TV and Radio permalink
2nd Hand Greenhouses
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Message 1.Â
Posted by U2331885 (U2331885) on Friday, 26th September 2008
Anyone know where I can get the self erecting one?
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Message 2
Posted by Amazing (U7102651) on Friday, 26th September 2008
Mangetout, can you move this to Garden Clinic or Allotment tales? You'll probably get more answers. This board is for commenting on TV progs.
p.s. Haven't heard of self erecting greenhouse. Do you mean a poly tunnel, something like a self erecting tent? -
Message 3
Posted by U2331885 (U2331885) on Friday, 26th September 2008
Very relevant to the TV Board - I am referring to the self erecting greenhouse as shown on tonight's programme.
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Message 4
Posted by Dancing Dragonflies (U11928307) on Saturday, 27th September 2008
Amazing, I don't believe Mangetout wants to learn anything about greenhouses on this thread, it is just an attempt to open up a second GW discussion thread to have a bitch. Come Monday morning Nepenthes will close it down like last weeks.
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Message 5
Posted by malanD (U7337386) on Saturday, 27th September 2008
All green houses, 2nd hand or new can be self errected if you wish. So yes, this is a silly thread.
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Message 6
Posted by Ariadne Knickerbocker (U4534559) on Saturday, 27th September 2008
Actually I was pleased that someone who had actually watched the programme had started a thread about the greenhouse. I thought the comment was both amusing and pertinent. To me a serious point was being made in a jokey fashion which seems quite reasonable.
I was somewhat disappointed in the greenhouse segment although I had been looking forward to it as that is just the size of greenhouse I can squeeze into my garden. Unfortunately (for me) we seem to have gone from the ridiculously costly ornamental Monty obelisks to the overly cheap and cheerful '£68 to yer mate' recycled greenhouse with bench made out of bits and pieces. My greenhouse is going to be somewhat more costly than that and I do hope that future sections about the greenhouse area are relevant to everyone not just those people willing or able to pick up recyclables.
Information about staging, light, air circulation etc. is going to be more than willingly received from GW. -
Message 7
Posted by Dancing Dragonflies (U11928307) on Saturday, 27th September 2008
I thought it was a blessed relief to hear them talking about buying a greenhouse on a low income. Going out and buying an expensive greenhouse and work bench would have been the easy option. AND just because they highlighted that green houses can be purchased cheaply does not mean you HAVE to feel obliged to run out and get a second hand one. I am sure most gardeners are of a strong enough mind to know which sort of greenhouse they would like and how they can realistically spend on it.
There just wasn't time in a 30 min show to go into great detail about how to put up a greenhouse and equip it. I found the tips he did give were helpful and hope very much that over the coming months they will do a little section on a regular basis on the greenhouse. -
Message 8
Posted by Bluedoyenne (U2341157) on Saturday, 27th September 2008
"Anyone know where I can get the self erecting one?"
Mangetout - how could you be so dense, didn't you realise that they just materialise out of thin 'off-camera' air between programmes!
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Message 9
Posted by Ariadne Knickerbocker (U4534559) on Saturday, 27th September 2008
My point was that I am quite happy to see them show how cheap you can get a greenhouse etc. BUT I don't want to see the whole programme aimed at cheap and cheerful which is where I am worried it is going. There has to be some balance. Clearly someone doesn't HAVE to buy a second hand one but having done a small amount of research into greenhouses some of the more expensive ones have various ventilation and staging options and I, personally, would welcome future advice on this AS WELL - rather than just find out how I might construct a bench out of breeze blocks etc.
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Message 10
Posted by Dancing Dragonflies (U11928307) on Saturday, 27th September 2008
I too want to see how to do a greenhouse properly, with ventilation and lighting etc. But surely it should be about how to do these things successfully on ANY budget or can you only have a 'proper greenhouse' if you throw lots of money at it?
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Message 11
Posted by Ariadne Knickerbocker (U4534559) on Saturday, 27th September 2008
I just said that didn't I?
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Message 12
Posted by Dancing Dragonflies (U11928307) on Saturday, 27th September 2008
I wasn't sure that you had? I read it as saying that you thought it couldn't all be done properly on a budget. I just wanted to say if it could all be done on a budget then why not show it being done cheaply, then everyone will understand the basic principles and those that have more money can still have an understanding of how to do it but go out and buy better quality items or quick fixes etc. if they wanted to. Sorry if I misunderstood you venus
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Message 13
Posted by Ariadne Knickerbocker (U4534559) on Saturday, 27th September 2008
Well it just goes to show doesn't it. I thought I had made it quite clear that I wanted to see alternatives to the cheapo greenhouse AS WELL. That is why I put AS WELL in capitals to emphasise the point.
Clearly no sensible discussion is going to come out of this - I don't know what possessed me to think it might. Probably the same naivety that made me think that the majority of people had stopped using peat.
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Message 14
Posted by Bluedoyenne (U2341157) on Saturday, 27th September 2008
"My point was that I am quite happy to see them show how cheap you can get a greenhouse etc. BUT I don't want to see the whole programme aimed at cheap and cheerful which is where I am worried it is going."
