Your Advice on the below would be appreciated

Discussion in 'Tools And Equipment' started by silu, Mar 30, 2018.

  1. silu

    silu gardening easy...hmmm

    Joined:
    Oct 20, 2010
    Messages:
    3,682
    Gender:
    Female
    Location:
    Igloo
    Ratings:
    +8,083
    Got an email about this
    Gardenline 4 Tier Growhouse
    I have never had 1 of these "blow aways" and wondered if this would be a good idea for hardening off my seedlings? I already have a 8x20 greenhouse but as like everybody else! this gets stuffed to the gunnels and I usually run out of room for things. I would plan to use it sort of like a cold frame. If it is a good idea it would save me having to keep bringing seedlings in and out of the greenhouse to harden them off.
     
    • Like Like x 2
    • Selleri

      Selleri Koala

      Joined:
      Mar 1, 2009
      Messages:
      2,404
      Location:
      North Tyneside
      Ratings:
      +7,559
      Hi Silu,
      I have had several and they are useful in mid spring when you have too many pots of things that can't quite manage without shelter. :)

      There are some points to take into account though. Firstly, these things are called blowaways for a reason. A heavy bag of compost or sand on the lowest shelf keeps them fairly stable, but it's a good idea not to have heavier pots on upper shelves.

      Secondly, the covered space is so small that the temperature rises and falls very quickly. One spring I boiled my petunias, the soil was hot and almost steaming! :SUNsmile: So the GH will need to be close to the house so that you can quickly adjust the opening as needed.

      But all in all, they are definitely worth the money and come in very handy. And when not in use, the shelves can be used as, well, shelving, or stacked away. I take the top part off and the height is just right to house my smaller plants and houseplants over the summer. Not the most elegant piece of garden decor, but practical :)
       
      • Agree Agree x 4
      • Like Like x 2
      • Informative Informative x 1
      • Gail_68

        Gail_68 Guest

        Ratings:
        +0
        Hi @silu my neighbour as one on the back garden which she uses besides using the porch with new plants...weather they're any good i haven't got a clue because i hardly see her :)
         
        • Like Like x 1
        • Friendly Friendly x 1
        • Marley Farley

          Marley Farley Affable Admin! Staff Member

          Joined:
          May 11, 2005
          Messages:
          30,589
          Occupation:
          Grandmother Gardener Councillor Homemaker
          Location:
          Under the Edge Zone 8b
          Ratings:
          +14,123
          @silu I have a couple for overflow seedlings and hardening off, but I agree with Selleri, covered all the points I think.. :thumbsup:
           
          • Like Like x 2
          • Friendly Friendly x 1
          • HarryS

            HarryS Eternally Optimistic Gardener

            Joined:
            Aug 28, 2010
            Messages:
            8,906
            Gender:
            Male
            Occupation:
            Retired
            Location:
            Wigan
            Ratings:
            +16,246
            They need a bit of weight at the bottom. A couple of house bricks should be OK.
             
            • Like Like x 2
            • Useful Useful x 1
            • Fern4

              Fern4 Total Gardener

              Joined:
              Jan 30, 2013
              Messages:
              16,335
              Gender:
              Female
              Occupation:
              The gardener of the house!
              Location:
              Liverpool
              Ratings:
              +7,491
              I use them as I still haven't got my greenhouse as we're still spending money on our new house!

              It looks the same as mine but mines from Argos. You don't get long out of the covers. I've done repairs on mine and bought another blowaway recently but you can get spare covers which should fit.

              They are definitely called blowaways for a reason. I had a full bag of compost on the bottom shelf and on a windy spring day, the frame still moved and it blew over.

              These days I use saddle or pipe clips to attach the frame plus cover to a wall or fence. It means the blowaway stays in place all winter and is not dismantled which maybe why my covers only last a few years!
               
              • Like Like x 2
              • Friendly Friendly x 1
              • WeeTam

                WeeTam Total Gardener

                Joined:
                Mar 9, 2015
                Messages:
                2,362
                Gender:
                Male
                Ratings:
                +5,078
                I no longer buy these things instead i just wait for one of the neighbours ones to blow over the hedges into my garden,free stuff love it :thanks:
                 
                • Funny Funny x 7
                • Like Like x 1
                • Gail_68

                  Gail_68 Guest

                  Ratings:
                  +0
                  Nice one mate [​IMG]
                   
                  • Like Like x 1
                  • "M"

                    "M" Total Gardener

                    Joined:
                    Aug 11, 2012
                    Messages:
                    18,607
                    Location:
                    The Garden of England
                    Ratings:
                    +31,885
                    In my previous garden I had two "Walk-In" versions. Based on the "sack of compost"/"couple of house bricks" suggestions I stacked 3 bags of bark, 2 paving slabs and a crate with gardening books on the base to *secure* it. It did too! All through those sunny days of summer. Come October and a bit of wind ... gone! :doh:

                    Having said all of that, I do plan to get a cheap one but it will be placed in an area of the garden that gets least wind (less sun too, of course, but enough to do what I need it to do).
                     
