| Six months after my 30th I finally decided what I wanted - more undercover growing space. It was a toss up between another greenhouse or a polytunnel but as I live in an AONB (Area of Outstanding natural beauty) I thought it might go down a little better if I had another greenhouse as people seem to take an instant dislike to polytunnels.  |
| With enough time the contents of the back of my van will form a greenhouse! |
12ft by 8ft, older than me but seemed like a good quality one and would easily last another of my life times.
I went to pick it up yesterday and the guy seemed really nice, in fact he said that a lot of his income was earned through this greenhouse - as he used to breed and sell butterflies!
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| Lots of ventilation - four roof vents and 4 louvred vents |
I'm quite pleased with the purchase. It has four roof vents and four louvred vents as well as a 12ft shelf down one side. It's made by BACO and although it's quite old you can see by the thickness of the aluminium that it wouldn't have been a cheap one when it was bought.
I need to clear the site for it (covered in nettles and compost) as well as dig a footing and lay a few courses of bricks before it goes up. Hopefully it should be ready well before spring to let me get a head start on next years growing!
What do you think? Did I make the right choice to go for a more permanent greenhouse over a small polytunnel?
For a small growing space yes, I think you did, however I am a polytunnel girl through and through as my needed space is 18ft x 25ft so a greenhouse of this size would mean another mortgage!!
ReplyDeleteYou made the right decision buying an older but better model the new ones are really flimsy, built correctly this will last you forever. And once erected with a little path down the centre and a nice folding chair you will have the perfect place to get away from your three lovely ladies when the demands of girlyhood get too much, a cup of tea and the Sunday paper and you will be set for the day :-)
Gosh I can't believe I said that ...... tell your wife I'm sorry.
Good purchase.
Sounds like a plan - I hadn't thought of it as a retreat! I'd love to have more undercover space but it's just fear of the council and we're quite over looked here by a footpath so there would be no sneaking it up! How did you work out what your needed space is?
DeleteI am a polytunnel love also - if you can get a large enough one they are fab and such a useful space when less full of plants
ReplyDeleteBUT I also have a 12 x 8 greenhouse waiting to go up ( maybe this year? only been waiting for 9 years now!)
I can see advantages to both
Yeah, I hope a poly tunnel will come one day but in the meantime this should be good and it means I haven't got to change the plastic every 5 years!
DeleteCome on get that greenhouse up! We'll have a race to see who gets it finished first!
You may have to start raising butterflies as well!
ReplyDeleteNot sure I fancy that job as I'm always trying to kill caterpillars so I'd have to fight every urge in my body!
DeleteI've just been offered (free) a 6'x8' greenhouse, only problem is, I need help to go dismantle it and bring it home!
ReplyDeleteYours does look like it's well made too.
Go for it. My 6x8 is great for about 12 tomato plants. when I got mine (also second hand) we just took the glass out, lifted it onto a trailer and moved it home, we did the same with it when we moved house! maybe you could do that as there is a lot of bits to them!
DeleteWe've had a small greenhouse everywhere we lived ( we even moved a wooden one we were given 3 times) but now we also have 3 polytunnels. One wasn't enough after a few years and two were not enough when we started to grow for sale on a bigger scale. You are right tho' about some councils not liking them.
ReplyDeleteMaybe one day I'll have a polytunnel but I've got to build up slowely, I struggle to keep up with the weeds I've got and I imagine they grow a lot fastwer in a greenhouse!
DeleteGreenhouses don't really stand up to our weather...but I love the look of them.
ReplyDelete'Nowt' wrong with a few years on it...it was obviously well cared for.Looking forward to seeing what you grow in it.
Jane x
What do you use over there then? Polytunnels or just not bother?
DeleteI think we shall be opting for a polytunnel because we think that it has a better shape for coping with the very strong gusts of wind that we sometimes have. Looking forward to seeing what you do in your greenhouse.
ReplyDeleteThe wind can be strong off the hill here as well but we have a few large oak trees that soften it a bit before it gets to us so that helps.
DeleteIt looks wonderful! I just have a very small plastic greenhouse to get me started in spring, but I don't need my more in our climate (although I would be able to grow tomatoes through winter if I had one).
ReplyDeleteTomatos in the winter! It just shows what a different climate your in! I'm lucky if I can grow moss in the winter over here!
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