Allotments 4 All
Produce => Under Glass => Topic started by: Uncle Joshua on April 27, 2008, 20:38:45
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I just bought a Gardman hexagonal walk in greenhouse.....
(http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a85/mickwall/1014676_1.jpg)
I'm going to grow tomatoes and cucumbers in it but as Iv'e never grown in a greenhouse before can anyone advise me as to what else I could grow in there? also as these type things tend to be lightweight what is the best way to anchor it down?
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I had a normal square one and unfortunately no way of anchoring mine direct to ground as my garden is paved, so weighted it with compost bags, growbags, anything I could get my hands on really......however.......what I found is that if the wind got under it then it could lift the upper poles enough to pull them out whilst leaving the anchored poles where they were and in some cases, they got bent. If you can use guy ropes and anchor into ground you probably won't have that problem but I would weight it as well if you can and try and put it with its back to the wall for added shelter. Hope that helps. :)
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you could grow peppers and chilli's. if you dont have a lot of floor space you can grow dwarf varieties such as black pearl, demon red (chilli's) or tequila sunrise peppers. you could grow carrots in buckets, and leeks, starting them of in the greenhouse and putting them outside when it warms up. you could grow strawberries and tomatoes in hanging baskets. thats all i can think of at the moment but i'm sure others will come up with ideas
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What are the winds like in W.Yorkshire Mick, I would put it against a wall or shed, mine was destroyed by the winds here in London last year so I'm still waiting to put my new one up. ??? :-\ ;D ;D ;D
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The wind isn't great here Kev, here's what happened to the one I had last year....
(http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a85/mickwall/Image004.jpg)
(http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a85/mickwall/Image002-1.jpg)
I'm going to wait until this weekend before putting it up.
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Sorry to double post but....
I went up to the allotment today and the zip had broken on one side of the greenhouse today and the garden centre claim I was negligent by zipping it up when I knew it was going to be windy so won't replace it.
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How old is it?It has to be fit for purpose.Did you speak to the manager?
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How old is it?It has to be fit for purpose.Did you speak to the manager?
It would be a mont old on the 27th, we did speak to the manager yes, it was he who said I WAS negligent !!!
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Well go back and tell him it was not fit for purpose and you really have no choice but you will have to report the matter to the local trading standards office.Be polite but firm :)
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The purpose of a greenhouse is to protect plants from inclement weather. If you can't close the door in inclement weather, then it's not fit for purpose. Did they tell you at time of sale that you must keep the door open if it's windy? Are there any printed instructions that say this? If not, go back and demand your money back. The relevant legislation is the Sale of Goods Act 1979 (amended by the Sale & Supply of Goods Act 1994).
Here's a useful summary of your statutory rights:
http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page1428.asp (http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page1428.asp)
and the full legislation is here:
http://www.berr.gov.uk/consumers/buying-selling/sale-supply/sale-of-good-act/page8600.html (http://www.berr.gov.uk/consumers/buying-selling/sale-supply/sale-of-good-act/page8600.html)
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Don't anchor it down with the hoops on the cover, poke a small hole through the plastic and tie
the guy ropes directly to the frame.
The cover will last longer if the guy ropes are attached to the frame, as the cover isn't rubbing
against the frame as much.
I have one of the 6x4x6ft which costs £49.99 from B&Q, they do the new covers for £12.99
which includes the guy ropes and pegs. Dunno why the big price difference though.
It's best located in a non-windy spot, mine is in my garden with two of the ropes attached
to the house and two in the ground, and some rocks holding down the edges.
Watermelon is a good choice for a greenhouse, let it wander amongst the other plants.
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Remember our Keter gh last year. It blew away. Fortunately the supplier in the midlands gave us a full refund. Not all companies are as understanding. The shed we bought last year from Argos has developed quite wide gaps between the tongue and groove. Tony phoned Argos and they had stopped using the company. Told Tony to write to them. I think it is they that should contact them
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The makers of these plastic greenhouses must be laughing all the way to the bank! I've often thought of buying one to extend my growing space, but given the number of reports on A4A alone about them ripping/breaking/blowing away, I don't think I'll bother!
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The makers of these plastic greenhouses must be laughing all the way to the bank! I've often thought of buying one to extend my growing space, but given the number of reports on A4A alone about them ripping/breaking/blowing away, I don't think I'll bother!
After buying one of the cheap plastic greenhouses last year that was useless, I splashed out on one of these. I know they are more expensive, but much sturdier, & the cover is a lot thicker with a chunky zip. Have secured it against a wall & no problems so far.
http://www.webbsdirect.co.uk/product-Gardman-5-Tier-Growhouse-With-Heavy-Duty-Cover-431587/ (http://www.webbsdirect.co.uk/product-Gardman-5-Tier-Growhouse-With-Heavy-Duty-Cover-431587/)
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I think that's the same one I bought for my sister-in-law last Christmas at her request!). Haven't dared to ask whether it's still in one piece,maybe I will if you reckon it's sturdier than most!
