New greenhouse / how to make a base

Yes wooden frame Joe, the struts was lump hammered in to a depth of over 1ft with no concrete it is also fixed to the shed and fence with long screws, the weight of the slabs drilled and screwed to the frame to fill the gap is more than sufficient,

I don't like putting concrete round wood as it still rots, I would sooner let it rot in the ground as its easy to change when it rots, just hammer a new one in,

I might get it finished today if the rain holds of, I will post up the finished item.

 

Makes sense. I bought a metal base with the greenhouse I got. Planning (I think) to screw that to concrete blocks set into the ground in their side. Pouring a full concrete base sounds quite expensive and labour intensive. Also hard work to put back to garden if I decide to ever get rid of the greenhouse.

Hope to make some progress this weekend and will put up some photos then!

 

Great Joe, looking forward to your progress, ive started putting the frame work in to lose the slope for the plants, the slope will be still on the walk way, it gives me more room being 6/1, more pictures later when more progress is made :-).

 

Looks like quite a construction to give it a flat / level floor. Are you going to have boxes for flower beds then, or are you putting in a complete floating floor (apart from the walkway in the middle)?

 

Hi Joe, as above, I will have to use trays to catch any water spillages but I will be able to keep it clean this way, hopefully keep any diseases to a minimum. I failed at the last hurdle on finishing it, the glass took me longer to fit than expected,

Still a few hours work to do here, I will get it finished tomorrow, the tops are not fixed yet and need to come back out for cutting but you should see what I am up to .

 

Good work, been a productive day for you! Killing me being at work and not being able to make any progress.

 

Anymore progress on the greenhouse?

After work yesterday I cleared the tree I'd chainsawed on the weekend to make room for my greenhouse. Then put the metal base together that came with the greenhouse. Not great quality if I'm honest - very flimsy. It would have been better if they'd used thicker guage aluminium with a bti more rigidity to it. And the corners are just held together with thin plate brackets. I can't see how you could just lay it on soil as it is, then put the greenhouse on that.

Definitely needs a proper base. After work today I'm planning to go to B & Q to look for some concrete building blocks, some cement and some 'chippings to dust' that a builder friend recommended. Ideally I'd go to a builders merchants, but don't really have time to get there so will see what B & Q can provide. Also need to get a decent spirit level as the one I have is too short for the job - so I'll also need a trip to Screwfix.

I'll try to post up some pictures on the weekend when I have some progress to show for my efforts!

 

Hi Joe, yes its nearly finished inside, just some Perspex to fit on the inside over the shed window, here is my thread Joe,
http://gardenerscorner.co.uk/forum/threads/work-in-progress.92831/#post-914496

Yes I looked at the bases you can buy and decided to make my own, its very solid now, but the winds will give it a proper test, but I have confidence in it I am a joiner by trade :-).

I've just put around 80 sweet peas in 3 in each pot as Monty did on gardeners world Friday,

Please keep us informed Joe looking forward to watching your progress any pictures would be great :-).

 

Made some progress at the weekend. Base now done ready for the greenhouse to be assembled and attached. Ended up digging the concrete blocks into the ground so they sit flush with the top of it, then bolted the metal bar that came with the greenhouse to it. The concrete blocks are firmly held in the ground with a semi wet concrete mix that we then sprinkled with water. Seems to be going off hard nicely.

Greenhouse next to be done, probably on the weekend. Should be just in time to put tomato seedlings out there assuming all frosts have now finished. Any tips on this - never had a greenhouse before, or a heated propogator so never had seedlings growing this early. I also have a conservatory (that the heated propogator is currently in), so could potentially keep young plants in there - wife allowing! It's not heated, but it heats up really hot during the day if it's sunny and isn't as cold as outside / a greenhouse at night.

 

The frost depends on where you are in the country Joe or even which country. May I suggest you put your area in your avatar box, it helps members when giving you information. I'm off the north west coast of England and the island usually has mild winters but we are being promised frost for the next few days and wintry showers. Most of the country won't be considered frost free until the end of April early May.

None of my seedlings, tomatoes or anything else will go out to my unheated greenhouse until the overnight temperatures are a minimum of 7C consistently as they will struggle to survive.

When using a heated propagator it's best to remove the seedlings as soon as they appear or the heat will make them grow rapidly and they'll collapse. It doesn't matter if they all haven't come up in one pot or tray as they will probably have germinated and will appear soon. The seedlings will need as much light as possible (not direct sunlight) and reduced heat which will slow down their growth, so your conservatory will be ideal for them while they are growing on.

 

Looking good Joe, well done .

 

Thanks for the tips on the heated propagator. I was impressed with how quickly the tomatoes were growing. Now removed - got 4 tomato seedlings and 2 bell pepper ones. Will keep them in the conservatory for the next month then potentially. The wife will love it!

Those are the only things that have germinated that I can see so far - no action from courgettes, some of the bell peppers, chilli seeds, sunflowers, long peppers, strawberry seeds. Having done some research I think I've planted the strawberries at completely the wrong time for anything this year so might cut my losses on those and use the pots for something else.

Got a load of seeds for different things that I'm itching to plant - spring onions, beetroot, broccoli, aubergines etc.

Already planted mange tout seeds outdoors in a long pot - which is what I have done the last 3 years. Can't remember how quickly they have sprouted in the past, but no action yet. Think actually the seeds might have said sow by summer 2014, so I don't know if they'll actually 'work'?

I'm in Bristol - so South West of England - updated my avator accordingly - thanks for the tip :-)

 

I'm not sure what you should expect from most veg Joe as I only tend to grow greenhouse plants, tomatoes, cucumbers etc., but any questions you may have are best posted in the vegetable forum. I mainly grow flowers and shrubs from seeds and cuttings. When you pot the tomatoes on, plant them lower in the pots so the first leaves are almost touching the soil, it will make them sturdier and they will grow further roots from the stem under the soil. This can be done with a lot of seedling types, although others may not produce further roots.

 

Well I finished the greenhouse frame / glazing on the weekend, then gale force winds 'unfinished' it! Had to go out and clip 1 roof panel back in - but used as many glazing clips as I can fit on it this time and done the same on every other panel. Fingers crossed now.

Only thing left to finish is the inside. Got some gravel, bricks and paving slabs to put down.

Auto vent opener was unexpectedly tricky to put in - you had to drill out some rivets from remove the manual handle first.

 

That looks great Joe, well done, I run short of clips and the glass came lose on the door with the bad winds, a trip to the garden centre and all is well now, no glass broken so we both must have done a good job,

Its still looking empty in mine veg will be going in to the right and I have some flower seeds and bulbs for the left hand side, looking forward to seeing what you put in Joe, please keep us posted .