polytunnels, if not clad tightly, will flap and then the possibility of ripping is increased.

You'll probably find you get what you pay for but The GreenHouse People website recommends Robinsons and Hercules as being pretty tough.

http://www.greenhousepeople.co.uk/

Two West and Elliott (UK) offer quite a wide selection too, including the Rion make which is, apparently, highly recommended in the US.

Two Wests and Elliott (UK)

I hope you managed to salvage some plants from the wreckage

Armorel

[Madasafish]

My Tesco one has lasted 25 years so far...

[Paulottie]

Look in the classified ads, often they are free to those who can find a trailer/van to collect them. Obviously involves work tho. but you don't have to pay excess or increased premiums.

As with all things- you get what you pay for. There are some beautiful ones out there, that require a brickie to build.... down to perfectly adaquate budet and diy models.

Really the longevity comes down to maintenance(esp if wooden). The quality of the base and fixings is paramount. i use concrete blocks cemented together and laid on rubble. with a screw and Rawl plug every foot to hold it down. Make sure you choose a site away from trees...you may laugh but on of my (3!)greenhouses came from a neighbour who sited it under an apple tree...it needed a few new panes in the roof!

[Paulottie]

PS if you go down the insurance route: Try and get one with autovents, insulation/shading, and staging and maybe a heater included ,as those are what really make a greenhouse.

[HeyWayne]

My Tesco one has lasted 25 years so far...

How the hell did you get that in the trolley?

Sorry to hear about your news petal, I'd be distraught if my cheapie little £20 greenhouse was destroyed, can't imagine how gutted you are. Hope it all gets sorted soon.

[petal]

thanks for the advice but I might have to despair - the insurance does not cover it as it was on patio slabs - I asked them if I ought of placed it on fluffy pillows and do they pay out for anything - I have been in a bad mood all day and was totally monosyllabic during parents evening tonight - might need to sell some paintings before I can buy a new one- aaarrrgghhh!

[smallblueplanet]

So how should it have been in the garden to be covered by the insurance then?

[petal]

They told me 99% of claims on greenhouses fail so not to bother. Sometimes building insurance covers it but only if its made of glass, mine was polycarbonate (kids...) to be honest, I am pretty much the queen of manipulation but the cow on the other end of the phone at TESCOS INSURANCE EVERYBODY was even better!!

[petal]

also, how do I get a nice picture on my messages , like everyone else or am i completely silly?

[JennieAtkinson]

You have my sympathies Petal. I lost a greenhouse a few years ago, it quite spectactularly exploded in some strong gale force winds after a small panel on the door blew out. I am still digging the glass up from the garden now, six years later.

I did get a polytunnel as I thought at least plastic would be easier to clear up if I lost it. Its doing well, but it is now the same as a greenhouse. I now have a Hartleys Greenhouse (sshhhh don;t tell anyone how expensive!) and its loverly. Brick base and metal top. But I know I'm lucky. I also spent a whole year plotting the strong winds and their direction in the garden before deciding on where to put it. Its all been well worth while, even though very expensive!

[JennieAtkinson]

You can find out about posting pictures here

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...sting_493.html