Grow Your Own Magazine

maillme · #1 (**permalink**) 27-05-2008, 01:36 PM

Hi there,

Brand new to gardening - have been growing my chilli plants on my window for about a month now, have recently moved them to 3" pots (i have 10 of them) - and will need to move them to their final potting in the near future - which means, im going to need a greenhouse - i have seen a few advertised for free, as long as i can dismantle and collect.

Problem is:

a) Is there alot involed in dismantling? (What tools?)
b) Will it fit in my car (Fiat doblo MPV).

Many thanks for any advice - im excited about gardenign already!

Neil

Dobby · #2 (**permalink**) 27-05-2008, 02:10 PM

A warm welcome to the grapevine 'mailme', there's a good bunch of grapes on here, lots of good advice and a good laugh too!

HA HA HA
we done it twice, even got a 8/10 on my fiat panda
you will need spaners, about 10mil, screwdriver, adjustable spaner, wd40 (lots of), pliers, Plasters

new glass supply, gloves,
wclips, z clips, (take a jar of oil to soak them in) new bolts and nuts (all from ebay) or garden center, camera, perminat marker (not pencil like MrsD used on the last one).
wet wether coat (cos its bound to rain it did on both ours

)
a good temper plenty of time and rember its freeeeeee
rember rope (Mrs D nicked my belt to tie it to the roof of my car)

first thing to do is to remove the w clips and glass cearfully one pice at a time and stack safely in size.

then lable each bar and take photos so you know how it goes back.

remove the door then the vertical bars from the roof then the side bars

then you shoud have the external fram left.
then remove the center bar from the roof then the rest of the roof
have someone suporting the sides then remove the front and back
all done
now go for stiches and stop swearing now have a hot bath and lots of alcohol

put up the next day after a good rest!

The piccies below are from our first one, there's a thread here all about it Chance for a free greenhouse!

Have fun!

Mrs Dobby · #3 (**permalink**) 27-05-2008, 03:15 PM

Hi Neil, and welcome to the 'vine! Waht varieties of chillies are you growing?

Mr D is a grumpy sod (I can say that cos he's my hubby), so dont be put off by his last post, if you get the chance of a freebie greenhouse, then go for it, just make sure you have a day to dismantle and move it, and another day asap to build it back up! Dont be tempted to think you'll remember where each bit goes, as you wont, and take a flask of tea and have regular breaks! Oh, and enjoy the new greenhouse when you get one!

Lastly, remember, one greenhouse is never enough (as Nick the Grief will tell ya), we started with a 10' by 8', then got another 8' by 6' and have just gotten another 8' by 6' and a lean to on our new plot, plus we've a 6' by 4' walk in plastic one which is going up on the plot tomorrow!

maillme · #4 (**permalink**) 27-05-2008, 04:09 PM

Thanks for the welcome people!

My Chilli's, well.....ive not got many, i have been growing them on my windowsill - so its all new to me:

- Jalapeno's (my favourite and the main reason for chilli's - cant buy them fresh anywhere here

)
- Scotch Bonnet
- And some other variety with peach in the name! (im at wrk jst now)

Neil

Mrs Dobby · #5 (**permalink**) 27-05-2008, 04:34 PM

Cool, sounds like a couple of nice varieties there Neil!

Last year was our first growing year, and (as is normal for us) we went a bit overboard with chillies and peppers, growing 15 or so different types, still have lots of dried chillies left, but totally worth it, the taste is sooo much better than shop bought, and if you save the seeds, then you can grow them year after year!

There's a good chilli info site here growing chilli peppers thechileman.org
Julian from there posts on the vine occassionally too!

maillme · #6 (**permalink**) 27-05-2008, 07:59 PM

that chilli site is great!

many thanks for the responses! - Now i need to find a free greenhouse! (the others are gone

)

Neil

yoanbob · #7 (**permalink**) 27-05-2008, 08:05 PM

are you going to join the chilli chalenge?

maillme · #8 (**permalink**) 27-05-2008, 08:32 PM

Hi Yoanbob,

whats the chilli challenge? Ive never grown them before........

