Oh, yes figrat - I'd forgotten all about the fan being set to cool the GH down in the summer. (Not surprising, really, since I can't remember when we had a real, hot summer ) I would like automatic vent openers, but the ones I have got, I am unable to fit. OH said he would do it ummmmmmm a few, ummmmmm a lot of years ago. Still waiting.
Unlike Lilyanne, I've not had a good experience with my polycarbonate greenhouse which I've had since November last year and my advice would be to avoid them. I only recently got into gardening, wasn't sure I'd stick at it, so bought a cheap polcarbonate Gardman greenhouse.
The quality is awful, there are loads of gaps meaning it doesn't stay very warm once the sun goes down. The 'metal' bits, nuts, bolts and frame seem to be an alloy with strength aligned to a ripe cheddar, I sheared several bolts whilst hand tightening them. When it is windy (I live in Newcastle, to be fair we've had worse than usual recently), I regularly loose panels, some I've still not found, that's despite trying to use many clips, No More Nails and outdoor sealant, the problem is really the frame again which flexes so much because it is so weak. The flxing has warped the weak metal base, so it is no longer flush with the ground, so drafts and many creepy crawlies get in.
Gardman customer service has been nice, swift and sent me a number of replacement parts, panels, clips and the plastic door haning one that broke. But it doesn't make up for the product being so pathetic.
I'll be buying a glass, decent branded one soon and breaking this one up for cold frame parts, if i have any panels left by then.
My advice to start with is to stop 'spending a fortune'. Our greenhouse was already here when we moved in eighteen years ago. No glass and in the wrong place in the shade of a pair of large Yew trees. I moved ours after laying a slab of concrete and building a brick plinth to allow more headroom. Our garden has evolved since then with the minimum of expense as i love growth plants from cuttings. My 72+ roses were in the main Christmas/birthday gifts or grown from cuttings or seed, or 'orphans' who we gave a home to. We swop plants with gardening friends and slowly bit by bit the garden has nicely matured. Compost bins were made from scrap timber, lawnmowers were always secondhand. In July we once again open the garden to the public. Enjoy your garden and your gardening but don't throw money at it. That to my mind is not the way to go about it.
Im currently scouting around on ebay for one. I just have to try and talk the other half round because they usually have to be dismantled by the buyer. I have not got a clue on greenhouse gardening and some of the things i read makes me think "it all sounds a tad confusing". But hey im going to go for it and learn from my mistakes
It isn't as daunting as it might at first seem - and a good bit of common sense, a reading of all sorts of gardening books - and asking on a good forum such as this, will help you to overcome the initial apprehension you may have. When I first had a GH I had precious few frames of reference - you have the advantage that you can ask questions as you go along.
So - enjoy! And no matter how humdrum your question may seem, please ask. There are many who will be only too happy to help.
Its not difficult and there are simple books on the subject especially in the Hessayon 'Expert' series. I use my greenhouse mainly for caring for cuttings, growing from seeds and sheltering tender fuchsias over the winter,
Posts
Oh, yes figrat - I'd forgotten all about the fan being set to cool the GH down in the summer. (Not surprising, really, since I can't remember when we had a real, hot summer
) I would like automatic vent openers, but the ones I have got, I am unable to fit. OH said he would do it ummmmmmm a few, ummmmmm a lot of years ago. Still waiting. 
Unlike Lilyanne, I've not had a good experience with my polycarbonate greenhouse which I've had since November last year and my advice would be to avoid them. I only recently got into gardening, wasn't sure I'd stick at it, so bought a cheap polcarbonate Gardman greenhouse.
The quality is awful, there are loads of gaps meaning it doesn't stay very warm once the sun goes down. The 'metal' bits, nuts, bolts and frame seem to be an alloy with strength aligned to a ripe cheddar, I sheared several bolts whilst hand tightening them. When it is windy (I live in Newcastle, to be fair we've had worse than usual recently), I regularly loose panels, some I've still not found, that's despite trying to use many clips, No More Nails and outdoor sealant, the problem is really the frame again which flexes so much because it is so weak. The flxing has warped the weak metal base, so it is no longer flush with the ground, so drafts and many creepy crawlies get in.
Gardman customer service has been nice, swift and sent me a number of replacement parts, panels, clips and the plastic door haning one that broke. But it doesn't make up for the product being so pathetic.
I'll be buying a glass, decent branded one soon and breaking this one up for cold frame parts, if i have any panels left by then.
My advice to start with is to stop 'spending a fortune'. Our greenhouse was already here when we moved in eighteen years ago. No glass and in the wrong place in the shade of a pair of large Yew trees. I moved ours after laying a slab of concrete and building a brick plinth to allow more headroom. Our garden has evolved since then with the minimum of expense as i love growth plants from cuttings. My 72+ roses were in the main Christmas/birthday gifts or grown from cuttings or seed, or 'orphans' who we gave a home to. We swop plants with gardening friends and slowly bit by bit the garden has nicely matured. Compost bins were made from scrap timber, lawnmowers were always secondhand. In July we once again open the garden to the public. Enjoy your garden and your gardening but don't throw money at it. That to my mind is not the way to go about it.
If you want a greenhouse, talk to friends or neighbours, look in the free ads. Someone is always giving one away for free. And get a big one.
Im currently scouting around on ebay for one. I just have to try and talk the other half round because they usually have to be dismantled by the buyer. I have not got a clue on greenhouse gardening and some of the things i read makes me think "it all sounds a tad confusing". But hey im going to go for it and learn from my mistakes
averil - we were all GH virgins once upon a time
It isn't as daunting as it might at first seem - and a good bit of common sense, a reading of all sorts of gardening books - and asking on a good forum such as this, will help you to overcome the initial apprehension you may have. When I first had a GH I had precious few frames of reference - you have the advantage that you can ask questions as you go along.
So - enjoy! And no matter how humdrum your question may seem, please ask. There are many who will be only too happy to help.
Its not difficult and there are simple books on the subject especially in the Hessayon 'Expert' series. I use my greenhouse mainly for caring for cuttings, growing from seeds and sheltering tender fuchsias over the winter,
Thankyou Violet.
You're welcome averil. I look forward to hearing how your GH experiences develop.