Pre loved greenhouse

[Poodlepompom]

Hi everyone,

I had a thread a little while ago about greenhouses, soon realised that it would be a good idea for me to buy a secondhand greenhouse.
So I started looking on Marketplace but they were selling like hot cakes - guess lots of people are starting to love gardening.
Anyway I've found one for a very reasonable price and all been well it will be back here on Saturday.

The point of this thread is, 2 things, I'd love to see inside your greenhouse at your set ups especially if your greenhouse is 8ft by 6ft and I'd love to hear from those who have bought second hand and given a greenhouse some TLC and maybe some paint to make it in to something pretty, I'm very excited!

Thanks in advance x

Make sure whoever dismantles it labels every piece of glass so you know where to put them back.

Yes thank you, he is taking masking tape and a marker pen to mark all the pieces.

If it is an aluminium greenhouse then painting it might not work as aluminium needs a special primer or the top coat won't stick. If it is wood then not a bad idea to re paint before glazing. As with all greenhouses it is essential that the frame is level and absolutely square or when you come to fit the glass it won't fit...and never partially glaze and leave the rest till tomorrow as high winds will rapidly destroy a part glazed structure. As to using it I'd start with staging down one side for seed trays etc leaving the other side for either grow bags etc or growing directly into the soil if yours is OK. Have fun...

Thank you! Yes it's an Aluminium greenhouse and I have read about the primer.

I just hope I love it and use it as much as I think I'm going too.

A couple of things to think about - water supply - how close is it? and will you need electric for heating?

Personally I favour being able to plant straight into the soil in the greenhouse - makes watering easier and you can always position pots on the soil or add paving later, whereas it's harder to open up to soil later if you've positioned on paving. I have a path of compacted soil down the middle, but if you like it a bit tidier raised beds in a u shape with paving in the middle would work.

Top tips from a repeat greenhouse mover:

• take out all the glass (obviously); buy additional clips (ebay) and z-pieces (you will see what i mean when you’re at the greenhouse) for putting it back in
• Take a billion photos; keep the frame as intact as possible - if you can keep the sides in one piece that’s great
• when you put it back up make sure it is both level and square

I;ve never attempted to prettify a greenhouse, mine are strictly working spaces, so can’t help you there. But I agree growing into the ground is definitely my preference.

I can’t help with moving and rebuilding advice but I have a 6x8 greenhouse on a concrete slab. It has built in staging up one side. This is year two of growing things for me, so I’m not an expert!

I use the staging for seed trays, then have large pots on the concrete along the other side and the end. I stand the pots on shallow trays (either growbag trays but I don’t punch out the drain holes, or the IKEA Baggmuck which is sold as a shoe tray) so I don’t have to worry about daily watering if I go away for a day or two.
The pots are mainly 30L heavy duty plastic ones with handles. I can get six of these plus two of the cleverpots tomato pots in an L shape in the space.

Underneath the staging I store pots, compost, my box of seeds, plant food, watering cans etc. I have a couple of hooks on the underside of the staging to hang up my trowel, kneel mat and secateurs.

Thank you for all the advice and tips. The greenhouse made it home yesterday...it needs a little bit of TLC and some bits replacing but we were expecting that. Now we have quite a bit of ground work to do before we can rebuild but so far so good!