My start with plastic 'greenhouses'

[ukmastiff]

LO all am only a year two beginner but this is what I have tried so far with mini greenhouse type items.

I used those mini greenhouse tiers for my 'virgin' growing season (year b4 last), the ones about one grow bag deep and 6 foot high. They were excellent and toms flew up in them. The trouble was as the space is restricted , condensation dripped on to and blighted the tomatoes badly in one of them ( destroyed). I got them half price ( £15 each) and though the covers ripped in one season I am keeping them now to use as shelving and for this they are superb.

This time I have bought one of those dodgy plastic greenhouses and I have seen folk post that apart from blowing away they are O.K. As a resut I am going to use screw in dog stakes and line to tie it down as best as I can and hope this is sufficient to make it last the season. I got a 12 by 6 one for 65 pounds delivered which was the best price from many sellers.

Has anyone else used one successfully ( I hope)

Cheers Mas

[zazen999]

Welcome to the Vine - can you pop your location into your profile so that people know whereabouts you are gardening - it really helps!

I've got one [growhouse] and use it for storing pots in the winter and overwintering chillis....some have died but there are a couple that still might have life in them!

They come into their own around mid march, when a majority of my seeds are sown though...I am awaiting a greenhouse [after the decking is done, after the wall is finished...], and next year most of mine will be in there, but the growhouse will still be used for seedlings as it warms up because it helps to grow harder plants.

[Two_Sheds]

They were excellent and toms flew up in them. The trouble was as the space is restricted , condensation dripped on to and blighted the tomatoes badly in one of them

You don't need the plastic on during high summer ... take it off

[Eco-Chic]

I have a four tier 180cm-ish plastic house. Last summer I left the plastic on, but the front open, to keep the rain off
My garden is relatively sheltered so I haven't had problems with it blowing over or away.

I've bought a walk-in plastic house and coldframe which I haven't erected yet.

I ordered a spare cover for four tier jobby for my sister as her puppy scoffed hers. The supplier sent me the entire unit in error and told me to keep it so I'll have a spare set of shelves which will come in handy.

[Eyren]

I have a four tier 180cm-ish plastic house. Last summer I left the plastic on, but the front open, to keep the rain off
My garden is relatively sheltered so I haven't had problems with it blowing over or away.

Same here - the ventilation on the plastic ones is rubbish, but the wet summers we've been having, a little rain protection helps to prevent waterlogging.

ATM mine has a fleece cover on, with the "door" left open, and is being used for the tray of lavender cuttings I took this afternoon, plus the pots of herbs from the garden centre that will go in to replace the old leggy lavender bushes. The fleece is getting a bit tatty, but I've bought one of the "shade" covers to replace it, as my patio gets very hot if we have any sun in summer (wot summer???). I also have one with a plastic cover on order, as I want to grow lots of toms and peppers this year - fingers crossed!

The plastic ones can't compare with a proper greenhouse, but they seem much better value than the "budget" polycarbonate ones, which are a lot more expensive and often don't have proper ventilation either. And as others have said, they double as shelving at other times of the year