Allotments 4 All
Produce => Under Glass => Topic started by: Sarah-b on April 14, 2005, 10:57:03
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Hi everyone - I'm not a frequent visitor to this board, so hope I'm not duplicating anything.
Anyway, I want to buy a greenhouse and am considering a Europa Princess 6x6 with toughened glass.
Questions:
How tough is tough?
Am I mad, will we ever cope with a greenhouse at home as well as 2 allotments, jobs, little children etc?
Is it a good make?
Will it be hard to build?
Am I right the roof should go north-south along the ridge?
Thanks,
Sarah.
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Hi there,
I built a flat-pack greenhouse several years ago, the same size as the one you are looking at. Start early in the day and read the instructions thoroughly, is my advice. I had two friends to help and even then we were putting the last bits together with a torch in between our teeth! Choose one with ventilation you can adjust when things get too hot or too cold.
Toughened glass, as opposed to horticultural glass, will shatter into small pieces - like windscreen glass will. I have a windy garden and last year after a storm, one pane of glass fell out, but survived the fall. I have toughened glass and don't regret it. It IS more expensive, but worth it.
TWO allotments? I have a small garden (20'x30') and the 6'x6' greenhouse is enough for my needs and a friend who uses it to bring on stuff for her own small garden. I find that the greenhouse is invaluable for nurturing seedlings and preparing them for planting out. I also use the greenhouse to grow-on extra vulnerable plants, so slug and snail damage is minimal when they eventually go into open ground - I won't use pesticides, you see. Lastly, I keep heat-loving things like peppers and toms in the greenhouse when germinating and nurturing is done.
I keep seed-sowing to a maximum of 8 pots per seed (2 seeds per pot) and stagger sowing from March onwards. That way while things are germinating, other things are being repotted and the greenhouse doesn't get too crowded. BUt, I'm saying more than you asked... Perhaps you need a larger greenhouse?
Regards,
Art
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If you have your greenhouse at home rather than on the plot it might be more convenient as it's on hand to make life easier with children etc You can do bits in it while kids are in bed. I wish I had one - some day :)
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Answers:
tougher than horti glass which can be as thin as paper!
You are mad, but then join the club! I have 2 allotments and 2 sproggles, fair sized back garden and a largeish greenhouse. We are women, we can multi-task! ;D
Dunno, is there not a review section when you google?
Of course it will, that is part of the fun, on a balmy early summers day, with the kids pinching the bolts and the vino collapso flowing. ;)
Dunno, mine goes that way to this, or back to front. I had to have it where there was room, and I couldn't and wouldn't be without it now!
Go on, you know you wanna.
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I am so very pleased !!! ;D ;D
Hubby has bought me a mini greenhouse today !
Yippeeeeee!!!
;D
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Lucky you :) Have you put it up and got it full yet? If so, with what?
Sorry for being nosy .... er, no I'm not! ;D
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Oh Marianne, You must be so very pleased - guess we know what you'll be doing this weekend. Loveto see a pic when you can - coy I sure am nosey and don't mind admitting it!! ;D 8) ;D
Congrats.
Terri
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Hi Terri and Wardy :D
;D Well it's only a mini greenhouse which we bought from a local shop for dead cheap!! :P
It's 1.60 metre high (5 foot 8??) and has 4 shelves, 50mm wide and rather large for my needs!
The frame is made of green metal tubing as well as the shelving and the body itself is made of very thick transparent polythene.
It's raining in Hertfordshire today so I have not yet put it up but I am hoping for sunshine tomorrow or at least dry weather! I have lots of morning glory and sunflower seedlings to furnish it with and I intend getting on with tomatoes and lettuce asap! Will take a photo as soon as the contraption is up.
Thanks for your interest ! :D
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It's 1.60 metre high (5 foot 8??) and has 4 shelves, 50mm wide and rather large for my needs!
Do'nt you believe it - you will find that in a month or so's time you'll be moving and juggling things around (rather like the fridge at Christmas!) and wishing you had more room. ;D 8)
But enjoy it - it is the best fun you have with clothes on ;D.
But I must admit i can sometimes be seen in there in my dressing gown ;D ;D
Terri
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Awwww thank you so much Terri ! :D
I already have lots of plans for my tiny garden and I intend growing stacks of stuff now I have a little more room in the greenhouse.
