Could any of you kindly talk to me please about buying a greenhouse, what I should be aware of, and what it should stand on?

[Strategicchoring]

The thread title says it all really. I am about to buy a small to medium-sized mid-range greenhouse for my new veg plot (also starting this year). It will be facing south-east. I've never had a greenhouse before and would love to know the ins and outs, what kit I should buy with it (and what is not necessary) and also I need to decide whether it goes on concrete standing or on bare earth? (I assume the latter depends on whether I want to grow things directly in the earth or not???)

Currently there is a very delapidated old greenhouse with broken glass and a bent frame (that I've tried to repair it without success) in the same place and a massive sage bush grows up through the earth in one corner and rocquette comes and goes during the summer.

Also, some of the more upmarket greenhouses I have looked at, seem to be built on low brick walls. I'm not sure I want to fork out for that, but what is the advantage of that please?

As a greenhouse novice, any advice/tips/suggestions very gratefully received!

Sorry, to be more accurate, I should have said the longest side of it will be positioned so that the sun hits it from the south-east!

Cemented brick base for the walls of the greenhouse, need to be firm so the walls don't flex or start differentially sinking. Concrete base allows you to change soil each year, and to clean greenhouse, so you don't carry over too many pests from year to year. And you can then fasten the base of the greenhouse to the concrete base and dispense with the bricks. Only disadvantage is you may get rain seeping in under the base of the greenhouse wall.

Sage is easy to grow, and doesn't need a greenhouse, so factor in a replacement sage bush into your cost and don't adapt your greenhouse round it.

Make sure you have enough ventilation - useful to have a low down vent as well as windows in the roof to aid air circulation. Automatic window opening is a boon and means you don't have to worry about it when you're away.

Are you going to heat it? Will you need to run an electric cable for heat/light? You'll need a nearby source of water. Water butt taking the rain of the greenhouse roof will help, but will only give you 50% of what you need.

Don't put staging all round - it's useful to have space for taller plants.

You'll need close by space for working and for storing pots, compost.

It's nice to have room for a chair - pricking out seedlings is less tedious sitting down, and you'll find it remarkably nice just to sit in there and think. Especially on sunny days in the winter.

Wow that is fantastic info and just the sort of thing I need to know (and more!) MereDintofPandiculation! Thank you so much!

I'm not sure about heating tbh - I need to make a decision about that - I think probably not initially. I will be constructing a few cold frames outside though.

Sage bush will go!

And that's a very good tip about low down ventilation thank you; I wouldn't have thought of that! A chair sounds like a lovely touch too!

Absolutely agree (again) with meredint. I have graduated to a proper greenhouse after years of making do with botched up wonky leaking structures. Concrete base is ideal. I made a big one to give stability because of tree roots coming in from next door. Automatic roof vents, and manual vents lower down work well. Also consider access, where will be most convenient for the door, and do you need to be able to get a wheelbarrow in, or just up to the door. I keep a dustbin of water in mine all year round for dipping watering can in. Also helps keep temperature even, esp in winter. Water and slugs can enter between the frame and the concrete and I’ve considered sealing with black drain mastic, but that would prevent water escaping when I go mad with a hose pipe. If you want to hang baskets make sure there are suitable hanging points.

Thank you very much for the advice Trethew and for the photos! It certainly looks as though you make good use of yours! Always exciting to see pots with green shoots at this time of year!

The point about access is a very good one as currently (with old wreck of a greenhouse) the access is from the side with a couple of steps up; with not much room to turn a wheelbarrow.

I take your point about slugs; presumably there is much less chance of them entering your greenhouse if it has a concrete floor, although I do know someone with earth beds on one side, staging on the other and a gravel path down the middle .

Thanks again, still pondering all of this, time is matching on and I need to put my order in as delivery can take a couple of weeks.

Sorry, that wasn't very clear, the gravel seemed to keep the slugs away to some extent.

The point about tree roots is worth noting though!

Slugs will come in in soil and on pots. Or will walk in through the door - gravel round the outside of the greenhouse might help!. I used to escort slugs outside, but have now resorted to escorting them out and stamping on them.

I don't have wheelbarrow access but I make sure as far as possible that any pots are within my capacity to carry out of the greenhouse and on to a wheelbarrow. I have two deep tubs which I have to leave in situ, and change soil by decanting into smaller containers.

Trethew makes a good point about dipping watering cans. If you are watering a full greenhouse daily in midsummer, you really won't want to hang around waiting for watering cans to fill under a tap. Or you could install an automatic watering system, but that's a whole new area to learn about!

I've got a Robinsons greenhouse which is very sturdy, and I can hang baskets from the roof trusses. I bought mine nearly 30 years ago. Their prices are eye-watering , though I've just seen a site with big reductions, eg a !0ft x 14 ft reduced from £7000 to £3600.

My previous knackered greenhouse had earth beds with a slab path up the middle. I had ever worsening pest and disease problems after several years of growing directly in the soil. In the end I abandoned direct growing (tomatoes, winter salads and French beans) and used containers.

Mine’s a Rhino greenhouse and I’d wholeheartedly recommend it. One of my favourite features is the big panes of glass which means you don’t have overlapping panes collectIng algae

I had this one installed late last year:

www.greenhousesdirect.co.uk/products/rhino-premium-8x10-greenhouse/c-24/p-22186?gclid=CjwKCAiAx_DwBRAfEiwA3vwZYm0IvQvHFiMj2_CX7u3jxJoGGpz_MWhDC1izLzEhYIrugNAZjECW8hoCPXsQAvD_BwE

It is absolutely lovely, incredibly well made, and my landscapers were well impressed. I chose a package deal at the time which included staging down one side, shelves down one side and across the back, finials and blinds. We just need to plumb in some water butts now.

Thank you so much for all of these very helpful replies! They are hugely appreciated.

Gravel around the outside of the greenhouse might not be a bad idea actually but it sounds like a concrete base is the way forward.

Thanks also for links - some lovely examples there - but the brand names I am looking at are different as I am across the Channel.

We already have a water source nearby for other outbuildings which needs repairing, and extending, so need to get that done too.

Thanks again everyone!