Propagator, Green House or Polly tunnel

I'm in the hard landscaping phase of a garden and will be for a long time to come but I want to build up my supply of plants.

I have a thread here which has photos of my project which is in its infancy and not even a tiny bit pretty to look at.
My Garden Project - Need some inspiration and advice

I'm looking for plants suitable for a cottage garden. Shurbs, Perenials, climbers. I have a huge area to plant and a tiny budget. So I'm going to have to try to grow a lot of my own from cuttings or seeds. I have zero experience in this, NONE... but am willing to do the research and build up my skills. I just need a steer in the right direction at the start.

What do I need? A propagator, polly tunnel or a green house. Or a combo of two? I have a budget of under £500.

 

Geta propagator like this https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B006ZYU89S/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&psc=1
A cheap or free greenhouse off Gumtree,ebay.
Learn how to take cuttings, stickem in the propagator. Search the clearance sections of garden centres, diy sheds etc.

 

Agree that a cheap or free greenhouse would be useful for growing cuttings and seeds.

We started growing hardy tropical seeds last year and have sold on a few of the extra plants locally. This has part funded the seeds and compost and is working out much cheaper than buying plants. Finances aside, its more rewarding - knowing that you've grown the plants that are now in your garden.

 

Can a greenhouse be used as a propogator?

I came across this greenhouse on argos. Do you think it would be any good? It has reasonable reviews
Buy Palram Harmony Silver Greenhouse - 6 x 4ft | Greenhouses | Argos

 

For cottage garden perennials you don't need any .fancy set-up. You can grow Lupins, Dianthus ( all types ), Delphiniums, Hollyhocks and many more by the hundred from just packets of seeds, pots or trays of compost and plastic bags ( I use freezer bags ) . All can be sown from the end of this month until July and then planted where they're going to flower in Autumn. For shrubs you can take cuttings and then plant them out next Spring.

 

Eden 1. I take my hat off to you. It is so good that you have a plan, purpose in mind. I feel certain that you will be supported by all here on GC.

Oh what a joy it is to have a fabulous dream. At the start, this is basically what we have. In reallity our dreams don't always go well. May I respectfully offer a tip or two? You have a big task ahead of sorting out, landscaping etc. Already you are perhaps running ahead of yourself. You now wish to embark on the task of growing your own plants, so, as you ask. A propagator or greenhouse. As KFF has said. In many cases you can get along withou either.

The idea of using a greenhouse as a propagator. Forget it. The running cost will bankrupt you within the month. If you are working single handed. Slow down. Get the groundwork done or at least well under way. Really prepare the beds and borders. Perhaps you have imported soil....caution. You may have also imported loads and loads of weed seeds. My dear friend, slow down. Give yourself chance to breathe. I sincerely wish you all the very best with your project.

 

I have two of those and they are great as a greenhouse but I believe it would not work solely as a propagator. An unheated greenhouse pretty much stays in lockstep with the temps outside it unless you have a great deal of mass inside to retain daytime heat. The Palrams are well made and take about 7 hours to assemble (that's what it took me by my lonesome) and they never have "blow outs" or other weaknesses. Also have a 6x8 which does have a heater and at this moment is full of seedlings waiting to go out.

 

Greenhouses are like fish ponds. You get a small one and quickly realise that you really wanted a bigger one.

The area you have to plant up is large and will take a lot of plants which will soon fill that greenhouse.

If I was getting a greenhouse to plant up your area I would be looking at 6ft x 8ft as a minimum.

Planting up a garden is a never ending task. I'm sure that you will use the greenhouse long after the main garden structure is in place - buy something that is future proof (to an extent !)

 

Freecycle.org is also pretty good for free gardening stuff.
Just the other day someone on the Sutton group was offering an unwanted greenhouse.
Sutton Freecycle - OFFER: Greenhouse 1.9m by 2.6m (Carshalton )
I see often offers for pots, fleece, cuttlings, seeds, tools and so forth.