Forum home The potting shed
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

plastic greenhouse

I have bought a 6??5 plastic greenhouse only because its easier to assemble than a real glass greenhouse. My question is that is there any real disadvantages when growing seeds and plants.i know and accept the cover may split or the greenhouse wind damaged

Posts

  • cairnsiecairnsie Posts: 388

    Do you mean one of the smaller types you can get from stores such as aldi poundstrecher, or a large greenhouse with plastic panels

  • marc weirmarc weir Posts: 124
    Hello cairnsie and philippa the greenhouse is 6 feet by 5 feet just like a real greenhouse but plastic like the smaller ones u get from aldi THANKYOU
  • cairnsiecairnsie Posts: 388

    Ok well that should be a lot better than a smaller one. As said it will be controling the temerature and condensation. My smaller one gets scorching hot during the day and back down to freezing overnight if its not opened up during the day. I put buckets of water in mine to weight it down and help retain a little heat overnight although im not sure it will be as effective in a much larger one. I think however your main problem will be securing it enough to not blow away. My smaller greenhouse even though was weighted down with very heavy tiles literally blew in half at the middle and the cover tore to bits. Despite trying all sorts of ways to tie and weight it down it has blown over at least twice each year in the last 2 years.

  • I swear by them and over the years have gone up in size to a mini-poly tunnel. As long as you anchor it (I use bricks on the bottom frame) and clearly don't put it on top of a hill, it should be fine. With my latest one I have sewn windows in the top and side which should help with ventilation. I had one ripped cover and was bowled over when website store (Greenfingers) sent a compete replacement greenhouse to make up for this. Not everyone can afford a glass greenhouse or has the space for it - So, go with what works for you!

  • marc weirmarc weir Posts: 124
    Thanks for the message sl elliott. Aint put mine up yet but need to soon. Had a look at that greenfingers site you mentioned it looks great. Im thinking of securing mine to slabs with some screws and brackets
  • Tropical SamTropical Sam Posts: 1,488

    I think that there is some confusion here. Those cheap plastic (vinyl) greenhouses are ok, but you are lucky if they last one year and they also leak heat.

    Polycarbonate greenhouses are superior to horticultural glass in many ways as they are double glazed, retain heat and do not break. I have a wooden frame greenhouse with polycarbonate glazing and I do not need to screen the glass, I use less to heat and I have had many children's balls hit and bounce off of it with no damage.

  • Does your greenhouse have to be south facing? I would like one,but would have to be in a north face garden?

Sign In or Register to comment.