A Breezy Day Making Light Work of My Mini Greenhouse!

[Artisan]

Last year I purchased one of those mini grow houses that takes a grow bag. Although it was successful in producing some great Tomatoes, Cucumbers and Galia melons it had just about fell apart by the end of the season. I said to myself �No worries� so I took it down and put it out for our rubbish collection. I then decided that next season (this year) I would go up market and buy one of those plastic (UPV) covered mini walk-in greenhouses. You know the type. The ones with a zipped roll-up door with some built-in staging in either side. The greenhouse was purchased from a well-known auction website for the massive sum of �28.99. Having seen the prices for the same or similar product I thought that I had made a real killing and had got one over on the seller who obviously didn�t know what they were selling and were giving it away for a song. When it arrived I assembled it and to be honest I was very pleased with what I had got for my money.


Well, all was good until we had a breezy day. What a good job I had anchored to the ground. The wind blew the greenhouse rocked back and forth in a memorising fashion but I thought to myself these greenhouses are meant to do that or they wouldn�t sell them would they!


Well to shorten the story, it started to fall apart and take on an odd shape leaning dangerously backwards. What I discovered was that some of the plastic joints that held the frame tubes had broken so I had to resort to repairing and strengthening with timber and canes.


What I should have done was listen to my Grandmother (God rest her soul) when she used to say �Buy Cheap Buy Twice�.


So my advice to anyone out there thinking about buying one of these greenhouse is Don�t if you live in a wind tunnel like I do.


Just out of interest. Is there anyone out there that could recommend a good, strong, PVC mini walk-in greenhouse for next season? Money no object!!!


Greg

[Jay-ell]

I've found the different manufacturers much the same. A difference can be made in the construction - for the plastic connectors I found that wrapping the sockets tightly with SOS pipe repair tape strengthened them, although this puts the cost up. |Some form of diagonal bracing also help make the frame sturdier - I used paracord tied to diagonally opposite corners.

[bario1]

Mine's frame is weighed down inside with four 25ltr water carriers full of water to stop it flying away, and the cover is stapled to the pallets I built it on - also there are guide ropes on each corner which I've tied tightly to immovable objects nearby. I still expect to see it gone or in ruins every time I go to the plot though.

[burnie]

Even the plastic cover only last for one and a bit seasons, they really are not fit for purpose, the only one I still have and can use has never been used outside, it is now in my greenhouse as a halfway internal cold frame for plants out of a heated propagator prior to either going in the greenhouse or being hardened off for outside.

[vixylix]

I have one from W1lkos - which cost the grand sum of �10 - the cover ripped a bit next to the zip, but its on its third season and going strong (touch wood!)