[Sive]

I am trying to decide whether to invest in a glasshouse or a polytunnel. I would love to hear from anyone who has either as to the advantages and disadvantages of either. My needs would be seed-raising, extending the growing season and growing vegetables that would struggle outdoors. One important fact: my garden is very exposed at present, but I am planting heavily with hedging and trees to develop some shelter over the next few years.
I look forward to getting some interesting answers...thanks!

[crosseyedsheep]

I don't have either, but I do intend getting a polytunnel at some stage, initially poly tunnels provide much cheaper square footage than greenhouses but they aren't as permanent i.e. every few years you will have to invest in a new cover. Whereas you should have much less maintenance with a green house.

My mother has a green house and it's fine for raising seedlings but not much good for growing crops to maturity due to lack of space.
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Xeyedsheep

[BlackBird]

My views.

Polytunnel Pros
A polytunnel four or five times the size of a glasshouse can be bought for the same money, this equals more crops/plants and more headroom for you.

Polytunnels are easier to move be moved if required.

Easier to ventilate than a Glasshouse

Glasshouse Pros
More attractive than a polytunnel. Less chance of neighbors giving out.

More suitable for a breezier location.

Not open to attack by cat claws or dogs teeth.

Stick an iron bar through it, you can replace a pane of glass. Do the same with a polytunnel and you have to try and tape it (not a great or permenant job)

[Sive]

Thank you for your advice, you have mentioned issues I hadn't even thought of. BlackBird I am interested in your comment about glasshouses being more suitable for exposed situations...and certainly polytunnels won't win any beauty competitions! What size does anyone think would be the smallest greenhouse worth getting if we'd like to grow 2 or 3 tomato plants as well as all the usual growing vegetables and flowers from seed etc ??

[Michael196]

hi Sive, there is a place near duncannon selling tunnels

also Beechdale garden center near clonroche has a tunnel on display with supplier information.

I have access to an 8 x 4 greenhouse and i easily fit 4/ 5 tomatoes, but thats it, no other room.

Hard to beat the tunnel for head room

[Blowin]

Strangely, I was looking around for the same sort of info as you and came across http://www.waltons.co.uk/greenhouses/evesham-polycarbonate-greenhouse-14x8 which seems a good buy to me - although not Irish.

I, too, am very exposed but have a low end of the garden that is quite sheltered and would be the site for whatever I put up.

Note the height of the walls. I think I'd put a row or two of blocks down first (as a base) to give me more height and, from experience at my last house, this enables you to put secondary rows in lengthways to create raised beds either side of a central gangway - less back ache!!!

So, if you position the house east/west and make the northern bed narrower that the southern one, you have room for a single row of tomatoes, cucumbers and even a grape vine along the back which won't overshaddow smaller plants. The remainder of the house is then available for lettuces, peppers and general seed propagation and 14' x 8' is a fair area overall?

@ £500 plus £30 for delivery (€665 or thereabouts) I'm seriously thinking about this option.
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A novice gardener on newly cultivated, stoney ground.