Glass or Polycarbonate?

Hi

I've decided i'm going to invest in a proper greenhouse for my seed growing next year, had a look around on the net and have noticed these polycarbonate ones, i'm wondering what you guys think are best, these ones or glass?

Thanks In Advance.

 

Hi.

Don't really know to be honest. All my other greenhouses have been glass. In a new place and just bought one with initially UV plastic sheeting (as it was cheaper, thought I would either get polycarbonate or glass later. I would imagine plastic is plastic in whatever form, but I'm glad you asked as maybe someone with experience of both will post.:thumb:

 

I dont actually have a polycarbonate greenhouse, but I did relpace the glass in one side with twinwall polycarbonate.

The stuff I have is clear, but you cant see through it as such.
Its good for keeping the heat in, in winter, but you dont get direct sunshine.
Good for most plants, but cacti etc. need more direct light, I think.

So basically, I'd say, it depends on what you want to grow.

 

Thanks for the replies :thumb: i'll have to mull it over for a while before i decide which i'm going to go for.

 

May I ask advice on the same but for a cold frame? I intend to build one in autumn in a nice sheltered spot near the kitchen garden, and I wonder which wd be best. I have some old windows that I could recicle, but isn't glass somewhat frail? I had thought of making the "walls" with wood and line it with polistirol, both for insulation and light reflection. I will use the frame mostly for seeds in spring - autumn and cutlings in summer. Any thoughts are welcome.

 

Ivory, Glass is indeed frail!..But you can apply a clear adhesive film to stop it shattering if it breaks from any good DIY stores. I think you are right to recycle your window frames:thumb:

 

Wow, that is a good idea! Will!

I was worried about the fragility because:
a) I am a toon (as in cartoon carachter, get the idea?)
b) There are trees around the spot, including robinias and walnuts, and some flying branch/twig/nut is not such an improbable event.
c) I have cats, and you never know what they could do. Murphy's law and everything.

But clear adesive wd definitely change things. Thanks!

 

Hi Rouxbee we brought our very first greenhouse earlier this year and as Bob didn't want a glass one and safely glass was really dear we thought about getting a polycarbonate one. We looked at both types the clear slightly raised window type ones and the twin walled disfused ones.

The clear slightly raised window type ones are without doubt the cheaper of the two although they make the most frightful noise when it's windy and you really need more 'W' clips than what the suppliers give to and maybe use sealant as well to secure them from flying off..I kid you not!:eek:

We decided on the twin walled one and although we first thought we would have to put shading up in the end we didn't need too, because of what we saw in the clear polycarbonate ones we decided to play safe and use extra clips and sealant after the door flew off in the gales lol. Although our garden is a wind tunnel the greenhouse doesn't make any noise at all so unlike the cheaper ones we have seen at B & Q, but if you don't live in a wind tunnel and use extra clips etc. you should be able to get away with a cheaper one if you so desire. Hel.xxx.

Ivory we brought a polycarbonate coldframe from B&Q's sale last year and it was amazing how many plants and cuttings we could grow in it, in July we are having a wall knocked out and we intend to used the door as the top of a home made cold frame it's one of those doors with 15 panels of glass in it so sure be ideal for a cold frame. Good luck with yours I'm sure you will have loads of fun seeing what you can grow in yours. Hel.xxx.

 

I remember you asking the same question Hel and I think the answer was the same POLYCARBONATE

 

Hi Hel,

Thanks for that, you have confirmed what i had already half decided, i'm going to go for the polycarbonate, more for the safety aspect, we live in a rural farming community and where the greenhouse has to be situated is just slightly next to a road where tractors, suppliers lorries ect go past which occasionally throw up stones over the fence, I say "has to be" because my inlaws have kindly agreed to let me borrow a large chunk of their garden to grow vegetables next year, and without totally commandeering "their outdoor space" then it's my only option.

 

Interesting - I just made a space in my garden for a small GH and was wondering the same thing. Thanks for the answer!

 

Daisees. You may like this to go with your collection of cats.

 

Polycarbonate is the best choice of the synthetic options but some of these greenhouses look quite weak. As glass is heavy it requires a good solid frame, so glass greenhouses tend to be better built. I would suggest you invest in cedar wood frame glasshouse as my wooden greenhouse has a much better atmosphere than my aluminium one. Glass seems better to clean as well.