[Potty Plotty Lotty]

I'm considering taking the plunge (into my bank account!) and purchasing a Swallow Greenhouse (probably 6x8 as our garden is small) later in the year.

I'd like to cost it all up and would appreciate on what accessories/extras you would you regard as essential and what would you have on your wish list as "nice to haves?"

Thanks! 

[Elm street]

Hi PPL,
Essentials:-
Bench, shelf, automatic vent and window, thermometer.

Wish list:-
Automatic watering system, roll up shading.

If at home, then an electrical supply for heat and light early in the season.

Mel.

[mumofstig]

Must haves auto vent, bench and thermometer - down pipe and water butt.

Wish list - you always want a bigger greenhouse

 - a louvre window for through draught, a watering system and extra shelving.

[Nikkithefoot]

Essentials: Bench, auto ventilation, electric supply for propagators, heater (paraffin or electric)for when out of propagator.
Nice to have: auto watering somewhere to put everything (propagator, heater etc) when greenhouse full of plants, roll up shading

[Growster...]

All the above, plus consider growing in pots or grow-bags, in watering trays.

This really means paving the inside, but does mean you don't have to keep changing the soil, and it's easier to keep clean!

[surbie100]

My essentials have been:
- an auto-vent for the window
- removable benches (I grow in the borders, so the bench comes out to let me put in more tomatoes)
- 10 inch shelving brackets to fix to the walls to cram in more potted chillies in above the rest
- plenty of cropped bolts to create new fixings, either standard ones or ones with rings set in them - I use the ones with rings in to hold a bamboo cane on and then tie up the tomatoes to it
- a minimum/maximum thermometer
- 2 water butts

Nice to have:
- brackets to fix a hanging planter
- automated watering
- fitted mesh on a magnetic frame to clip to the doorframe when the door's open and keep unwanted beasties out
- a small blowaway to put in at the beginning of the year for extra seedling shelter

[Goosegirl]

Essentials:
Get a bigger one than you think you need. This also helps with better ventilation.
A staging bench.
A mini grow-house to put inside which you can cover with its fleece and/or plastic cover for extra protection of early crops.
A max-min thermometer.
A hard-standing area of gravel interspersed with small flag-stones so you can stand on it in comfort plus easy to damp down when the temps rise.
Two large water butts connected to the guttering to collect rain.
Shading material not only to prevent seedlings getting too much sun but to keep temps down in summer. To be effective, this has to be fixed on the outside.
Storage containers for all your little tools, string, labels, hose attachments, watering can sprays, etc. I have a small tool box and a Wilko's 3-tiered plastic jobbie.
Some sort of fly-screen so you don't have to scrub off fly poo in the spring from everything.
Non-essentials:
A chair to sit on whilst thinking about the next job.
A little wind-chime softly tinking.
A power-washer to make cleaning it an easy job.

[davetoddy]

safety glass

[jaydig]

safety glass

Safety glass was the best thing I invested in for my greenhouse. I know it adds quite a lot to the cost, but we now have three grandchildren who love to visit the greenhouse, and I am so glad that if they ever did have a fall the outcome won't be quite as dreadful as it might have been.

[surbie100]

Mine's a plastic panelled jobbie - it's doing at least as well as its glazed compatriots and I don't need to worry about my clumsiness. 

[davetoddy]

I said safety glass because a customer of mine was telling me why there was no glass in his greenhouse . He fell through it and severed an artery !!! blood was spraying everywhere and he thought he was a gonner ! Good job his wife was there and is trained in first aid got him to hospital 5 minutes away . He had a very lucky escape

[Potty Plotty Lotty]

Many thanks all-advice much appreciated.

[snowdrops]

I said safety glass because a customer of mine was telling me why there was no glass in his greenhouse . He fell through it and severed an artery !!! blood was spraying everywhere and he thought he was a gonner ! Good job his wife was there and is trained in first aid got him to hospital 5 minutes away . He had a very lucky escape

My rhino came as standard with toughened glass, one of the reasons I chose it plus eaves height & 2x3 opening roof lights/panes. Oh & double doors to make getting in & out easier & no step.
It also came with a hanging basket rail on both sides.
I think I added the louvres 1 to each side with an auto opener. I also added the auto vents to the top openers too. Then some years I add in auto watering.