Plastic Greenhouses

[maglonian]

Has any one got any experience of the small polythene covered greenhouses ?  

I only want one to over winter some plants and was wondering how effective they are.
I'm not blessed with space and the only other option is to custom make a small one.

On that note is the plastic corrugated sheet effective or would the much more expensive polycarbonate sheets be must.

Any input greatly appreciated

[Missredhead]

I use a plastic grow house through the winter but underneath the plastic I use a fleece cover... sometimes it does sweat a bit but I have managed to overwinter plants.
Tig uses them too on a bigger scale than me so she should be able to help more...I am sure that others do too.

[Ladygardener]

I have had several over the years maglonian, and find they help most in keeping off the copious amounts of rain we seem to get as well as the wind rather than keeping things frost free. To that end, I have used bubble wrap and fleece inside and it does keep things a few degrees higher than outside. Here it's the rain that does the damage as we don't get a whole lot of frost. I would'nt be without mine. As to making something of your own, sorry I could'nt help.

[andy]

Weigh it down well....mine blew down after a week.

[Tig]

I was just about to mention that Andy! I have several of the small upright plastic covered growhouses and also one of the larger plastic covered walk-in growhouses.

Are these the types you are considering?
www.charliesdirect.co.uk/gardman-4-tier-mini-greenhouse-growhouse?gclid=CPLxgdiAyc4CFeEV0wodVEwI_g

www.homebase.co.uk/en/homebaseuk/versatile-greenhouse-and-cover-596578

I use mine for over-wintering tender plants, they keep them dry if not frost free here. I also use them for getting things off to an early start.
The covers don't last long and need replacing annually depending on the weather, heavy snow can also be a problem. I have my small ones roped in & tied to the fence, they blow over very easily. The big one has a ground sheet over the floor and I have roped it to the side bars so that once heavy pots and bags of compost are in place it remains grounded otherwise it would end up in someone elses back garden during heavy winds.

If you have the time, patience and ingenuity to make something more permanent I would have a go, it may well be cheaper in the long term. If you want an easier option for for the plastic growhouse, although you can't put anything very big or tall in them due to the strengthening bars in the middle of the shelves. I find I can just about maneuver a 3 ltr pot between the bars with the shelves removed. My biggest pots go into the WIG.

[maglonian]

Thanks for the input folks. Much appreciated. Especially that link Tig ... I'm in Newtown tomorrow and there's a Charlies there - hope it's the same price instore.

The 'greenhouse' will be in a sheltered position where 2 walls make an 'L' (for the life of me can't think of the word ... damn fibro fog) away from the wind/ worst of the elements

Primarily I'm just looking for something to over winter some alpines/ osteospermums etc so I'll have a go with the plastic one, get some fleece, bubble wrap, a couple of breeze blocks and see how it goes.

Thanks again everyone

[owdboggy]

Aug 17, 2016 19:34:21 GMT maglonian said:

Thanks for the input folks. Much appreciated. Especially that link Tig ... I'm in Newtown tomorrow and there's a Charlies there - hope it's the same price instore.

Great place is Charlies. We go to the one in Welshpool rather frequently.

[maglonian]

Ahh Coed Y Dinas. Some good stock there, and reasonable prices too. Last time I was there was about a month ago. Bought 6 alpines and a leucanthemum Broadway Lights
If they haven't got one in either of the Newtown Stores, I've got to go to Ormskirk on Friday so there may be a slight detour on the way back instead of going Meifod way home

[owdboggy]

The store in Queensferry is the biggest one we think.
If you get up as far as Coed Y Dinas, then see if you can find the Dingle Nursery in Guilsfield. Much better plants than Charlies and in better condition. We rarely buy plants from Charlies, they are always so poor looking.

[Tig]

I thought it was a bargain price maglonian, and you could have bought a spare cover at the same time, also reduced.

[maglonian]

Aug 18, 2016 10:56:59 GMT owdboggy said:

The store in Queensferry is the biggest one we think

I always forget how big they've gotten. I remember when it was just the store in Newtown selling mainly army and navy surplus stock. Gawd I'm getting old.
Touch wood or maybe just luck there's been fresh stock when I've been to Coed y Dinas, but so far the few I've bought from there are still going.
You're the 2nd person to mention Dingle Nurseries in the past fortnight - I'll have to pop in

Aug 18, 2016 15:08:30 GMT Tig said:

I thought it was a bargain price maglonian, and you could have bought a spare cover at the same time, also reduced.

Great minds

The 'greenhouse' was reduced to £9.99 because of a damaged box. I also got a fleece cover and a spare cover. All 3 for £22.

Just had a thought. Only a bargain if everything is inside the box and not damaged ...

[Ladygardener]

maglonian,that was a right good bargain hope it does the job for you.

[maglonian]

Thankfully all the bits were there

Added extra stability by using an old bag of ball bearings I had by capping off the connecting rods with a dowel and inserting the ball bearings. A lot less 'wobbly'
There's room in the formed plastic for something to be added ... maybe some old oak shaped to fit might do the trick for extra weight

[Ron]

maglonian, don't know your budget but if you want to build your own this is a good base which you can peg down, much cheaper than concrete. www.plasticshedbase.co.uk/shed-bases-plastic/12-shed-base-6ft-x-4ft.html?gclid=Cj0KEQjwo5--BRCS8ceLjv-XppUBEiQAGp15EErPanR3Zg3K53cwqJfwOsNYw0Iw9nhZcFhFRS-Tq4QaApXz8P8HAQ

[maglonian]

Thanks Ron. I must admit I've not seen that system before but it looks really handy in that water can stand on concrete but fill the plastic framework with chippings and water will drain.

Thanks again. Bookmarked