Greenhouse vs. Polytunnel

[aoife♥]

I'm getting a greenhouse or a polytunnel in the next week. It is only going to be a small one but it will have to do for a while. I plant tomatoes, courgettes and stuff like that. So should I get a polytunnel or a greenhouse? and if I'm getting one should I get/make a cat flap in it?

[rustylady]

Why would you want to make a cat flap in it? Surely you don't want your cats in your greenhouse or polytunnel.

[VirginVegGrower]

No cat flap and both are brilliant. Whichever you get you will always want the other one later.

[chris]

Polytunnels are cheaper, per size compared to glass greenhouses. I can't remember which site it is, but one of the tunnel vendors has a GH vs Tunnel comparison showing the pros and cons of each. If you're starting out with a "blowaway" - i.e. the plastic covered greenhouse/poly sometimes with green squares woven through the plastic then you'll need to secure it down with bricks or similar on the base rails.

Edit, infact, this is the link I was on about http://www.firsttunnels.co.uk/docs/whichisbest.pdf

[Dead Dogs]

No cat flap and both are brilliant. Whichever you get you will always want the other one later.

Oh so true, so true.

Took less than 12 months after my poly was erected until I had the greenhouse up.

[VirginVegGrower]

Oh so true, so true.

Took less than 12 months after my poly was erected until I had the greenhouse up.

Other way around for me. Funny how you can never have enough growing space

[veggiechicken]

I'm getting a greenhouse or a polytunnel in the next week. It is only going to be a small one but it will have to do for a while. I plant tomatoes, courgettes and stuff like that. So should I get a polytunnel or a greenhouse? and if I'm getting one should I get/make a cat flap in it?

If you're talking about a temporary structure, I'd go for a polytunnel as its easier to move. A greenhouse is more of a permanent structure. There are so many variables to be considered, like location, orientation, cost, permanence that there is no easy answer - apart from the cat flap - Why on earth would you want your cat to sleep and maybe poop on your plants?

[aoife♥]

The cats I have wouldn't even dream of leaving suprises in the greenhouse/polytunnel. They spend alot of time outdoors and during the night if the are not in they end up sleeping in open bins. I have already had a 'blowaway' and it still managed to blow away with 4 bags of compost holding it down. I found a good lokking/priced greenhouse in B&Q. But the polytunnels are bigger...

[SarrissUK]

Really, in that store? I think they're dear compared to what you can find online. Might be worth looking around Aoife

[redser]

I guess it comes down to how much you have in your pocket, how much space you want (you can never have enough) and how much space you have available. Sounds like you're on a tight budget (aren't we all) so if you have the space a polytunnel would be good. Consider though that you would need help putting it up. It'll be a win win either way though

[Paulieb]

I had this dilemma a few months ago.

As my space was limited (max area was 10ft*16ft), I plumped for the more permanent greenhouse, at a greater cost (500 instead of about 300), but knowing I shouldn't have to potentially change the polycover around every 3-5 years.

However had the area been larger (say 25ft or 30ft long) then I would definately have gone for a poly, due to price.

You can pretty much grow the same plants in both.

[SarzWix]

You can get 10 years out of a polytunnel cover if you're careful

Aoife, you should decide how much space you have available, then work out the cost of filling that space with a greenhouse and then with a polytunnel. The only major rule of undercover growing is that it's never ever big enough, so decide on the space first, then work out the costs, then choose.

Cats don't need to be in there at all IMHO. You'd be better off with a cat-flap into the house, or maybe the shed.

[chris]

BTW, love your name - I wanted to call both my daughters it but my wife said no as people would spell it wrong

back on subject - I have a glass GH at the moment, and the next structure for growing undercover that I buy will be a polytunnel. My GH is 6x10, and cost quite a lot of money. For the same amount of money I could have bought a larger poly.

[redser]

Don't forget the second hand sites for GH if you can be patient. I check them regularly, waiting for that special one that comes along every now and then. donedeal.ie and adverts.ie will have at least a couple every week.

[OverWyreGrower]

When we were deciding on this, we realised that for the space we had, a polytunnel was way cheaper than a greenhouse of the same size... in fact, we could afford to put in a tunnel with an irrigation system, crop bars, storm bracing, large front doors, base rails etc - for half the cost of a basic greenhouse of smaller size....