Neil

Mrs Dobby · #9 (**permalink**) 27-05-2008, 08:49 PM

Its on trhe chilliman site, grow the biggest of a certain variety and win prizes! Jalapeno is this years variety!

Last year we came 10th, so not too bad considering we really didnt have a clue, beginners luck, or what!

maillme · #10 (**permalink**) 02-06-2008, 03:54 PM

Hopefully ill have the same luck! haha

OK, i got my greenhouse (after 3 hrs in the pouring rain and i need to go back tonight for the base & Door!)

I took a pic of it (standard 6 x 4 i think) although apparently its 16 yrs old - comparitavely the exact same as current day greenhouse tho - and excellent condition!

Anyhow - im going to struggle like mad it think to re-build, as it was chucking it down with rain, we didn't have a lot of time to work out the method!

So - a couple of questions:

1) Here is the order im thinking:
- Base
- Corner beams (Vertical)
- Wall Beams (Vertical)
- Roof Beams
- Glass

Is this the way to do it?

2) I think i should replace the Z / W clips and bolts - anyone have a good recomendation for a cheap supply?

many thanks,
Neil

kernowyon · #11 (**permalink**) 02-06-2008, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maillme

I think i should replace the Z / W clips and bolts - anyone have a good recomendation for a cheap supply?

one of the cheapest places for clips and nuts & bolts is wilko's, i have moved two 'freecycle' greenhouses and you will always sheer a few bolts putting them back together.

PAULW · #12 (**permalink**) 02-06-2008, 08:42 PM

MAILME
When I built my greenhouse 1st built the base, then built the two ends then build the two sides, now you have four pieces, take one end and marry a side to it, with either someone to hold it or with pieces of timber steady the frame and attach another section, when all four sides are together you can then work on the roof.

Mrs Dobby · #13 (**permalink**) 02-06-2008, 10:10 PM

Do it like wot Paul said!

Wilco's w clips and bolts are ok, as are those you can get from ebay or the internet, but we did notice a difference between them and the slightly more expensive ones from our local GC, they were much stronger, especially the w clips, certainly worth a few more pennies IMHO!

Good luck with the rebuild!

maillme · #14 (**permalink**) 20-06-2008, 07:00 PM

Fnially i got my greenhouse:

Neil

Dobby · #15 (**permalink**) 20-06-2008, 09:07 PM

nice one I take it it all whent well then

maillme · #16 (**permalink**) 20-06-2008, 10:16 PM

eh, kind of! haha

Had toi get new screws, clips etc - but i got there! now im mastering how to grow!!! haha

Neil

lynda66 · #17 (**permalink**) 10-07-2008, 12:23 AM

regarding the dismantling of said greenhouse (i'm glad i now know to take a spanner,a marker, and wd40, i'd only thought about a screwdriver and a hammer) tomorrow we are taking down a freecycle shed and greenhouse, is it not possible to leave the panels intact? ie keep it as 2 roof panels, 2 sides, and 2 ends? or will that fall apart? neighbour has a big flat bed truck, so size of panels isn't an issue.

thanks

Lynda xx

Dobby · #18 (**permalink**) 10-07-2008, 08:53 AM

It might work if you lay the panels down, depends how steardy they are good luck
I,m just going to pick up a push mower from freecycle

Kristen · #19 (**permalink**) 10-07-2008, 09:37 AM

"i'm glad i now know to take a spanner, ..."

Take a camera. Photograph it from every angle. Mostly each panel is the same as the next one, but the ends, eves, doors, etc. have different bits.

Also heavy duty gloves for handling the glass - otherwise you'll get cut to pieces!

"is it not possible to leave the panels intact?"

I don't know how well they will travel with the glass in - glass is happier stacked upright and all-snuggled-up IYSWIM!

Once you take the glass out it has no rigidity and will might buckle etc.

It doesn't take long to dismantle - I took down a 30' aluminium greenhouse, with a mate, in 3 hours or so.

If it is old some of the bolts will probably sheer off. They are cheap enough to replace. (i.e. I'm not sure how much time it is worth spending with WD40 to prevent them sheering).

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