Help with greenhouses

[Pieman]

Sorry to bring this thread back to top....but hoping to get Rhino order in this weekend before price increases......any views on staging (as explained in my post 2 above).

[Matt.]

I'd go for a second hand one and try and spend as little as possible. Unfortunatly this could be the worst time due to demand which might drive up second hand prices. If you don't spend much you can always leave it in place/ give away/ re sell if you do move on.

Obviously second hand means you can't be picky but I'd go for horticultural glass. This is cheaper than saftey galss although it will break in huge shards. Plastic windows just seem to pop out and blow away according to other threads I've read. I find the weight of the glass makes my greehouse immovable in any wind.

I picked up my second hand 6'x6' for �30. I had to buy a couple of new panes but thats not a lot of money and its going great. I'd leave investing in a proper greenhouse until you're longer term settled.

[Pieman]

Thanks for the comments Matt - I'm going to have to be definitely a Safety glass Man....with (currently) a 2 and near on 5 year old - can't chance it.

[SarzWix]

About your staging, the only tip I can give is to make sure some/all of it is removable. Once everything is grown and in the border/large pots/grow bags, you won't have much use for it

[Pieman]

Thanks for that - definitely that looks to be one of the advantages of the Rhino (sure other makes do it) that you can take the slats / trays out.

[SarzWix]

I didn't end up buying any extras for mine, I had about 4 of those mini greenhouses, the extra wide ones, and once I'd thrown out the broken/bent bits, I had enough to make into waist high staging for about 3/4 of the greenhouse. I've stuck it together with no more nails, so it just carries outside without falling apart and I put it in the shade to grow on trays of salads and brassicas in modules before planting out. Works a treat, and cost me little

I've never used seed tray racks, so I can't comment on them, but having waist high staging, with a shelf or 2 underneath, has been perfect for me.

[BilboWaggins]

Polycarbonate is better than glass (wish I'd bought it) but if you can only afford glass then horticultural is as good as any.

Sorry to continue the hijack - why is polycarbonate better?

[chris_gla]

just bought a 6' x 12' Halls Lean to. Managed to get it for �650 with toughened glass which I thought was not bad.

I really didn't want to spend this much and was at the point of buying a Norfolk or a cover for a DIY polytunnel but at the end of the day decided (hopefully) this will stand up to the local winds a wee bit better... and keep the neighbours happy! I did search for a second hand one but lean to's seem rare, especially middle sized ones.

I've looked at the manual for this and it talks about siliconing in the clips to help keep the panes in... I will be doing at least this but wondered if anyone thought I should go a bit further (like lightly silicon in all the panes).

[Pieman]

Well we've gone for it......ordered a 6x6 Rhino.....today was the last day of their sale - prices go up tomorrow.....phone lines were very busy left a message and they called back just under 2 hours later - first words "sorry for the delay" - excellent customer contact - very impressed.....

It should be with me in about 4-5 weeks.....better get that land sorted now ready for it's arrival.

[SarzWix]

You can never have too much silicone Chris... Seriously though, I'd see how snugly they fit first, if they seem a bit loose, them put a blob in the corners or something. Just thinking that if you silicone all the way round, it might make them difficult to get out again, if you ever need to?

Pieman - Yayyy!!! Bet you can't wait I was like a kid waiting for Christmas after I ordered mine!

[C Murphy]

Just a thought but it's worth checking out auction sites. I inherited an 8'x6' with my plot which is already chock full. Off tomorrow to collect another 8'x6' for �90. Of course if it doesn't go back together as it should I may be posting a reply saying always buy new!!!!

[Topcat36]

To think i gave one away, mind you it was many years ago and kids were small and glass was certainly not safety glass, went to a good home so that was ok. So here i am 20 years later and looking for a greenhouse garden is small so dont want it stuck in middle, short wide garden. Was originally going to put conseratory on house but changed mind, so am now thinking about a lean to, South facing garden, so seems a good option . Trouble is have just found a lovely site for cedar greenhouses made to fit whatever you want , and i am hooked can't afford this year but am thinking about next year. sense tells me no and to just go for aluminium, which i will probably end up doing if i can find one that fits my wall, but one can always dream and they do look nice. OH doesn't know i'm sticking lean to on patio yet he already rejected my idea of digging it up and putting raised beds on, not going to mention lean to