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I got a real 8x10 aluminium greenhouse cheaply, that had benn rolled around a couple of plots by the wind....... ;D
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I do use the cheap 3 and 4 tier greenhouses but only use them with their covers on for extra insulation in the big GH, I use them after as stands for hardening off the plants.
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We rang Gardman today and they are posting us a new cover and some brackets for free so from now on I'll deal directly with them.
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good for you mate
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Well done Mick 8) Spect you've just got to be aware from now on that these placcy houses have an inbuilt fault feature (reading experiences on here, that is).
It's because of what I read here that after buying two 4-tier cheapo houses from Aldi a while back, I use them only as hardening-off shelves for stuff I've grown in the little glass g/house & the placcy covers are still packed up. And then, re-reading stuff here, I forewent the very bottom shelf which is almost at ground level, by building bridges of bricks over the bottom side bits. What with those, and tent pegs (Wilko's best 8)) I reckon I might, just might, have secured them...
Thing, is, they're going to be a B. to move into the g/house during the winter as Shirl does.....praps I should buy some more specially for that (sigh) ;D
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I have a few of the tall ones that I do always anchor with stone.
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I use a couple of the 4 tier ones inside my unheated glasshouse for starting early plants, then i remove 1 of the covers and use that 1 for shelving. I remove the ;)shelves in the other 1 and use that as a high humidity box for cucumber plant
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For the price I paid I think they are great.
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A sad update to this...
Tracy looked in at the allotment today and found our greenhouse blowing around in the wind and every plant smashed on the ground. :(
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so sad for you, mick, can you get some plants and start again, anyone on your site with spares ?
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So sorry to hear that Mick. Can you salvage anything and get going again?
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We have saved a few plants but without a greenhouse I don't have a clue what to do with them.
As for people on our site having spares, I seem to be the only one on our site that grows extra's to give away or the only one that help out other plot holders.
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Sorry to hear that Mick... we have two wigwams of peas at very precarious angles now, will try to put them straight tomorrow if the wind has dropped. :-[
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Gutted for you, Mick :'( All the best with the salvage plans....hmmm....sudden thought. Those rose arches Wilkos/Argos/Home Bargains seem to be going cheap(er!) atm....any chance of you making a tunnel out of them? Could be done in an afters....?
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Not the perfect solution but I made this out of bits and bats I had laying around....
(http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a85/mickwall/tent003.jpg)
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Good thinking!
But is that ravaged Brassica in the foreground?
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Well done Mick! Dunkirk spirit an all that 8).....still SO sorry for the misfortune. What have you salvaged then?
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Good thinking!
But is that ravaged Brassica in the foreground?
Well spotted Tom, it is indeed whats left of my Cauliflowers, I left my wife to net them and she left a great big pigeon sized gap, replacments are going to be planted this weekend.
Well done Mick! Dunkirk spirit an all that 8).....still SO sorry for the misfortune. What have you salvaged then?
I salvaged a bit of everything, they look a little poor but I'm hoping they come back and do well.
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I think that all the woes caused by plastic greenhouses and all the extra tying down, etc you have to do indicate that they are not up to the job. Aluminium is the best material - it virtually lasts forever - even better than wood that cracks and decays.
I would scour the local notice boards in shops etc for people wanting rid of greenhouses - put up your own notices too. I got one of mine for free (had to dismantle and carry it myself) and got all the glass I needed from freecycle (I simply asked if anyone had some spare unwanted glass).
Plastics used in the greenhouses are not going to be biodegradeable are they - so in the end they are not a good soultion.
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Cauliflowers - do you think they will recover, Mick?
By the way, what a wonderful view!
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As Tim's said....fabulous view. Balm to the soul, that. 8)
Continued good luck with your salvage job :)
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Cauliflowers - do you think they will recover, Mick?
By the way, what a wonderful view!
I don't think Cauliflowers ever recover from such a shock, the hearts are still there so they would do something but its not worth keeping them, I have around 40 more in a tray so I'll plant them out and I hope to get a late crop.
The view is amazing, I love how it changes all the time and there is always something new to spot.
I wouldn't ever buy one of the type of greenhouse again and after the way the company spoke to me today I'll never buy another Gardman product.
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Sorry to double post (again).....
We rang Gardman today and intended telling them what poor products they sell but 10 seconds in they offered to send us a replacement free of charge, I still don't think Gardman's products are up to much but as a company they have to be admired.