Greenhouse

Bunny ...

I was given my aluminum style frame one and have found it wonderful, my mum is just getting into cuttings and seeds and thinking of a greenhouse . I would say she won't want one too big, I have seen there are many options just not sure what to suggest for her. Do they all need concrete pad put down first? Also I am wondering about heating mine , what do you use?

jo4eyes

Hi Bunny, lots of options for your Mum.

How about a lean-to type one? If there's a warm wall going spare, possibly on a patio/back/side of garage that would give you hard standing.

There's always an inexpensive polycarbonate type too, or plastic one, but with those they must be really firmly attached to a soild wall/fence post or they will walk/blow over in the wind very easily.

I dont heat mine, no electrics down there, & dont fancy freestanding parrafin types. A good wrapping with bubble wrap in the autumn will keep things warmer, but not warm, than no insulation. Being short & accident prone I dont even try to do the roof.

I also put a reflective layer beneath the bubble wrap layer- the sort of material found in DIY stores to fit behind radiators to reflect the heat back into the room. I remove the bubble wrap, to increase the light levels, in March, but leave the reflecting stuff in place until late in April most yrs. In my case that stuff is only put on the side that faces North & above the height of the staging- shades of foil behind a tray on a sunny sill.

I also use clear or fleece cloches as an extra layer over stored plants which must help. J.

Bunny ...

Thanks Jo , that's really helpful.

Busy-Lizzie

I have an aluminium frame greenhouse with polycarbonate glazing. It came with a metal base which you erect first which was quite easy to do but it did need some concrete. It doesn't have a concrete base, it was put up on the earth of the veg garden thanks to the base. You erect the base, just a retangle frame. Dig holes in each corner and middle of side, fill with concrete and inset  metal rods thing that are attached to the frame into the concrete before it sets, thus attaching the frame to the concrete in the ground. The greenhouse screws onto the frame. This meant I could have an earth floor for growing things eg tomatoes. It hasn't blown away yet!

At first I had a Parasene heater, then OH put up a cable for a little electric heater.

Bunny ...

Thanks busy. We got her a shed last yr and I think something beside it would be good. The area is flags so will have a look when next out....will take OH with me as no doubt he will be doing it rather than my brothers.