Hi Gattina, I have had a plastic 'greenhouse' for a year now.

1. They are plastic and lightweight, so needs to be weighted down, even in sheltered spots. The plastic will rip in places due to wind damage and the zips are always the weakest point. Covers are replacable though.

2. They are really coldhouses rather than greenhouses, certainly gets hot and humid in summer, but no frost protection in winter.

3. Great for hardening off plants and growing veg, starting off seedlings etc.

4. You can keep loads of plants in them, out of the wind and rain.

Overall, I think they are worth it, especially when on sale - say about £50 for a 2metre by 2metre one with shelves.

I have 2 greenhouses but if I did not have glass would go for a polytunnel or a nice wooden glasshouse.

Out greenhouse made out of plastic 2 lt bottles at community garden grew some amazing ripe tomatoes but in my glasshouse mine never grew rip.

So next year will only put a plant in their bottle greenhouse.

Thank you so much, Kildermorie. What a lovely comprehensive answer. It's really useful to hear from someone who actually has one of these.
We were really only expecting to use it in the winter - we certainly don't need "hot and humid" here in summertime. Then we could put it on the base where the gazebo goes up in summertime, and where it should be relatively well sheltered by a high stone wall directly behind it. The crucial point is what you have said about the lack of frost protection. We have very limited space for overwintering big pots and containers where the amount of light would be sufficient to keep things alive. The prices out here are similar, but we are beginning to have to ask ourselves "Is it worth the expenditure?" From what you have said, I'm beginning to think probably not.
Thank you, too Scotkat. I don't think Italians do wooden ones, and they'd probably be prohibitively expensive if they did!

I agree with Kildermorie,as they won't give protection
against the cold,Gattina..even a Greenhouse needs heat in the winter,if trying to keep tender type plants..but I wouldn't be without my plastic one.All my 'borderline hardy' ones are fine. in there.its mainly for keeping them out of the snow,rain and wind..I still wrap containers in bubble wrap,with fleece over the tops..and if they are in pots,the weight stops the growhouse from blowing over..I also bought a very cheap smaller one,and just use the staging of it inside,to overwinter in the Conservatory..so if you are lucky enough to have a light frost free position like that,somewhere in your home,any tender plants should survive.

I had one of those plastic greenhouses..Had it all secured firmly with big heavy pots in the bottom to weigh it down..the winds came along and ripped the plastic right off it!!!!!! My neighbour had one..it blew away..and we are pretty sheltered here.

Oh Blimey!

Shame really..it was great for growing seedlings. oh well

Have you tried asking for a free greenhouse on sites like 'Freecycle' Gattina? there will be one local to your area its worth a try.

There is no harm in asking...Just given Mums 2x4m poly tunnel to a Day care Centre and the chap that collected it took her Cacti Collection off her hands as well. I have a tiny plastic one I use for cuttings and seed trays in spring. Then I dismantle it.

Ah, Bless you, very few Italians would ever dream of anything resembling a "Freecycle" site. It isn't in their nature. Apart from that, incredibly few Italians actually have anything resembling a real garden. Most of them live in apartment blocks with balconies and those who are further out in the country tend to be farmers with more important things on their minds. Vegetable seedlings are bought in bulk from the local "consorzio" (Farmers' co-operative) Things are changing, though. It's very telling that the garden department of the local equivalent of B & Q sells more astroturf and violently coloured plastic flowers than almost anything else. Maybe we should try building our own.

I have three small plastic greenhouses, Gattina, the type with a zip front and four wire mesh shelves. I have learned - by experience! - to weight them down with rocks and to move them to a more sheltered corner for winter. I bought two spare covers for them and covered a gh with one without removing the old torn plastic. Young tender plants survived in it through the last two harsh winters with no form of heating, apart from occasional sunshine. Seedlings set in Spring all germinated happily and remained zipped up during nights and open during warm sunny days. I obviously can't advise what you should do as I don't know your exact garden situation - I can only say what worked for me. :o)