I suspect you are right, I will find it "not big enough" for my needs soon! ::) :-\
Take care !
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Hi everyone - I'm not a frequent visitor to this board, so hope I'm not duplicating anything.
Anyway, I want to buy a greenhouse and am considering a Europa Princess 6x6 with toughened glass.
Questions:
How tough is tough?
Toughened or safety glass should be made compulsory if there are children about or people like me, a bit clumsy who trip over their own shadow. I had some blow out soon after it was erected and didn't break so put 6 clips in per pane instead of 4. Been okay for the last 4 years.
Am I mad, will we ever cope with a greenhouse at home as well as 2 allotments, jobs, little children etc?
Yes you are mad but it's great.......
Is it a good make?
I have a 12' x 8' greenhouse by the same manufacturer and have no complaints. They are made by Eden who have provided me with some superb aftersales service years after the purchase. Provided you follow the instructions and don't have the same 'helpful' neighbour I had, you won't be disappointed.
Will it be hard to build?
It shouldn't be if you follow the instructions as a small house won't involve heavy lifting. Just be careful when you tighten up the aluminium nuts and bolts and make sure it is square because if it is otherwise, the glass might not fit and the door jams.
Am I right the roof should go north-south along the ridge?
I don't think it matters with a small house but I would orientate it so the ridge runs east-west as you will pick up more early sun in the spring when it is needed most. I would also invest in automatic ventilators, one in the roof and a louvre at low level. Shading material came with mine so you may not need to get any but small houses heat and cool very rapidly. Always go for the biggest you can afford and shop around for the best prices - I bought mine off the internet from a company in Royston who offered me a very good deal and got it cheaper than many garden centres were selling 8' x 6' ones for.........;D ;D ;D
Thanks,
Sarah.
I hope that is of some help Sarah and go for it........... 8)
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It's 1.60 metre high (5 foot 8??) and has 4 shelves, 50mm wide and rather large for my needs!
But I must admit i can sometimes be seen in there in my dressing gown ;D ;D
Terri
Thank god you said that Terri, I thought I was the only one - what must the neighbours think, me in my towelling robe this morning before breakfast, checking out the seedlings in the greenhouse, shifting pots... Sowing and growing definitely takes precedence this time of year. Art
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Well here the mini greenhouse. Just started moving pots in there and it looks good from here. But as terri said, it WILL be too small .....
My hubby says us gardeners are never content with what we've got, we always want bigger. ;D ;)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v208/Argent47/Img00273.jpg)
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Well here the mini greenhouse. Just started moving pots in there and it looks good from here. But as terri said, it WILL be too small .....
My hubby says us gardeners are never content with what we've got, we always want bigger. ;D ;)
Marianne, no matter how big a greenhouse you buy, it will always end up being too small evntually. I suspect even Tim, who has a greenhouse to die for, sometimes has to juggle plants around.
But at the moment you have plenty of room and you will now go mad and sow all sorts of things , and have a great time.
You can always get another one - looks like you have room ;) ;D.
Your hubby's right (but don't tell him I said that - that's against the rules) ;D 8) ;D
Enjoy.
Terri
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Hi Terri :D
Thanks for your kind reply. I have many more seedlings on my windowsills and need to move them into the mini greenhouse. I can see right now that I will need at least another two ! ;D ;D
Is Tim your hubby ?? My hubby is the best money can buy ;D :D
And he IS always right ! ;D
Take care !
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No Marianne, Tim's not my hubby ;D, Brian is mine and like yours he is very often right, but not ALWAYS!! ;D
We've been married 34 years so he must be OK ::).
Gld you got what you wanted ;)
Terri
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Hi Terri. 34 years is a long time and I congratulate you. I have only been married 4 years but it's not my first relationship ! ;) ::) ::)
Yes I did get what I wanted but the frightening thing is that .. I want more and bigger ... ;D ;) :D
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I've been married 25 years in July and I'm dropping huge hints that I want a greenhouse. He'll probably buy one like yours Marianne - not the huge glass job I'm dreaming of ;D
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Hahaha Wardy ;D ;D Get the catalogues out and put them on the tables, on the seats ... keep saying phrases that include "Glass" and "House" ::)
In my case, my hubby WOULD have bought bigger but we simply do not have the space for it ! ;D
As my garden is also so small, I could not possibly justify a larger one ! ;) ;D
But I wish you luck in your endeavours ! ;) :D
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I am a keen car booter and have sacrificed my metal market stall.............. tis now covered in see through plastic, duck tape and being used as second greenhouse. First 8x6 is bursting at the seams. I now need another heater LOL.
