Allotments 4 All

Does anyone have any experience of these?  We're thinking of buying one as we like the price, plus free delivery.  We really do only have space for a small one (6x4), and the main reason for buying it would be to plant a grape vine (in the ground).

I believe mine is of that brand from B&Q, I got the 8x6' one and its been ok for the last 3 years, I also went for hort glass not the plastic stuff.

I think we will go for the polycarbonate as it would be safer- we have a young grand-daughter and as it would be sited near the back gate I could envisage nasty accidents on bikes etc. with glass!  I've read more than 80 reviews and they were all favourable.  The average time to put it together seems to be about 8 hours- good job we're both retired!

We have the Palram polycarbonate 8x6 and so far so good. Withstood some pretty bad winter storms. My only issue so far is that it hasn't been easy to set up any shading. There's very little to use to attach anything to and have ended up using bulldog clips. Putting it up was pretty straightforward but ended up with sore thumbs getting the panes in. 8 hours is probably about right, I got help from my 9 year old son so would probably have been about 6 hours without him.  ;)

I'd happily recommend it.

<edit> This is the company we purchased from http://www.greenhousewarehouse.com/products/greenhouses-choose-by-brand-palram-palram-silverline/gh-palr-86-sil-6-x-8-silverline-greenhouse-with-clear-safety-glazing.html </edit>

we want to plant a grape vine inside, and have heard that you need lots of ventilation to avoid mildew.  Would the standard vent plus an extra one be adequate- thinking of a through draught!?  Am also thinking that we would keep it quite small to avoid it climbing through the vents!  Would we be able to attach wires anywhere?

That would really be my only gripe as there isn't anywhere obvious to attach wires or anything else for that matter. There are like some narrow "ledges" and that's where we attached bulldog clips too, I guess you could attach wires there as long as you had several sturdy clips. We just have the one window and haven't had any ventilation problems with that and an open door during the day.

Well, after all my research, OH is now talking about building one with wood and polycarbonate.  That way we can have it exactly the shape and size we want, and can hammer nails in etc  for shading and wires.  It's only talk at the moment though, so we may fall back on the Palram eventually!

Built this in 3 days. Total cost £99. Used tilers lathes and monoflex from scaffold direct.Supposed to last 10 years.

RE shading.
If you stand in front of the side of the g/h on the inside, place 3 L shaped clips with cut headed bolts at the point between the top of the side and the ceiling/roof. get some galv wire and cut a bit of about two inches long then bend into a citcle at one end, place this under a nut that holds the g/h together at each end of the g/h in the same line as the L plates.

Place a bamboo cane on L plates at the inside apex of the roof.

Grab some 8' or 10' bamboo canes and some small ) thin ) cable ties. attach the bamboo canes to the L plates with the ties.
Grab some shadng net and then cable tie this over another bamboo cane, grab some more galv wire and then make up some S shaped hooks, place this through the netting so it is against the bamboo cane and then place the other end of the S hook over the bamboo cane you placed on the side of the g/h.  Do the same for the roof but place a bamboo cane at both the top and bottom of the netting. Hook top and ottom over the canes you put in place with the L plates.

Worked for me, I can now hook it up or unhook it when I use or dont use it, and the canes stay in place all year, I can also use them for tom plants if I want too.

will try to get a pic up tomorrow if I can get online.

I have a palram 8 * 6 greenhouse and at the time of ordering bought a palram sunshield. the kit has all the plugs you need to attach it into the framework, My garden centre sells plasting plugs that go into the framework as well as i used them to attach bubble wrap for over wintering.

here is a short cut to an accessory pdf

http://www.webretailuk.co.uk/pdf_downloads/palram/palram_greenhouse_accessories.pdf

available from here

http://www.greenhousewarehouse.com/products/greenhouses-choose-by-brand-palram-palram-greenline/acc-shadkit-silver-greenhouse-shading.html