Really can't afford a greenhouse, what about those mini tunnel things or cold frames - any suggestions?

[tassisssss]

Dh would love a greenhouse. We really really can't afford it this year. Last year he bought a sort of green house (it was green fabric!) from poundies for £30 but it blew away after a few months! However in that time dh and ds really enjoyed planting seeds and watering them and talking to them every evening. Both are v keen to do similar again. I've seen tunnel things and cold frames that'd be a lot cheaper than a green house. Are they any good? any suggestions?

[sophierosie]

Depends on whether you want to grow plants in them or just use them to propogate?

This looks like a good compromise in fact I might have to get one myself as my plastic mini greenhouse thing is completely ripped after recent winds!

[tassisssss]

thanks sophierosie, that's very cute. probably a bit out of our budget though. think we'd just use it for seeds this year, so could be pretty small. any other ideas? ta.

[MaureenMLove]

Have you seen this thread? One persons rubbish is another ones gold and all that! Just thought I'd stick my nose in and mention it!

[sophierosie]

What about one of these?

[jeremyspants]

Can you beg/steal/borrow plastic fizzy drink bottles? The 2litre ones that have water/cola etc?
We have savage e-coli in our water supply so have to buy in water and I kept every bottle. You just make a basic frame to the size of greenhouse you need and stack the bottles, then tie them in with wire. goes off to find picture
http:www.sci-scotland.org.uk/cww.html

[jeremyspants]

Tries link again
www.sci-scotland.org.uk/cww.html

[jeremyspants]

And this-
www.sci-scotland.org.uk/greenhouse.html

[FAQ]

mind sound odd - but have you tried your local freecycle? There have been no less than 4 greenhouses been offered (and taken very quickly) on our local (very small) group in the last week!

[tassisssss]

sophierosie, that amazon one looks exactly what we need but I wonder whether it too would blow down? I guess at that price it wouldn't matter if it just lasted a season.

FAQ, I do look at freecycle most days but no success as yet. As you say they do tend to get snapped up!

Jeremy those greenhouses are AMAZING. I will def show dh that link. He'll love them!

Thanks all.

[FAQ]

have you put a wanted in on Freecycle? May be worth it??

[tassisssss]

Hmm, I should, I feel a bit bad asking for stuff when I've never actually given stuff away on freecycle (do take to charity shops a lot, this just seems easier). Does that not go against the spirit of freecycle?

[FAQ]

my first posts on our local freecycle were "wanteds" .

But I always keep an eye open for other peoples "wanted" posts and the other day came up trumps with our rowing machine which went to a lovely man who needed one for his mother who's recently had an op.

[tassisssss]

I should give it a go. NOthing to lose really.

[BigBadMouse]

Sorry have just skim read other posts so might be repeating someone here but there was a little article in 'grow your own' this month about making your own cold frame. All you need is an old window plus some wood or bricks to raise it from the ground. Make sure the glass is at an angle to allow optimum amount of light to pass through to the plants (and to make sure the rain runs off).

You should be able to pick up some old windows at a recycling centre (aka local tip) or freecycle.

btw - loads of wanteds on my local freecycle for greenhouses and quite a few seem to get lucky so you never know. Replacement glass not too expensive if you need to replace some panels.

[sophierosie]

If you have it next to a wall or fence you could always secure it with wires and hooks or something similar.

[lottymadbird]

jeremyspants - that is the most amazing thing i have ever seen, what a fantastic idea. my greenhouse got stolen from my allotment, am now going to start saving plastic bottles !

[jeremyspants]

I love it lottymadbird! Sorry to hear about your greenhouse - that is really bad.
If there is a local Lighterlife slimming group you could ask the ladies to keep their water bottles - I got a few hundred that way.
We made a mini version to see how it worked and it is really good.

[lottymadbird]

i know, unbelievable isnt it what some people will steal!

hadnt thought of slimming groups, was planning on an undercover operation around the local streets on the night before re-cycling day !!!!!

[jeremyspants]

Lotty, if you just make a panel at a time and screw two closed cuphooks on each side then you can hold them together with a metal rod pushed into the ground and through the closed cuphook thingies.
I STOLE the idea from a henrun idea that I saw.
That way you can flat pack it and transport it more easily.
Ideas for bottle sources:
advert in schools, colleges
Pubs
local recycling plant
the diet ladies drink GALLONS

[Mung]

I know someone who advertised on freecycle for empty drinks bottles and got a huge bag full.

Jeremyspants...would the green bottles work as well as the clear ones? I love that green house.

[jeremyspants]

Yes the green ones work well...I quite like them for the roof as it gives the plants some shade but have used them also on the bottom row.
The little squarish bottles work well too but you would sort of have to do the whole panel with them. They work well as tiny closhes.

[lottymadbird]

well i think you are a genius jeremy and i will certainly be trying it (even just to give the old boys up the allotment something to talk about !!!).