I am about to become the owner of a greenhouse - what can I grow?

[LoveVintage]

We are to be buying my late FIL's house and it has a greenhouse, which we have never had before. I am honoured and excited to be taking it on.

As we are looking after the house until our sale goes through I want to plant some things in the greenhouse as my dear FIL always had it filled with tomatoes over the summer and it seems wrong for it to be empty. So looking for a bit of advice on what to grow. The house is near us I can go round daily to water etc, but I suppose I don't want anything too high maintenance. I am happy y o have a goat growing anything though.

I have bought two tomato plants and been given a corgette and a cucumber plant by a friend. Any other suggestions?

To be clear, I not having a goat! Although there is room. Hmmm will put it to DH. We are hoping to get chickens too!

Oh, how lovely

This is our first year growing with a greenhouse (8 x 12ft) and we're growing (ahem) 6 varieties of tomato, cucumbers, chilli, peppers, lots of salad leaves and lettuces, and I have stuck some beetroot and leeks in a spare bit of bed. That's inside, we're growing loads outside.

They're all easy enough to manage!

But if you can grow salad leaves, lettuces, tomatoes, peppers, and cucumber, you'll have some lovely salads

Have fun!

Wow, that's impressive. I'll get some pepper plants too.

We grow all of the above in our polytunnel (similar to greenhouse) plus aubergines, radishes, basil, coriander, and flowers (you can plant chrysanthemums that will go on til November/December, and I have some alstroemerias in there). Tomatoes are the best - last year we ate home grown tomatoes from July to November. YOu can also plant new potatoes now - August, and have them ready to eat at Christmas.

In the spring we start off all sorts of seed eg sweetcorn, cabbages, runner beans etc before planting them outside.

greenhouse

orchids

I know funny despite the sad circumstances for us being able to buy the house, I am sooo excited about having a greenhouse. Does this mean I am finally a grown up? (I am 50!)

Didn't think of flowers, but love the idea of that.

Yes, cucumbers are excellent for a greenhouse, but need a frame or some robust supports that they can climb up.

Courgette is too large, and will do fine outside; needs regular watering and lots of space. Leaves often seem mildewy, but doesn't cause any problems.

As well as all the summer things (peppers, cukes, toms, aubergines, chillies, etc) don't forget winter - IMO one of the absolute best things about a greenhouse/tunnel is being able to have an endless supply of winter salads/greens from the garden.

As soon as your summer veg come out (or if you're being organised sow in modules about 3-4 weeks before you think they'll be done) you can put in mizuna, winter lettuce, chinese cabbage, all that sort of thing. Successional sow every 4-6 weeks all through the winter for a steady supply. I always do a few kale plants in the tunnel as you get a massive number of leaves from each plant & they're tenderer than outdoors. I also sow a very early crop of carrots in the tunnel (end Jan/early Feb) which we eat as baby carrots up until the summer crops are ready to be planted out. (However, I do have a 72ft tunnel, so possibly a little more space )

Ooh some more great ideas, will definitely plant kale, love soup made with it. My tomatoes are coming in well. Cucumbers not so well but will put up a frame for them to climb up. I bought an olive tree, mainly as it looks nice in the greenhouse!

The RHS website has plenty of advice on greenhouse growing.

I've been disappointed in my greenhouse, it has no shade (which is what is recommended) but absolutely roasts in the summer. So ok for cucs, toms, peppers but salad leaves etc are not successful.

However, after reading up I realize I need netting to screen the sun and should be keeping the ghouse moist, which I didn't because I thought it caused mildew.

I should be able to grow strawbs in pots and bring on seedlings continuously, lettuce etc so - just saying as it isn't as easy as it looks, and read up on it first!

But v rewarding when it goes well.

Apparently netting can also keep ghouse warm in winter.