Mmmmmmmmmm wonder if I can put a clear roof on the garage??
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Up at dawn, we were around the local car boot looking for something that could be used as a greenhouse ::) :P.
Only found a book about growing in your greenhouse. That'll do for the moment! ;D :D
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Marianne, that is just like the one I have :) But do please tie or weigh it down! Mine blew over on a windy day a few weeks ago :'( :'( I mourned the loss of many seedlings :-\ Have now weighted it down with a 40L bag of compost and 5l bottle of water and have it wedged behind a couple of big terracotta pots.
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I have a 6 x 4 greenhouse that could be extended if required. I decided to buy a mini greenhouse - like Marianne, instead of buying an extention to the greenhouse. Why? you ask, because it gives me 4 shelves with plenty of light, whereas the extension would only give me 2 shelves and would cost more than twice as much.
Mini greenhouses can be very useful, just be careful on a very windy day, you don't want it mistaken for a UFO ;D
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Well here the mini greenhouse.
That's exactly how we started!
It was great :D
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Moggle, so sorry you lost all your seedlings ! I will take your advice and Lily's and tie it down onto the patio with something before it takes to the air ! ;D
Lily : I am amazed at how much I can fit in there ! I have today sown an enormous amount of seeds and as soon as they germinate, I will bang them in there too ! :D
We had hard frost overnight but thank god, all the seedlings were OK - And when I unzipped the front, I was amazed at the amount of heat that came out of there. I would say it's an excellent purchase ! Thanks everyone! ;D :D
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I think I have to protest that this thread is becoming very sexist. >:(
To EJ, men can multi-task too - they can drive a car and read a map (without turning it upside down!) :D
The points made about never having a big enough greenhouse are very true.
I have a 12 x 6 lean to which came with the house and despite double shelving on both sides it is definitely not big enough - plants expand to fill the available space so installing the 2nd set of shelving just allowed more to be grown.
I would disagree with Clodhopper on orientation. An east west orientation will leave plants on the north side rreceiving not so much light as those on the south and becoming drawn to the south.
Phil
Where are the male greenhouse growers?
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I would disagree with Clodhopper on orientation. An east west orientation will leave plants on the north side receiving not so much light as those on the south and becoming drawn to the south.
Hi Phil - my 12' x 8' runs east-west and to be honest, I don't find it makes a lot of difference and haven't had a problem with the plants being drawn but it does provide the opportunity of having a cooler side out of the direct sun. In spring [for seedlings] and autumn [ripening] getting maximum heat gain from the sun is most important which is got by having the longest side facing the sun [when you get some ::) ]. With a lean-to, you have no choice and the rear wall will cause the plants to lean away from it.
From the end of April through to September it is crucial that the house is shaded on the sides facing the most sun and I found some tomato varieties developed less greenback when shaded. Is this something you find?
clodhopper
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My lean to is against a low North-South wall so I only get direct sunlight in the morning
I bow to your experience on orientation, it's a while since I had a "full" greenhouse
I don't normally shade, although I did in the very hot summer a couple of years ago. I have never suffered from greenback and grow lots of old varieties that don't claim to be resistant.
Phil
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Hi Phil - having your house facing east enables it to warm up early with the rising sun in spring and early summer which is good because it reduces the need for heating and frost prevention. The day's maximum temperatures are usually in the late afternoon and once the house is warm, the outside ambient temperature will help to keep the inside temperature up. It isn't so important, therefore, in the late afternoons when your house is out of the sun. Possibly the other side of the wall is then in the sun and retains heat into the night.
