cgarry Posted July 21, 2005 Report Share Posted July 21, 2005 I know that an unheated greenhouse is a good place to keep VFTs over winter, how good would the following be though? Small poly growhouse like this (I have a 4 tier one - £10 from ASDA!): http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/product/prod...p;PRODID=176771 Would a layer of bubble wrap help? Cold frame like this: http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/product/prod...p;PRODID=176776 Any other ideas for housing VFTs during the UK winter? Cheers, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Aidan Posted July 21, 2005 Report Share Posted July 21, 2005 Either would be suitable. The cold-frame is perhaps the better bet. The growhouse will be unstable unless securely anchored. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mememe Posted July 21, 2005 Report Share Posted July 21, 2005 I may buy a coldframe...where to put it though.. If I don't get one in time, what should I do, refrigerator?? :? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diva Posted July 21, 2005 Report Share Posted July 21, 2005 i used both and the only difference from the greenhouse is the condensation (not a problem if you dont mind getting rained on every time you enter!) as aidan said anchor it down, a couple of bricks on the bottom shelf worked for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob H Posted July 21, 2005 Report Share Posted July 21, 2005 I have a couple of cheap plastic coldframes, with zippered tops (like they're going to last, Not). I wove some plastic string across the base tubes and sit the water trays on that to anchor it down. Less than a tenner each so why should I complain. I've had smaller growhouse blown over, so an absolute necessity is good anchorage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimmie Hansen Posted July 21, 2005 Report Share Posted July 21, 2005 I have one of those greenhouses on my balcony....So its hard to blow away..But just to be sure I put a big rock on the bottom shelf.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Sheila Posted July 21, 2005 Report Share Posted July 21, 2005 If you can secure the growhouse it will be better purely because you can get so much more in it. It won't take long to fill up a coldframe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cgarry Posted July 21, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2005 It would seem that making sure the growhouse is securely anchored is most important! I feel a minor engineering project coming on. Thanks everyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diva Posted July 21, 2005 Report Share Posted July 21, 2005 my growhouse came with pegs, and i secured the guyropes by pegging them and then attaching a brick to the excess rope Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2LAP Posted July 22, 2005 Report Share Posted July 22, 2005 I used a cold frame last winter and it worked a treat. I have found a glass one for 40 squid in the local garden centre and think I might upgrade... more room and more light. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil B Posted July 26, 2005 Report Share Posted July 26, 2005 the 4 tier one from asda are of a flimsy quality - the plastic struts are too soft, i loaded one with cps (in trays with water) and the next day the whole thing was leaning at a similar angle to the leaning tower of Pisa. I was lucky not to loose everything onto the floor ! B+Q's are more expensive but of a sturdier nature - ive had 2 for 3 years and are still going strong. You pays yer money, you makes yer choice........... Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cgarry Posted July 26, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 26, 2005 I haven't noticed the struts being too soft, but I haven't loaded mine up that much. I actually thought the asda one was a better thought out design. It came with its own pegs to secure it to the ground, it has some bars across the top to stop the plastic sagging (and collecting rain water) and has slightly more headroom on the top shelf. Cheers, Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Thrud Posted July 26, 2005 Report Share Posted July 26, 2005 I’ve got a similar plastic green house, got it from my local Index shop before it closed down. The type I’ve got is a metal construction but I had to modify it because one of the holes for the screws was missing. I’ve also got a winter cover for it shaped exactly like the plastic cover but made out of fleece complete with a zip door. The packet says it’s good down to –8C does anyone know if I leave the plastic cover on and just pull the other cover over the top or do I remove the plastic cover and just use the fleece? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest zappafan Posted July 28, 2005 Report Share Posted July 28, 2005 If you need a home for VFT in the winter, I can oblige. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Sheila Posted August 1, 2005 Report Share Posted August 1, 2005 I’ve got a similar plastic green house, got it from my local Index shop before it closed down. The type I’ve got is a metal construction but I had to modify it because one of the holes for the screws was missing. I’ve also got a winter cover for it shaped exactly like the plastic cover but made out of fleece complete with a zip door. The packet says it’s good down to –8C does anyone know if I leave the plastic cover on and just pull the other cover over the top or do I remove the plastic cover and just use the fleece? Thanks If the fleece is not waterproof then I would just put it over the plastic cover that is already on the growhouse. Your plants still need light even in the winter months and can usually withstand quite low temperatures anyway, so I would only use it at night time when temperatures are excessively low. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Thrud Posted August 2, 2005 Report Share Posted August 2, 2005 Thanks for the help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Puer Posted August 31, 2005 Report Share Posted August 31, 2005 Since I don't have opportunity of having those greenhouses, can anyone suggest a " do it yourself" greenhouse just to put my dionae? I've researched but I haven't find anything good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Aidan Posted August 31, 2005 Report Share Posted August 31, 2005 A simple propagator will be suitable for a few plants. Propagators are available from garden centres or via the Web priced from a few Euros and up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenofeden Posted September 2, 2005 Report Share Posted September 2, 2005 or make yourself a wooden frame and staple plastic sheeting to it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jürgen Posted September 2, 2005 Report Share Posted September 2, 2005 I have all my VFT in an unheatened room in my house, it has an east und south facing window, the temperates are lowest -5 C. They sleep very well till its time to hunt insects. The plants stand on a windowsill on polystyrene. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Sheila Posted September 2, 2005 Report Share Posted September 2, 2005 It gets to -5 indoors. I could not live in a house that gets that cold. Central heating, double glazing and cavity wall insulation are absolute necessities for me. It would take more than the love of CPs for me to live in those conditions. Have you considered moving Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jürgen Posted September 3, 2005 Report Share Posted September 3, 2005 Dear Sheila, I´m not an Inuit, it is only one room, that´s I mean, this room is not used for living in, so I confiscated it for my hobby. Not the whole house is as there. Are you calmed down ? Stay cool ;-D winter comes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Sheila Posted September 3, 2005 Report Share Posted September 3, 2005 I keep my house nice and warm. Even if I turned the heating off completely in one room, the heat in the rest of the house would stop that room from sinking to the low temperatures in your unheated room. -5 in any room indoors makes me shiver with the thought. My days of scraping frost from the insides of the windows are long gone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jürgen Posted September 4, 2005 Report Share Posted September 4, 2005 Ohhh, Sheila that´s typicall ladies ;-D. The house is about fourty years old, the walls are not modern state and one windows is open during the half day. Anyway the room is separated by a corridor from the heated part of the house. I hope i got you in wintermood so you are prepaered for arctic part of the year (Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr). My plants say" all that doesn`t kill us makes us only harder". Wish you a warm and sunny autumn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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