You get a fair bit of snow, don't you? Considering how similar our geographical situation is, Nariz, I suspect that what works for you might well work for us, which gives me hope. Thank you.
Our little "upright coldframe" is down in the courtyard against the outside stone wall, which affords it a bit of shelter. We are already at the zip open in the day and closed at night stage, but it has only cuttings and seedlings in it at the moment, not bigger potted plants like my pelargoniums and acidophiles, which, of course wouldn't fit. We suspect that frost is imminent, and today will be spent hauling pots up 4 flights of stairs to the loft. I doubt we will be able to manage the biggies! Maybe I would better spend my time lagging those pots with sacking or bubble wrap! Brrrrr! It's cold out there, and the stove is nice and warm.......:o((

Sorry you're cold! We have a lovely bright sunny day - three washing loads done and dried and it's only 3.30 pm. Even sat outside with our coffee this morning!

Do you have a balcony/terrace/verandah/covered patio? I bring my pots of fuchsias, pelargoniums and cannas onto the covered patio downstairs, group them and swathe the outside with a sheet of fleece; the balcony pots are brought closer to the house walls and grouped with a sheet of clear plastic against the balustrade beside them to protect from icy winds; and the troughs of pelargoniums on the bedroom balcony and upstairs windows are placed on the bedroom balcony against the house. Haven't lost one plant yet!

Do you know, Nariz, I've just been outside and discovered that it's warmer out there than it is in some the rooms inside. Lovely sunshine and 2 loads of washing done, too. No balconies, but a fairly sheltered courtyard (virtually no sunshine in winter, though). Perhaps I could squeeze all my pelargoniums together against the wall with a bit of fleece or clear plastic for protection. We were considering using the summerhouse, but the feral cats shelter in there so a window stays ajar year-round, and it's a bit dark, too. Still, worth a try, I suppose. The frosts can be quite fierce, but the most damaging thing is the depth and weight of snow that buries everything for weeks, and breaks branches off the biggest trees.

Hi gattina,
This is a bit weird but you answered my Q this morning and in the Q was my idea "should I put it in the greenhouse?" well its really a polly tunnel and when I was looking for a greenhouse these came up on the internet. A 20 x 12 polly was the same price as a small greenhouse so I went for it and what we did was leave a bit more growing space than we would have had with the greenhouse. then we covered the remainder with a weed membrane and shingle then put chairs and tables etc in the bonus space. It`s now served us well for seven + years. If this is of any interest to you I could try some pics. Regards Pete.

How kind and reassuring of you, Pete. Thank you! This has been successful in protecting against frost, has it? 20x12 is quite a big area, isn't it? I love the idea of tables and chairs in the remaining space. Wasn't there an advertisement on UK television with a mad couple brushing snow off the garden furniture and lighting a barbecue in the middle of winter? It wasn't you, was it?

Actually, Nariz, shortly after reading your last suggestion, a good idea came to me in a blinding flash - we have a raised bed where we rarely plant anything, since it is sheltered by an overhanging balcony and gets virtually no rain. It face south across the valley, and as long as the cats don't think it is a purpose built convenience for them, it could prove the ideal place. We have spent the afternoon hauling the big pots full of daisies and trailing carnations and pelargoniums onto this bed, hard up against the stone wall behind it, and could, if things get too chilly, drape plastic sheeting down from the balcony above. I doubt it would be adequate in the worst weather, and it would be a bit of an eyesore, but by then, maybe we will have decided to get the polytunnel/greenhouse, which Pete recommends. All my cuttings are now up under the skylight in the loft, and I've been winter planting some of my big tubs, which look lovely in the autumn sunshine. It does look bare without all the terracotta pots of herbs and scarlet pelargoniums ranged up the steps to the front door, though. That's it! Summer's gone.

Noooooooooooo! There's a little more Summer to come!! Don't consign it to the past yet! ;o)

I am desperately trying not to tempt providence, Nariz. Lovely and sunny this morning. OH has gone into town to watch the Rugby finals with his friend from NZ, so I'm enjoying the peace!

Well, your peace must be over now with NZ the winners! Hope you've got plenty of beer in the fridge? We've now got rain - after me banging on about the Summer sunshine! In fact it looks decidedly stormy out there - and I've laid the fire ready to go as soon as our toes feel the cold! :o(