Whatever, the most important thing of all is to have a greenhouse and fill it.......... :D :D :D
By the way, I had a bag of compost left over from last year which I kept in the greenhouse and used some of it for potting up some geranium cuttings and the first sowing of seeds. I went to sow some more at the weekend only to find a colony of big red ants had moved in so quickly dumped it on one of the borders. >:( >:( >:(
clodhopper
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Phil You learn something new everyday. I never knew men could multi task. I shall tell my husband ;D
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Phil You learn something new everyday. I never knew men could multi task. I shall tell my husband ;D
Surely just by being married men are multi tasked.............. ;D ;D ;D
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Nah, I don't agree Clodhopper ;D I left my husband to chop some steak for a stir fry the other night as I had to visit my mother in hospital. When I came home nothing had been done as he'd been sitting on the sofa drinking lager and fell asleep. I suppose that is multi tasking drinking lager and falling asleep ;D ;D
He'd had a hard day on the plot fiddling in his shed ;D
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wardy!youre older than you look gel! ;)
i've kept the oh in the style he'd liketo become accustomed to for 32 years(child bride y'see! ;))ups and downs...no wardy-not them sort!
well..sometimes! ;) ;D
but i always introduce him as my first husband-keeps him on his toes!
i cant be bothered to train another one in at this late stage-
btw-i am getting a marrianne spesh-it looks good and as i havent got a gh,it'll do me-and laer on-i shall turn it into a melon emporium-take the odd shelf out......
thanks for the pic!
kitty
x ;D
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He'd had a hard day on the plot fiddling in his shed ;D
Sorry Wardy - can you say that again only I think I misheard you ;D ;D ;D
Anyway, he probably fell asleep worried that he might have to get up for a refill and couldn't remember where you had put the other tins...... ??? ??? ???
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Yes, fiddling in his shed, eg putting up shelves, attaching hooks and hangers and sorting out his screw collection ;D He's on about getting a wine box next Tt!
No, a greenhouse will be the next thing on the plot. My lotty neighbour has given me a greenhouse (well, sort of. It's the frame, minus the base, and all the glass is broken. Apart from that it's perfect :(
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;) That will be an expensive greenhouse Wardy, 8 panes cost me £28.50, then I broke one putting it in to the last hole on the roof. Wobbled on ladder and whoops it fell through hole in roof!!! So have had temproary double bubble wrap and duck tape on since. Got a new piece of glass but am going to get a helper this time. Hopefully they will catch it if I wobble again.
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Supernan I have miles of bubble wrap which was used to wrap wheelbarrows in for our in bloom allotment so I'm going to use that. Wot no glass ;D
It will do til I can afford some polycarb or something. Sorry to hear of your wobbly ladder woes ;)
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The best, and I suspect cheapest, cold frames on my allotment plot are made from redundant double glazing panels.
They keep the heat in and are almost indestructible
Phil
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Glad to hear that Phil. A guy has given me a massive double glazed picture window taken from his house. It's huge though so I don't know how I'm gonna move it to the plot or how to build a green house around it. Help, I'm beginning to wish I'd said I didn't want it. That's the second offer I've accepted and regretted re the plot. I'll keep my big mouth shut in future ;D
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I must be really lucky.
I bought my 8x6 greenhouse last year for £40, buyer collects and dismantles job.
I have just got another 8x6 for £20 with all the glass. Another dismantle and shift job.
At our allotments we have a double glazing company on the small estate opposite who bring over their mis-measured windows and glass for free!
We are moving into a house soon (we live in a flat) and I am having one of the greenhouses at home.
Where is the smug smilie?
John ;D
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live anywhere near wardy then? ;D
she could do with one of yer cast offs!
jammy i calls it!jammy!
kitty ;D
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Kitty I'll be going to check out that glass place near Johnny you betcha
Hey I'm off to North Somercotes in the morning after I've fed all my B & B guests. I going to check out my niece's new gaff
If you heard a loud disturbance in your neck of the woods it will be yours truly with the dreaded Jack Russell in tow ;D
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aaargh!jack russels!
nice 'en croute' with a cheese sauce!
oo-you have had nice weather for a trip t'coast!
was that you i say whizzing past on a tandem?
maybe not...the dog was peddling fast tho!..
kitty ;D
johnny?
jahmmy more like!
re;the amazing amount of crud people have offloaded onto youof late-er,,,i mean the wonderful gifts bestowed on you...i would gird yer loins and say-'sorry-tho old man says i musnt-he says the only glass structures i'm allowed to bring home contain beer!'
then go get yourself a plazzy one from wilkos!
kitty ;D
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Had a good day at the sea side in picturesque Donna Nook ;D Sounds idyllic looks horrid. Dog had a lovely time though but headed out to sea across the bombing range (my husband threw his ball for him tee hee)
He went so far, as he was chasing after three greyhounds by this time, that we lost sight of him. Just a little dot on the horizon. He then got his toes in the sea and came flying back to us. He found some very good driftwood to play with which we took back for our niece's garden. I didn't know if we could do that - hope I didn't do wrong.