I share your point of view 100% and you're not the only one who has noticed that this seems to be the direction in which things are going. But it is hardly surprising really given the outcry still going on (how many years later?) about the ill-fated obelisks the previous team bought.
To me this is sad, not just because people with the money to spend on their gardens should also be catered for on the programme, but also because there is a huge industry out there catering to the needs and desires of gardeners. If the programme goes resolutely down the 'cheap and cheerful' route, they will never get a look-in based on the producers (valid) fears that any mention of spending money will get them lynched.
And now I'm now going to duck .... quickly -
Message 15
Posted by U8969255 (U8969255) on Saturday, 27th September 2008
Ironically I think the very clever people at Karsten in Holland did do a prototype inflatable polytunnel type thing for some show. By inflatable I mean as solid as rock rather than flappy.
Judging by their regular inflatable camping tent prices it wouldn't be a cheap option!
They say that "these tents can be fully customised".
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Message 16
Posted by Dancing Dragonflies (U11928307) on Saturday, 27th September 2008
I'm not saying I don't understand your point. It doesn't mean I have to agree with it though.
My point is that the show should be about developing gardening knowledge and making that accessible for anyone. I think the vast coverage of Chelsea in recent years -a show I would love to go to but can't afford the price of the tickets. And recent programmes like Rachael De Thame's flower bed where she bought a gazillion and one expensive plants and threw them at a pre-prepared border clearly show that they are providing shows for gardeners with cash on the hip too.
Showing us how to take cuttings, collect seeds and share plants with friends is all about building up knowledge and skill not about being 'cheap' although that is another great thing about it.
I just grow weary of a society that wants everything given to them on a plate without investing any time and effort into it. -
Message 17
Posted by everhopeful (U11289037) on Saturday, 27th September 2008
I am wondering if all this organic business is affecting some of the message board members as there seems to be a few grumpy people about these days. If you cant read another persons opinion with getting your feathers ruffled I suggest you dont bother reading at all.
Come on you guys lighten up.
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Message 18
Posted by Amazing (U7102651) on Saturday, 27th September 2008
Hear hear, Rach. I don't have any spare money to spend on my garden. OH has just reroofed the shed for £200, if we had got someone in it would have cost £800. I have spent the last week taking cuttings from a lot of my plants so I will have something to show next year. I am also planning to go into the wilderness of spare ground next door and try and rescue some poppy seeds.
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Message 19
Posted by Stressed out (U11163734) on Saturday, 27th September 2008
I really didn't want to post on anything but the official thread this week but here goes.
Second hand greenhouses are great. He did really give some good advice such as photographing it before you take it down and keeping it as big a piece as you can, 2 ends, 2 sides and a bundle of roof ridges spars. You can always take it apart and replace any broken bolts when you get it home.
Other tips I would add are a loop of 15 amp earthing wire to pull out the glazing clips, and gloves. A pressure washer to clean the frame off when you get it home and a black marker pen to mark the bits.
I also draw the greenhouse and mark what glass goes where, 2*2's etc. You can also write on the glass with a marker pen.
Last one I had was a 10'x8' that is used as another alpine house for £30 it was a real bargain. -
Message 20
Posted by Bluedoyenne (U2341157) on Saturday, 27th September 2008
See - this is a really interesting thread and your advice is very useful. And you're right about TB having given very useful advice during the programme too, which in a way makes it all the more sad that we didn't see him build it from scratch as I'm sure there would have been a lot more of it.
Thank you -
Message 21
Posted by Amazing (U7102651) on Saturday, 27th September 2008
maybe should have put this on here instead of other thread.
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Message 22
Posted by Obelixx (U2157162) on Saturday, 27th September 2008
I bought a second hand 6' x 8' greenhouse in March for €100 which included staging, shading net and bubble wrap for winter plus seed trays and some compost. We photographed all the supports and joints and marked each piece with its location before loading it all in the car.
We erected it with no trouble at all except for the replacement panes which cost almost as much again but that's what happens when one's OH drops the door with the panes still in situ.
It is set on gravel on the north side of the house so doesn't get full sun till midday. I've used the frames and shelves from plastic covered cold frames as extra shelving. This summer has been so poor it has needed no shading at all and no automatic venting which I did consider buying at one point. Maybe next year. I found a greenhouse heater going cheap in Homebase as part of an end of range sale in August.
I've sown and grown all sorts of vegetable seeds and some perennials as well as 4 tomato plants and a pepper and it is currently home to all sorts of cuttings and divisions. I've had a wonderful time pottering in there so it's been well worth the effort and I look forward to storing and growing treasures in their this winter with just enough heat to keep the frosts away.
If I had the money I'd buy something bigger with all sorts of fancy fittings but as it is this one is ample for my current purposes. I thought TB could have given a bit more advice about best location and making sure the ground it's on is level but otherwise thought this was a good item.
