Thursday, 21 May 2009

Greenhouse 2008

On the basis that a picture is worth a thousand words . . . or something like that, here are some photos of last year's greenhouse.

Greenhouse . . . just the job but over budget!

This is exactly what I wanted as a greenhouse. Had one back in the 70s and I grew some great plants as well as it withstanding the weather (that was in Wales).
 
 
I think I would need the 6'6" (1.98m) x 10' (3.05m) model but at £269 that is way beyond my current budget, especially having wasted £80 on the one that got wrecked by wind. I couldn't see anything about delivery charges either which might mean additional cost. There is also a "15 Working Days delivery" clause which means it could be mid-June before I could get one . . . far too late for tomato plants.
 
Something to think about for next year perhaps! (The recession might have disappeared by then and money will be easier . . . I can always hope!)
 
If you are interested you will find the Polytunnels on this web site:
Thanks to Peter Hamblin for finding the information for me. (Peter, together with his wife Mary, runs Hollins House B&B in Harrogate - www.hollinshouse.co.uk)
 

The Greenhouse is down!

The garden suffered a major set back last week with the destruction of my new greenhouse by the wind. Plants were scattered everywhere and now there is nowhere for them to grow. Also very disheartening.
 
There were no instructions with the greenhouse and no way of securing it to the ground. I had hoped it was aerodynamically designed (should have known better from shape) as there was nothing to secure it with. Within two days of putting it up the wind lifted it up and over. Not a problem I thought - I went out and bought tent pegs to hold the frame down with (4 to each side).
 
I could see the pegs were doing the job when after a couple of days it was still in place but then one morning there was a tap on the door. It was my neighbour asking did I know my greenhouse was blowing around the garden!
 
I rushed out into the garden to find the greenhouse upside down, as it had been the first time it got blown over, but this time some of the supporting frame had been buckled and snapped in several places. Obviously the frame was not strong enough to be held down and withstand the pressure of the wind.
 
WHAT A LOAD OF RUBBISH!
 
Once again the saying "You get what you pay for" holds true. It had cost me (including P&P) just under £80 on eBay.
 
This was the image on eBay:
 
 
Not sure what to do now. Obviously no point buying another one as the same thing will happen again. Anything more substantial is outside my budget but I need somewhere to at least grow my tomatoes. May have to get another small one (like I had last year) from B&Q. I didn't want to go that route as that was so flimsy that some of the supports snapped when putting it together last year. Hence the new one!
 
Will have to do something this weekend as I am now late with everything.

Sunday, 10 May 2009

The Greenhouse is up!

I finally got the greenhouse up yesterday and mighty fine it is too!
 
I can't believe how big it is compared to what I had last year. Will try and get some photos later.
 
For the time being this is an image of what I have got:
 
 
Went out this morning and bought 12 tomato plants and some chili and cucumber plants. Will have to get my beans sown in pots this week. Must also remember to take advantage of Thompson & Morgan's 50% off offer on vegetable seeds.

Friday, 24 April 2009

Is this really Marco?

I find it hard to believe that Knorr have selected this image of Marco for their banner advert appearing at the top of the www.itv.com Hell's Kitchen page.
 
 
Comments on a postcard.