Oh NOW I really AM excited!

[organic]

I've just been asked if I want a greenhouse.
No glass, but it's a great step on my need for a greenhouse and no money to pay for one.

So... I've got no clue at all about these things (other than the benefits) so...

Do they have to be erected on a particular surface for the type of house or can they be put up on pretty much anything level?

I'll be glazing it eventually, but I'll need to get glass first - is there any reason that I can't put up the frame, cover it in polythene of some sort (padding/taping any sharp edges first of course) and glaze it when I have the chance? (So, sort of a greenhouse/polytunnel hybrid)

Might it even be possible to glaze it from the inside while I have things growing in there?

I'm going to try to get glass first as polythene hardly fits in with my "no glass" efforts... but other than that is there a reason it wouldn't work?

Is there a good resource I can read to get me started thinking about how to run/use the thing? I'll need to decide between things like using the soil under it or paving the floor and having raised beds/planters in there... things like that.

I've got to pop back out to the allotment to finish a job and then go to see the person who's giving me the frame, but already I've got thoughts and questions flying around my head so I'm posting this to get it out of my system so I can think about other things!

Haha.

I look forwards eagerly to your replies,

Cheers folks!

[Jeanied]

How fab, Organic - dunno the answer to your questions, mind - but I'm pleased for you!!

[OwningJacob]

I dont see why the polythene shouldn't work I've just started on an allotment and our coldframe is a polytunnel/coldframe hybrid lol and it works and it depends if you want shelves to what to us as a base (:

[rustylady]

As long as it has a level base, it doesn't matter whether it's on concrete, soil or slabs. You should be able to get hold of sheet polythene for temporary "glazing". Good luck with the project.

[organic]

Got a home for some Plum Tomatoes for canning now too.

Now I just need to get some seeds... maybe Roma...

Oh - wait a sec...

Thanks!

[organic]

Jacob - I can always knock together some shelving from old pallets or something. I'll manage on that front. Just as long as I've got somewhere to put these toms and peppers I've got littering the windowsills I'll be a happy lad.

Rusty - Sounds encouraging. I've got access to free slabs and the soil around there is well walked-on so pretty hard too. Spoiled for choice I think. Cheers!

And now I'm off to the plot (I had to check for replies before I left! I just couldn't help myself! Haha!)

[OwningJacob]

organic you dont necessarily have to grow Tomatos inside, but check with gardeners in your area if you suffer badly with blight i know we do

[organic]

Last year was a bad year, I believe. Even the guy I've been told is the resident walking-encyclopedia about growing things lost most of his crop to blight.
Hopefully this will be a drier summer and we'll have less bother with it. We'll see.

I've got at least one variety of tomato (Tigerella) which is meant to grow outdoors, but if things end up being a bit cool I suppose it might struggle to ripen the fruit. I'll probably put some in the greenhouse and some outside. In fact, I'm going to have to; I've got about 12 plants of Tigerella on the go so far and another 3 varieties still to sow so I very much doubt there'll be space for everything I'd like to grow in there. Maybe I'll build an extension once it's up. Haha.

[binley100]

I can offer one tip........If you're going to glaze it with glass eventually then make sure everythings dead on square when you put it up else your glass can break when it's being glazed.

[organic]

Thanks for that. I'm about to open the bag with the instructions and see if I can get my head around it - but with that tip in mind when it comes to assembly I'll be taking loads of diagonal measurements to make sure it's all square.

Is that the voice of bad experience or just something you know?

[chris]

You'll really need to glaze it from the outside, as that's what my instructions say (and others, i.e. if you break a pane, leave enough room around it to replace it).

[Bigmallly]

I'm sure Wayne will back me up 'ere, if you are a tall guy build it on some concrete blocks, that extra height really does make a difference.

[Patchninja]

Congratulations! You'll have hours of fun on that GH.
Chrismarks' advice is very important. You can't glaze from the inside as the clips go outside so it's very important to leave room all round the GH for access and maintenance.

[elsie-scot]

Give it a good wash down, it's not easy to get into all the knooks and crannies once panes etc in. Previous owners left a GH behind and it is very exciting indeed!

[organic]

I picked up the greenhouse last night and it's completely unused. It is still in the original box with the instructions and all the nuts and bolts in the original plastic bag.

Is it still a smart move to clean it up now or is it not really necessary with a new one?


OK - so for glazing, will I need access to the inside and the outside, or just the outside? I could always try to put the poly inside for now (double sided tape, maybe?) and glaze around it when I get the glass.


Mally - I'm 6'2" ish and had given a bit of thought to building it up on blocks like that. I'm always surprised at just how low the ridges and eaves are in greenhouses. The one issue being, of course, if it's built up you've got to step over a tall threshold to get into it. Not a problem I don't suppose - unless I decide to break my leg doing any one of the many daft sports I do or some blind maniac in a car (I JEST!!!) knocks me off my bike.


I hadn't considered access for maintenance and was going to put it right up to the plot boundary, so thanks for mentioning that, Chris and Patch.


Elsie - I've actually been offered the use of half my neighbour's greenhouse, but knowing how important cleaning and hygiene can be in greenhouses I'm not sure that's such a good idea. It could be far too easy to step on toes.