                    • Like Like x 4
                    • silu

                      silu gardening easy...hmmm

                      Joined:
                      Oct 20, 2010
                      Messages:
                      3,682
                      Gender:
                      Female
                      Location:
                      Igloo
                      Ratings:
                      +8,083
                      Sounds like you are 1 of those miserable pieces of grass @WeeTam who won't give children back their ball if it's landed in your garden:).
                      Think I'll get 1 as it could sit in a fairly sheltered spot protected from the prevailing wind and I live far enough from wee tam so he won't "acquire" mine:)
                       
                      • Funny Funny x 5
                      • Like Like x 1
                      • Friendly Friendly x 1
                      • shiney

                        shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

                        Joined:
                        Jul 3, 2006
                        Messages:
                        60,996
                        Gender:
                        Male
                        Occupation:
                        Retired - Last Century!!!
                        Location:
                        Herts/Essex border. Zone 8b
                        Ratings:
                        +117,287
                        We have a couple of them. I use a 2ft x 2ft paving slab on the bottom shelf to help weigh them down. That way you can still use the shelf OK - whereas compost bags take up more space and are not flat enough.

                        Depending on the style of blowaway, you may find it better to tie the framework to the bottom shelf otherwise the bottom shelf may stay put in a high wind but the legs may lift out of the base.

                        I've found the best type of cover for the blowaway is the type in your picture. Some others have a clear plastic but that tends to degrade and crack much quicker.

                        I also take the cover off when no longer needed and now have one in the greenhouse, as it gives extra vertical shelving for tender plants - and one outside for hardier plants.

                        As mentioned above, open it up during the day if the weather is OK.
                         
                        • Like Like x 3
                        • Jack Sparrow

                          Jack Sparrow Total Gardener

                          Joined:
                          Jul 24, 2017
                          Messages:
                          2,604
                          Gender:
                          Male
                          Location:
                          Peterborough
                          Ratings:
                          +5,414
                          I bought the walk in type last summer. It blew over the first night. After that I weighed it down with paving slabs. It hasn't moved since. Greenhouse oct 17.jpeg

                          The wind where I live is a serious problem. Where my greenhouse is situated it is totally exposed. After a couple of winter storms it looked like.

                          Greenhouse damage. Jan 18.jpeg

                          The remainder of the cover has continued to perish since. Now there is virtually nothing left.

                          In a different spot it might have survived better but that is where I want it to go. Eventually I want to put a proper greenhouse there.

                          G.

                          ps. Its not animal proof either.
                           
                          • Informative Informative x 2
                          • Friendly Friendly x 2
                          • Gail_68

                            Gail_68 Guest

                            Ratings:
                            +0
                            [​IMG] [​IMG]
                             
                          • Clare G

                            Clare G Super Gardener

                            Joined:
                            Mar 29, 2017
                            Messages:
                            626
                            Gender:
                            Female
                            Location:
                            London UK
                            Ratings:
                            +1,707
                            Mine's tucked away in a sheltered spot behind the shed and again weighed down with heavy stuff on the bottom shelf for further stability. The cover is a clear one and only goes on in the spring when there are trays of seedlings in there, for the rest of the year the shelves are still handy for pots of cuttings etc, plus lower down a store of brown cardboard to tear up and put in the adjacent compost bin.

                            The main problem with using it for seedlings I find is that it can get very steamy in there, and also when the sun comes out very hot! So the easier it is to open up and ventilate the better. I also use an old net curtain as a shade awning when required.

                            I got a spare cover inexpensively on ebay but actually the original cover is still in good nick after a couple of years.
                             
                            • Like Like x 5
                            • Creative Creative x 1
                            • "M"

                              "M" Total Gardener

                              Joined:
                              Aug 11, 2012
                              Messages:
                              18,607
                              Location:
                              The Garden of England
                              Ratings:
                              +31,885
                              :thumbsup:
                               
                              • Like Like x 2
                              Loading...

                              Share This Page

                              1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
                                By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
                                Dismiss Notice