Martin B Posted March 18, 2010 Share Posted March 18, 2010 Without having the allotment this year, I'll be doing all of my growing from home. I'm just wondering which is the best budget mini-greenhouse. One of those plastic ones suitable for a couple of cucumber, tomato and pepper plants. With going away on holiday several times and it being my last summer before going to University, funds are limeted. So the cheaper the better, any reccomendations? Thanks, Martin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted March 18, 2010 Share Posted March 18, 2010 I bought one of these last year (about £20). The plastic had ripped by the end of the summer and needed replacing but it did the job well. The structural bit seems to still be intact. I put a grobag on the bottom to hold it down but had to tie it to a garden bench with bungee cords to prevent it blowing over. (My garden is very windy though.) I've bought a sturdier replacement cover this year (about £12) which has a kind of mesh within the plastic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rabbitfluff Posted March 19, 2010 Share Posted March 19, 2010 I had 2 last year - one the same as above and one with the stringy mesh in the plastic (I think it was from Argos). The one with the mesh seems to have survived the better of the 2, I think maybe as the plastic is a little more flexible - I have a big rip up the back of the non-meshy one. The zips had broke on both by the end of the summer though. They worked though and will probably last another year. Maybe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenanne Posted March 19, 2010 Share Posted March 19, 2010 Poundstretcher have similar - they looked pretty cheap (but I resisted the temptation!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted March 19, 2010 Share Posted March 19, 2010 .....and Poundstretcher is just round the corner from work for you Martin! I've a couple of those and as mentioned, you do need to tie them down well! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted March 19, 2010 Share Posted March 19, 2010 .....and Poundstretcher is just round the corner from work for you Martin! I've a couple of those and as mentioned, you do need to tie them down well! I agree with you Lesley! We had one at work and it was forever blowing off! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted March 19, 2010 Share Posted March 19, 2010 .........or perhaps they were blowing away??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted March 20, 2010 Share Posted March 20, 2010 Yes 'blowing away' sounds much better but 'blowing off' sounds more fun!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted March 20, 2010 Share Posted March 20, 2010 A good tip someone told me is to burn a small hole through the plastic with a hot skewer (be careful!) and attach your ties to the frame not the cover The cover should last longer hopefully Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted March 20, 2010 Share Posted March 20, 2010 Aldi had those really cheap a week or so ago.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted March 22, 2010 Author Share Posted March 22, 2010 Thanks for your input. Emma/Lesley you made me smile! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 27, 2010 Share Posted March 27, 2010 Hi I had a small one of those bought for me , it did blow around on gusty days despite being in a sunny sheltered spot) I bricked it at the base but it still has its original zip cover (it is outside in all weathers) it was only a cheapie and about 6 years old now. I also had an alton cedar greenhouse and sold it on ebay as it was more trouble to heat than it was worth. These little frames are worth their weight in gold good luck indie(ps I store wood logs in mine during the autumn/winter ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
furball Posted April 11, 2010 Share Posted April 11, 2010 Hi Martin just wondered if a cold frame would be better and cheaper if you could make one. Or even planting in the garden and using those plastic bell like cloches, they can be staked down. These will last years and just wondered if they would work out more economical, just a thought. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emchook Posted April 14, 2010 Share Posted April 14, 2010 I had a gardman walkin greenhouse that wasnt much more expensive than these mini greenhouses and it was great ! It finally self destructed this year ..but I wasnt very good at packing it away before the storms hit .. so my fault really Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ValerieR Posted April 23, 2010 Share Posted April 23, 2010 I had one of those and it blew over a few times, wrecking the contents - and that was with a concrete slab sitting on the bottom shelf for stability! My pal has one though and hers is great. I think the lesson is be careful where you put it! Needs to be a spot that is not too windy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...