Grow Your Own Magazine

Hi everyone.

I've just purchased my first greenhouse a 6'x6' aluminium one with polycarb glazing.

The space where I was going to fit it is a little bit of a squeeze (should have got a 6' x 4') so I'm looking around for somewhere else, which is where I need some advice!

The ideal place is behind the west end of my garage, however this would be north of a garden fence. The fence is a normal garden fence height - 6ft I think.

(attached is a quick sketch of the position)


I realise it will cast some shade into the greenhouse but have read varying reports on usefulness shade, but also that perhaps i'll end up with tall and spindely plants

My thinking is that, as the fence only covers the vertical side of the greenhouse, the sun will still be full sun via the angled roof.

I've also read that sometimes, cover from the prevailing wind is also good (I think prevailing wind in Essex is S - S/W; does anyone know this?)

Does anyone have an advice on this position please?

Thanks very much for reading.

Paul

Attached Thumbnails

 

One good thing about that location is that you may well find it doesn't overheat so easily in the summer, so you won't need to whitewash/screen it.
Maybe the reduction in light in the spring might make a bit of a difference? Keeping the glass clean would help keep up the amount of light getting to the seedlings.
'fraid I'm a bit of a newbie to greenhouses too!
Oh and hello there and welcome to the Vine!!

Hi Paul, The position of your greenhouse is similar to where my Father-in-law used to have his except where you have West he had South & his fence was only about 3 or 4ft. tall but he also had a garage behind it as you do.He didn't have any problems growing toms & cucumbers in there but I think you may have some problems in that due to the shade from the garage & the fairly high fence you'll only really get sun in the afternoons.As you say this may have some benefits & the shelter will protect the greenhouse but not sure it is an ideal position.

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thanks for both of your replies and warm welcome!

it's true, the garage will stop the sun in that spot until around 11/12 o'clock, and then, all through the day, the side closest to the fence, will be in some shade.

i read somewhere earlier, that this can be compensated by using that side for the staging / potting up area.

I'm thinking the angle of the sun will reach the side furthest from the fence, but you're right, this will only be for a few months in the middle of the year.

Unfortunately its the ideal place, but it may have to be accomodated elsewhere!

It is a polycarb greenhouse, so the opacity of it should let in 20% less light than glass ... great at the height of the summer, but perhaps not in spring/autumn and behind a fence!

Thanks

If you look in the gardening press (certainly in one of the weekly gardening papers) they have some grow lights that are basically a larger wattage low energy lamp ( or thats wat they look like) one of these as suplimentary lighting in the early & late part of the year would answer your needs with the low light levels.

Originaly my greenhouse was behind some 6ft trellis panels( on the south side and covered in roses & clematis ) and it wasn't too bad, now my smaller greenhouse is in the shadow of my big one.

Sometimes you just have to make the best of what you've got and not worry too much

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ntg

Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.
A large group of professionals built the Titanic

http://grief-encounters.blogspot.com/

I don't think you'll have any problem at all. I have a similar 6x6 greehouse positioned in the corner behind an 6' fence to south and east. There is a 3' gap south and 1' gap east between grrehouse and fence. You'll be really suprised how high the sun gets with only shade until mid morning. Last year I had no problem growing tomatoes, cucumbers and chillis with bumper crops off them all. These were all in growbags on the floor so no staging to raise the height. If it fits your garden well its worth trying it in my opinion.

thanks nick and matt, sounds promising!

i've taken friday off of work, so I'll move the base about and see where it'll best go. it's not too bad across the other side of the garden (full sun all day) but it's a bit close to our pond and sticks out a bit too - I can plant some shade around it to hide it a bit ...

One other thing, what are everyone's thoughts on a base for the greenhouse?

I have one with a galvanised steel base.

Initially, and according to the instructions, I was thinking I can place it directly on the (compacted) soil, and then concrete little metal pegs (look like tent pegs) into the corners.

Not sure how wind-resistant they'll be.

The other option is to put down some sand, and then lay paving slabs, and screw into the slabs. I think it would be much more stable, but not sure if I absolutely have to fix the slabs with concrete, or is it enough just to lay them (level of course!)?

Any opinions greatly received!!

Again I wouldn't worry about stability. If its glass (I don't know about plastic) it will be pretty much immovable once built and weighs a ton! It certainly won't be blowing around. I have a base for mine which I placed on packed soil but then I filled it with rubble I had and concreted in the inside corners of the base. I laid flags in the middle and used pea gravel to cover the ruble round the three sides. It all comes up to the height of the base and looks great. Plus I painted the base and frame green to make it more aesthetically pleasing!

sounds promising (and cheaper!), thanks Matt.

mine is actually a polycarb house, so it's pretty lightweight though. I've read some people lost bits and pieces off of theirs in the wind at the end of last year, so i want to make sure it firmly secured! don't want it taking off ...