Walk in plastic greenhouse

Flinster · May 2019

Hi All, it’s that plastic greenhouse discussion! I can’t afford a greenhouse, but have built a veg garden this year and I’m really struggling with enough space for seedlings indoors. I only coped because the weather was so mild early this season, so things got planted out a bit earlier etc. A walk in plastic one would alleviate the problem with fleece support, but looking at them, some are clear plastic and others have a green mesh attached to the plastic. Is one better than the other? It will be sited in full sun (south facing) but with 6ft trellis around the south side, which should help keep it a little cooler, plenty of light, at least enough for starting and hardening off. What would you recommend clear or green?

wild edges · May 2019

I've been looking out for some second hand greenhouses on ebay etc and there's some total bargains out there if you have time to search. I narrowly missed out on a 6x4 aluminium greenhouse this week for under £60. I'm hoping the other person doesn't turn up and I'll get second dibs.

Theveggardener · May 2019

Hi Flinster, I have the green one I thought it looked stronger than the clear one. Mine is full to over flowing. I also have a 6 ft x 2 ft 6 cold frame along with 2 cloches. Lizzi27 on my thread "At last it's stopped raining" suggested putting two chairs together together and putting plastic over them to for a sort of greenhouse. Tomorrow I'll take a photo of how I've made more room in my little walking greenhouse it might help you.

Bilje · May 2019

I wrote in a post earlier this week regarding soermarket purchases. Although Wilko sells a walk in small greenhouse with the reinforced plastic it cost S about £38 I bought one via ALDIs website for £25.99 with free delivery they may still be available. I have been using a clear plastic one a small version. After three years the plastic is splitting along the seams although I'm hoping to repair it. It's against a wall but is held in place horizontally with a cord lasso. Hope this was a helpful ramble.

Flinster · May 2019

Thanks all! I have been looking at eBay but nothing much local to me at the moment and it’s got to the point where I need to solve the problem now, but will keep looking.

@Dee73 that would be great thanks, I suspect I can fill one almost overnight lol!

@Bilje I did look at the Wilko one but the reviews are mixed. I will do a good search, but I’m sure most of them are exactly the same model marketed under different brands and prices! I tend to be a middle of the price road buyer, which is a marketing dream purchaser lol!

Lyn · May 2019

I wouldn’t be without my plastic gh’s but they do need to be fixed to a wall or fence,.
I've got 5, all in constant use.
I prefer the green covers but I don’t think it makes much difference, they seem a bit thicker, the zips tend to break in the thinner clear ones. you can buy them easily enough.
I wouldn't have a walk in one, not here anyway, it’s too windy and they are difficult to fix to the wall.
Theyre very good for overwintering perennials, unzipped through the days, closed down at night and gradually leave unzipped all the time, I use them for hardening off annuals, no need to keep taking them in at nights, just zip up.
The white one from Wilco is my favourite it’s wider than the others and the covers are very strong. It’s so old, my daughter used it before I had it and no sign of rust.

barry island · May 2019

I had several plastic greenhouses over the years before I got my 6x4 glass one, in fact I still do use a plastic one at times now, these have been the smaller ones not the walk in ones. One thing that I noticed is that although the thicker reinforced green ones look stronger I was surprised that the one I had rotted far quicker than the plain plastic ones, I don't know whether it was because it was in full sun but it rotted around the reinforcing and didn't last for a couple of seasons, whereas I have had the plain ones for five years or more.

Flinster · May 2019

Thanks for that. I do have one little plastic greenhouse from Wilko which has been great for all the same things you say @Lyn I sowed some beetroot and cabbage is there very early and it did well.

Im hoping to fix the walk in to the trellis fence posts and it will be tucked into a corner of high trellis which should offer some wind protection.

@Barry island I’ve also read reviews saying in second season the green plastic mesh separates and disintegrates, making a bit of a mess with fine plastic fibres. Pros and Cons!

Lyn · May 2019

I’ve had some of my covers for years, I always put them away for summer, bring out again in November or so if I need to overwinter anything.
It’s the sun that makes them disintegrate, mine are in the shade or they get too hot.

purplerallim · May 2019

I've had both and they only last 2/3 years. Now if you get a standard type its possible to buy just the plastic cover, unavailable when I used one, so it's a better option now to use them. Just tie them down well.🙂

Theveggardener · May 2019

Flinster, as promised this is what I have done to make more room in my little walk in greenhouse. As you know they only have 4 shelves two either side, you could make to more on the bottom but light is a problem there. All I did is use four pieces of wood laid across the shelves and some old wire racking which is the same as came with the walk in greenhouse. I made sure the wood was almost as long as the greenhouse is wide but cut it short so it didn't run on the plastic. I have put a piece of wood across the bottom and some tubs of chicken manure and another with shingle in to hold it incase it gets windy.

Walk in plastic greenhouse

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