Grow Your Own Magazine

have seen a plastic walk in greenhouse - £35 from argos, 5' wide by 2' depth etc, sort of green plastic, not clear, am i wasting my time and how long will it last? thanks for your advicen

Hello MrsC2B, there's a lot on here about plastic greenhouses if you want to search for it. Never had one myself. From the posts on here it seems they will last til the first windy day, when the whole lot will blow away.
But maybe the people who have been happy don't post about it.
I'm sure the grapes who are happy with their plastic greenhouses will now let you know.

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From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.

thanks alice

Hi MrsC. I use a 3 tier mini greenhouse. The first bit of wind we had it just blew away. I now tie it to the wall so it can't go anywhere. The main problem is the plastic covers rip. The main weakness seems to be where the plastic is sewn to the zip so make sure you can get replacements if you want to use this type. Some makes you can also get fleece covers and net covers. I think they would be more useful INSIDE an existing greenhouse for extra insulation for tender plants or to increase humidity in part of the greenhouse space.

I use mnin ones inside a galss greenhouse. The plastic has lasted 3 years.. I fold it away in summer and use again in spring.

IF I used it outside in our spring weather , it would imo last a few weeks until: the first frost - the seams will split or:
high winds: it would blow away or:
careless handling or a falling tree branch- it would split.

Maybe in a sheltered spot?

we bought one last year put it up this year only to brake one of the plasic T joints but have put a pice if wood in the hole to holed it together It blowes about a bit in the wind
Personaly i'd put a wonted thing on freecycle we had 2 free greenhouses this year also try fridayads
the small plasic ones are stronger
Ill proberbly try and get a new small one when there on offer dont tell MrsD

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Some things in their natural state have the most VIVID colors
Dobby

have a look on freecycle or fridayadds loot or even tesco have a bord with thins for sale or wonted

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Some things in their natural state have the most VIVID colors
Dobby

My plastic walk in greenhouse blew away. This caused a lot of heartache as it was full of seedlings at the time. I wouldnt recommend them, but if you want to take the risk, make sure it is very securely anchored down, not just at the bottom but from the top also. Mine was secured at the bottom only and all the plastic joints snapped, I was just left with the bottom poles still held down and the rest was halfway up the garden.

Good luck.

Tracy

We have a super windy garden that causes lots of problems but we have a wee plastic greenhouse. We have it tied down and it also has bricks in the bottom. It has been fine so far though we also make sure the weight is mostly on the bottom plant wise.

Really good long tent pegs make a difference and they do split though. OUrs split the minute that we opened it but gaffa tape is a wondeful thing!

C

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Jan A novice gardener - first year of growing

I've got a four-tier one which I've had about six weeks.

Although I've treated it quite carefully in several places the seam has come away where the door is. It's poorly made and only has a single stitch through the plastic. Superglue has patched it up.

In fairly heavy winds its been ok, I've got a couple of bricks on the bottom shelf and a filled large watering can higher up.

I think it's best to tie the cover loosely to the frame so if it's windy air will pass through rather than push against it.

Have posted this before, but my 4 tiered one is still going strong after about 6 years, no tears or breaks and so long as it's somewhere sheltered and there is something reasonably heavy on the bottom shelf it won't blow away. The only problem I have is that the zip on one side doesn't go down past half way. Not a problem for what I want it for and it could probably be sorted with a bit of grease. Currently it's on the back of the house with various things being hardened off inside. Don't know how much it cost, can't have been much but I do know it came from B&Q.

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Some of us live in the past, always talking about back then. Some of us live in the future, always planning what we are going to do. And, then there are those, who neither look behind or ahead, but just enjoy the moment of right now.

Which one are you and is it how you want to be?

I had a 6 x 4 foot one from Instore last year for 35 quid. it was super all summer long but I lost it in the severe gales we had in November when it was all but destroyed. I think if I had been able to fix the first tear that appeared I might have saved it but everything was whipping about a lot and I couldn't reach the torn bit. I would deffo have had another if we hadn't got a great deal on a proper greenhouse from Focus.

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Happy Gardening,
Shirley

http://www.honeyjukes.co.uk

OH managed to get me a couple from work when they were half price! They have been so useful! I've used them inside my main greenhouse as a bit of extra help when germinating my seeds - I've now put them outside as like, mini cold frames to harden off my seedlings. I actually only had one mini greenhouse last year and grew all my seedlings in it! I would just say, but gentle when using the zips - and bear in mind you get what you pay for! I would recommend them but they arent for everyone. Bernie

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Appreciate the little things in life because one day you will realise they are the big things

I would recommend putting a big blob of silicone in the plastic bits before pushing the poles in - the worst problem I had with mine was the whole thing coming 'undone' if the wind rocked it at all. First one pole would work loose, then another, next thing the whole thing would collapse & the seedlings would be all over the place... Silicone helps to prevent that, so all you have to worry about then is the plastic cover tearing!

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Sarah

http://wixypixies.blogspot.com/

“Tell me one last thing,” said Harry. “Is this real? Or has this been happening inside my head?”
“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?”

If you had the side of a shed or a bit of spare wall space to attach it to with screw in eyes and strong cable ties. One of the old boys on my site has been doing this since his greenhouse was immolated last year and they havent budged when in use, and my site isnt isnt called "tornado alley" for nothing.to be honest at the end of the day they are not strongest of structures.

There was one a green house on manchester freecycle will pm you

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Some things in their natural state have the most VIVID colors
Dobby

Assuming I've looked up the right thing in the Argos catalogue, I have one very much like mentioned in the first post, except mine is about 6' deep. I was given it by a kind neighbour earlier this year and having had it for a few months, I would pay to replace it if necessary in heartbeat! Mine is in a sheltered spot and I have it weighted down with paving slabs and also tied at the back with a guy rope thing. It does flap a bit in the wind but no harm done so far. It had had a good few years use before it came to me too. It gets deliciously warm inside and I've been able to grow so much more.

I think I'd agree that up to a point 'you get what you pay for' but compared to the set up costs of a 'proper' greenhouse, I think they're extremely good value, especially for someone like me who is really still a beginner.

Claire

yes they're good if you can give it a sheltered site...mine have all ripped, torn, and twisted. Never again!

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~ What do I think of Western civilisation? I think it would be a very good idea ~ Gandhi

Looks like you pay your money and take your chance !

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From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.

I loved mine to bits when we had that nice weather in April! It was nestled against two walls for a bit of shelter, weighed down with bricks, pinned down with tent pega and we tied the guy ropes to our cast iron drain pipes.

But it got ripped to shreds in all that bad weather about a fortnight/three weeks ago. I was so disappointed as I thought we'd got pretty much got it covered against wind damage!

On the look out for a second hand "proper one" now instead

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Nat xxx

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