Grow Your Own Magazine

make a greenhouse from scratch and cheaply?

I know the glass is quite cheap to get hold of, so that isn't a problem.

I'm a carpenter and joiner by trade too, so woodwork should be ok Although I have never made a greenhouse.......

I'm going to have a go at making my shed out of pallets, just need to find some time, when I'm at the allotment there are a million other things to get done first!


Has anyone made their own?

I'm going to be on the look out for some old fence posts.....

Any advice or tips, very would be very welcome

Should be possible - never thought of building my own! As long as you allow for the expansion and contraction factors in the wood and glass.

All the posk (expensive) greenhouses have wood frames - go for it!

Search the internet, there are some sites that have plans for doing this sort of thing. They'll probably be american or earnestly green, but neither will affect the plans.

It will all come down to how good the timber and preservative your use are.

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There's a chap two plots up from me that I've watched building a greenhouse extension to his shed since I've had my lottie.

I think it's a work of art. I shall try and take some pics.

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Hello Chrissie, I'm nearly sure there was something about building your own greenhouse on the Vine last year. I've had a quick search but can't find it. Maybe someone else will remember seeing it, or even built it.

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

I was right Chrissie. Here's a link to the thread.
green house plans

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

thank you

I haven't got all the timber yet....... keep posting wanted adds on freecycle for old fence posts, but nothing ever comes up. My mums neighbours are hopefully doing the fence soon, so if my dad doesn't beat me to it, I'll have some nice sturdy oak posts to use

Was thinking about calling a gardening company, see what they do with the waste when they do fencing, long shot but worth a try (can you tell I'm on a budget )

I'm looking forward to it, even if I only add an extension onto the shed (which I have yet to build too! )

Will post some piccies up when I've done it

To be honest it will probably cost you a lot more in money and time to build your own than it would to pick up a second hand one from the local free ads or the freecycle thing that is popular now. I picked up 2 8x6 ally ones locally for less than £100 and that includes the puchase of some new glass,clips,nuts and bolts etc,they were both up in two days. I use one solely for propagation which i kitted out with diy two tier staging and the other is for cultivation.

Chrissie,

I have emailed you with plans for a wooden greenhouse. Hopefully it will give you some ideas.

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I know someone who has done exactly this. He now has a 20' x 12' ish for about £100 - he got the glass for 50p a sheet and it's Dutch lights (60" x 30" as near as makes no difference)

There are some plans on our lottie website ( see below)

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Hi Chrissie, I,m looking into doing the same and came across a site with plans for all manner of things including greenhouses. http://www.buildeazy.com
Hope its of some use.

Thank you for all of the link

Thank you for the email too





Haven't been on for a while, so sorry for the late replies, we've had nothing but rain, and on the few days it hasn't, we've been ill

Anyway, going to build my shed, then the greenhouse. I've got a few pallets ready, could do with some more though.......


looking forward to doing it and getting it sorted, wont have to drive down in my car then, can use my bike!

I swear the bumpy 'road' helped my exhust fall off

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http://chrissieslottie.blogspot.com/

try your local industrial estate for surplus pallets - piled outside.
I collected 20 (or was it 22? - all in bits now) last week - promised to take all the broken ones and cleared one unit's pile out...

For most people all but the blue (recyclable) ones are worthless...

Hi Chrissie

I suppose it seems logical to build your own being a chippy.
Another idea could be to buy a secondhand polytunnel frame from ebay. I bought one 32ft by 14ft for £40. I often see them on ebay. Your woodwork skills would still be helpful as doors and door frames would be required. I am sure wooden raised beds and a potting bench in the tunnel would be a doddle for you. I am a novice at all DIY and mine turned out suprisingly fine. I expect you could create a gardeners palace.
Regards
Lance

Hiya Crissie. Shirley here from Aberdeenshire. We have a thing uo here called freecycle. You could join the one nearest to you. As the nam suggests its ALL free. Instead of just throwing out stuff or selling it - you post either a want or an offer an you will be surprised at the responce. Recently someone actually offerred a Horse trailer, All to help our fellow men - nice to know someone else can use something you dont need anymore. You might get an offer of one to dismantle yourself. Best of luck. Shirls..

.............and please post a picture of the finished result. We inherited ours and we couldnt do without it but I would have loved to have built my own.

Dh built me a coldframe using odd bits of wood and a shower door - see my post on it that I am about to do.

Tammy