Greenhouse Newbie

[AchillesLastStand]

I’m very excited to be on the verge of ordering my first greenhouse. Since moving house in 2021 and having a proper garden for the first time in my life I’ve really got into gardening and love planting and pottering in my garden. I’ve found it really has helped my mental health. Anyway having sadly lost my dad last year I’m using a bit of the money he left me to get my first greenhouse. My budget is around £1.5k and I don’t have room for anything bigger than 6x8 ft. I’ve been looking at the Simplicity Greenhouses or the Hercules Octagonal greenhouse both from the Greenhouse People. I’m going to have a look at both of them next weekend at my local garden centre that sells them.

Ive only just started researching greenhouse. Can seasoned greenhouse owners gives my any tips of what to look for or avoid. Also what things should I be looking to buy to go inside (apart from plants obviously!). What kind of staging should I be looking for? I think a chair is considered essential! Thanks

Ventilation and size. My impression of the octagonal is that it’s basically a 6x8 with the corners chopped off.

try to have a low down louvre window and an ordinary window in the roof to get a circulation going. Fitting an automatic vent in the roof window is good for those unexpected sunny days when you’re not at home. But these are all things that can be added in to whatever you buy.

don’t go overboard on staging, it can be useful to have an area where you can stand taller plants on the ground.

I’ve a 6x 8 and it’s full already this year. So go fo most space you can. I have 2 level staging on one side and the other side clear for taller plants and a potting table. I’ve got some very cheap collapsible shelves on that sid3 at the moment for seed trays.

are you going to put on hard standing or have a border? Pluses and minuses to both.

I got 2 automatic opening roof vents and one window vent.

love my greenhouse.

Given we now have wet and windier winters, make sure you attach it firmly to the ground, with proper anchor bolts.

When you find what you want, have a look on Facebook, gumtree and freecycle. There's usually loads of good green houses going free or cheap. It'd save some cash to spend elsewhere...

Pay a proffesional to build it properly unless you are very confident. The amount of flat greenhouses I see on FB after a big storm is well sad. Mine is bolted to a metal frame that is concreted into the ground. I couldn't have done it. It's never budged even in the nastiest weather.

This is all very useful, thank you.