PS - My main problem with those dratted obelisks was not the expense but the poor value for money. For that price I'd want something stunning and not something so very ordinary and dull, especially knowing how cheap the basic metal rods it is made from are to buy at the builders' suppliers. I defend anyone's right to chuck money at their garden but on GW feel that license payers' money should be more wisely spent. -
Message 23
Posted by londonplantmad (U2392946) on Saturday, 27th September 2008
It came from the same place as the ready dug, planted and weeded allotment. If only life was so simple.
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Message 24
Posted by Obelixx (U2157162) on Saturday, 27th September 2008
Don't be so scoffy. They're easy enough to erect if you take the photos, mark each piece and then do the dismantling yourself so you remember its construction. It took us a couple of days to put back up with OH doing the frame by himself for improved matrimonial harmony.
I would love one of Joe's allotment fairies to come and sort out my pond and woodland borders, though without the use of a rotivator. -
Message 25
Posted by Dancing Dragonflies (U11928307) on Saturday, 27th September 2008
Thanks Obelixx and Rowan Cottage for telling us about your 2nd hand greenhouses, it gives me hope that I will be able to afford to have a greenhouse of my own. I would love to have one of those beautiful National Trust type greenhouses they show at the back of the glossy mags but I'll never earn enough to have one of those. As long as I can have one that is functional and does the job I don't care if it is second hand. For me it's not about being "organic" or about "recycling" it is about being able to achieve my gardening needs within my means.
Rach -
Message 26
Posted by Obelixx (U2157162) on Saturday, 27th September 2008
Precisely. Mine had a good scrubbing between arriving her and being erected and looks very good now but the main thing is it serves its purpose.
Friends of mine are building their retirement home and garden to include a Victorian style conservatory and matching greenhouse. Way out of my financial league but I can't see they'll get any more enjoyment out of their greenhouse than I will from mine. Their's will just be more aestehtically pleasing - and bigger, but they both like to play while here there's just me and the labourer. -
Message 27
Posted by Myacer (U3723208) on Saturday, 27th September 2008
Obelixx talks alot of sense regarding the secondhand greenhouse.
Those members who wanted all the relevant details about using the Greenhouse/siting/heating/Pricing etc. must realise it would take the full 1/2 hour or more to put across these other subjects. This programme would have fully taken up that time without hearing about other gardening matters--
I liked the way it was presented- -
Message 28
Posted by Trillium (U2170869) on Saturday, 27th September 2008
Funny how quickly a fresh approach on GW alters one's thinking. My reading of it is thrifty and sustainable, but also populist and pragmatic.
I was planning of getting rid of an old, mossy and part glazed greenhouse that I've got which is in my way. But now I'm thinking maybe I'll spruce it up, reglaze it, move it somewhere else and turn it into a proper alpine house. I could never justify a new one for such an indulgence.
And although I am 99% peat free I'm also feeling a bit less self-flagelatory about my very occasional use of presumably peat-based ericaceous compost for Vaccineum and Kirengishoma palmata.
However I have no plans to use glyphosate, though I expect shortly to have an accident with vinegar and salt. I think this falls neatly into the thrift category though so I'm still 'on message'. -
Message 29
Posted by MsSeahorse (U11657392) on Saturday, 27th September 2008
Well, although it was a brief slot it's certainly generated a good discussion.
I bought a cheap new greenhouse then wished I'd waited until a secondhand one came up on a well-known auction site.
Now I'm faced with having to kit it out with staging and heating, so I was very keen to note TB's use of planks and breeze blocks. A good option to get things started.
Thing is, like all big projects the money can tend to dribble through so you maybe have to make do as you go along for a while. I'll probably go for some plank staging and get some proper stuff as and when and if I can afford it.
More greenhouse slots please! -
Message 30
Posted by U2331885 (U2331885) on Saturday, 27th September 2008
Thank you for those adding very positive tips on greenhouse matters.
I agree that Toby did give some great tips out on his 2nd hand greenhouse including (for those who don't listen) its siting - He suggested a north to south line for "growing food". Kinda suggesting there is also a rationale for an east to west lineation (as per the rationale for my own main 'house).
Of course Toby could have saved £68 by asking Joe and Peugot van to pop down to B&Q to "luckily" find them "giving away" a new greenhouse in their yard. As per his "lucky" find of the fourbee twobee allotment planks....sadly, for me at least, this was not twobee! But | got to see a Plank anyway.
Thanks to the person with the inflatable greenhouse link - GW should look at that - Given they move/create a garden every 3 weeks and then 6 months later dispense with it - It could be quite helpful.
For me, expense isn't a problem, as I still have a shed load of cash from 20+ "bespoke" obbelisks I sold to Kermit & Animal (well some Muppets!) a while back -
Message 31
Posted by Ariadne Knickerbocker (U4534559) on Sunday, 28th September 2008
Have you seen those fantastic new greenhouses where the glass is so thick that it takes days for the light to permeate? The 'science' is that you turn the glass on on sunny days only so the light is absorbed into the glass allowing up to three days delay for it to filter through to the plants. You can switch it on and off so it only absorbs the sun and allow it to filter through at your leisure. THey are quite expensive circa £120.00 or so but surely an absolute boon to mankind.
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