Loads of garden centres in that neck of the woods. It was a glorious day and I was hankering to be back on the lotty
Wot's all this got to do with greenhouses? ;D
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i dont think donna nook is going to miss a bit of driftwood wardy!there plenty of it there-b****r all else aint there?! ;D
its not always a bombing range...they puty flags up when they are having a sesh.....
yes-we have lots of really good nurseries and garden centres in lincs...
glad you had a good day!
kitty
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It's still in my car! It was sposed to go back to my niece's house by the sea! It aint going to look too relevant in my garden which is the farthest point from the coast in every direction ;D
Ah well praps I can make it into an interesting collage, take a photo and frame it up and post it to her ;D
Or use it to make an interesting plant support :)
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Our last greenhouse blew down.
it wasn't quite square and in last years big gusts it all cam tumbling down. Quite impressive to watch. Everything bent or broken including the frame except six pieces of glass.
This year we have a slighly bigger one 8 x 8 but it is still not up. We started on Saturday making a nice solid concret base nice and square and nice and flat. Sunday we then spent the day assembling the sides and drilling to holes to attach it to the concrete blocks. I think it will be the weekend before we try to finish it - lets hope for good weather.
I don't know how anyone can disassemble and reassemble greenhouses. I am impressed or are we just slow?? I thin our skills are just not up to greenhouses.
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Well here the mini greenhouse. Just started moving pots in there and it looks good from here. But as terri said, it WILL be too small .....
My hubby says us gardeners are never content with what we've got, we always want bigger. ;D ;)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v208/Argent47/Img00273.jpg)
Hi Marianne!! ;) I'm looking at buying a mini greenhouse as well, and yours looks like exactly what I'm after ;) Can I ask how much you got it for so I know roughly what it should be priced at ? many thanks in advance for your help!! ;D
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i'm not marrianne but i can butt in!
cos i saw hers and coveted my cyber neighbours greenhouse!
so---trundled off to poundstretcher-£12.99-and they are brill!
you can get loads in-and i can guarantee the strength of the top bars as i banged me head on one-TWICE!(it was so good the first time i thought id do it again! ::))
anyway10/10 from the kitty! ;D
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Hi Kitty I have got 5 of these, bought them in my local store Roys. Wanna be jealous mine were £9.99!!
I use them as staging in my greenhouse. Bought an extra one and they now have four shelves. One has its cover on inside the greenhouse, extra large propagator 'cos it keep plants about 5deg warmer.
The covers are going outside to be used as mini tom houses. Best value items I have bought this year.
Still no toms!!
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wow!
green i am!that was a good buy there!
i have a slightly larger one coming in the post any day-i plan to have me a melon emporium!-i shall use the mini g/h as a cucumber pit!
hows your Battle if the Weeds coming on?whats the score?
kitty ;D
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A few years ago I had the most enjoyable 3 days spent putting up my greenhouse, the weather was perfect and I started each day early so as the make the most of the weather. It's an Oasis greenhouse and I have not fitted it at the base so it can be moved if necessary. I don't like fixing things permanently in the garden as I am always moving them around. But this year I will fix the greenhouse at the base and hope to have a few more enjoyable days in the summer, when hopfully all my seedlings are in the ground. Those mini greenhouses do just the job and if I had room I would have more of them
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Seen today in the Daily Express !
Exceptional offer for a mini greenhouse, identical to mine pictured above.
Their exceptional offer -----> £29.99 + £3.95 Post and Packing.
The price I paid from a local shop ---> £19.95
What a cheek !!!! >:( :o
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That's the tabloid press for you Marianne, they are full of what used to make the prairies so fertile. I consider them to be so much rubbish that I won't put them on my compost heap......... >:( >:( >:(
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My OH normally purchases the paper for me and today, he bought this one in error !!!
But how can they call that exceptional offer !? It's just taking the big Peeeeeeeeee ::) ::)
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hi i work in the glass trade and know tough glass is 100 times stronger then un tough but be careful not to catch the corners as this the weak part