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!)