Greenhouses

[mypinkmonkey]

I have a significant birthday this year and my DH is going to buy me a greenhouse. I have never owned one before and I wondered if any of you lovely gardening people had any suggestions to assist my choice of make, model etc. we are very fortunate to have a prepared base and a south facing wall for it to go on so it will be a lean to. TIA.

A wooden one came with our bungalow, and we had brilliant tomatoes and cucumbers from it for many years. But some glass was cracked, wood deteriorating even when we acquired it, and it rotted away after 25 years.

The iron bolts holding it to the concrete base rusted, and eventually split the concrete.

So although a wooden one looks lovely it needs regular maintenance, so a metal frame one may be more practical, but could be more prone to condensation. It needs to have good ventilation, and easily opened or automatic vents. A shelf and fixing points for canes and strings to support plants are useful.

I guess as large as you can accommodate/afford is best, though could be too large to clean, sterilize, and paint. Ideally you need safe access to be able to clean the roof.

Check on some gardening and greenhouse sites, as I don't know about makes.

Get the biggest and best you can afford - you will always fill it!

And paint it before you fill it. Yes, been there and regretted that.

I have a lovely freestanding wooden one by Woodpecker joinery, they do all kinds of styles including custom made so would be able to work with your existing site. I've had it about 7 years and it's still in very good condition, it's timbered to about a metre high/staging height and all I really do for upkeep is to occasionally restain the exterior wood(dark brown) when I notice the colour is faded but only maintenance in the interior is cleaning and replacing the tubes on the bayliss vents when they stopped working after a few years. My favourite thing about it is they custom made the door to fit a cat flap for me!

My only regret is not having side window vents fitted, there's 2 roof windows with bayliss auto vents but they only open when it's warm. This time of year I like to get a bit of air circulation going during the day but all I can do is prop open the door then forget to close it at night.

I am yearning for an Alitex greenhouse. They are beautiful.

Yes I was going to try and steer clear of wood because of the maintenance but they do look better than the aliminium frames.
Alitex are fabulous (I agree Rhubarb ) but wow they are expensive!
I guess the best thing is to go and have a look at a few. Thanks everyone.

Hampton court flower show is an excellent place for greenhouse lusting. Aluminium doesn't have to be bare, it comes in lovely colours. Get power points in the greenhouse while you are at it and if you can manage water nearby that's even more fabulous.