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Gardening

Find tips and tricks to make your garden or allotment flourish on our Gardening forum.

What is essential in a greenhouse?

35 replies

nibblingfingernails · 23/08/2017 20:41

I have just bought my first greenhouse! What is an essential to have in my green house - I'm hoping to grow mainly flowers and a couple of tomato plants. Would like to attempt to grow from seeds (no idea how that will go) if seeds don't work out then small plug plants.

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NanTheWiser · 23/08/2017 21:50

A water butt to collect rainwater from the gutters, which saves traipsing up the garden with a watering can! I hope you've got plenty of roof vents, as good ventilation is essential (you might also need shading in the hot summer months, which can be done with a paint-on shading or use shade netting attached to the glazing bars. Electric power is an optional extra ( fitted by a professional ) but is essential if you want to heat in winter, or use an electric propagator, but you probably won't want to go to those lengths...
Enjoy your greenhouse!

nibblingfingernails · 23/08/2017 21:55

I am on the look out for a water butt. Only thought of that today!

Thanks

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JT05 · 24/08/2017 08:04

Good staging at waist height, I also have a stool in mine, pricking out seedling can be a long job!
If you have a tap nearby an automatic watering system, is a bit of a luxury, but worth it.
I agree about ventilation and shading. I use netting as it's easy to remove.
Have fun!

Trethew · 24/08/2017 10:38

Something to sit on
Table or staging
Dustpan and brush
Receptacle for green waste

bookbook · 24/08/2017 10:39

as pp above - I also have an potting up tray, just a cheapy plastic thing with some holes for holding secateurs, plant labels and such . Saves the compost under control :)

bookbook · 24/08/2017 10:40

keeps the compost under control!

nibblingfingernails · 24/08/2017 20:04

Thanks for the tips. I don't have any staging yet, but probably get something next year. I have some apple crates that I will use in the meantime and then I will have under counter storage!

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DryHeave · 24/08/2017 20:10

A greenhouse thermometer.

Ifailed · 24/08/2017 20:16

A radio & chair to listen to Radio 4 in the winter. If anyone asks, you are potting up, or something.

nibblingfingernails · 24/08/2017 20:34

Love the idea of the radio - I can see me asking for lots of these things for Christmas!!

Thanks for all the tips, have written them all down.

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Doublemint · 24/08/2017 23:31

I've got my first greenhouse too! Well it's in bits in the garden at the moment but soon I will graduate into the realms of "serious gardener".

This is a blatant placemark so I don't loose this thread and can keep up with all these good tips!

nibblingfingernails · 24/08/2017 23:39

Your one step a head of me Doublemint! I am waiting for mine to be delivered - tomorrow is the day! So sad but I am very excited. My Dc think I am mad.

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nibblingfingernails · 25/08/2017 00:05

You're even! Blush

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GingerKitCat · 25/08/2017 11:27

Which models have you gone for!

nibblingfingernails · 25/08/2017 12:22

This is the one that I have ordered

www.gardenstoredirect.com/greenhouses-c27/gardman-6x6-polycarbonate-greenhouse-p528

I have all my fingers and toes crossed that it is delivered today!

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nibblingfingernails · 25/08/2017 18:59

I am so disappointed, greenhouse didn't turn up - I have waited in all day for it. Not sure now when it will come, can't even track it down with the delivery company.

What makes me worry even more is that I have just gone back on the shop's web page and my greenhouse is now out of stock! I hope that doesn't mean I'm going to be out of luck - to make matters worse they have already taken the money! Hmm

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Doublemint · 25/08/2017 19:34

Noooo! I would ring them tomorrow and find out what's what!

nibblingfingernails · 25/08/2017 19:50

I will try the delivery firm tomorrow but if no luck there then it will be Tuesday because of it being BHM.

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GingerKitCat · 26/08/2017 14:12

Oh no! I was admiring how good it looked for the price. Fingers crossed Flowers

nibblingfingernails · 26/08/2017 16:58

Received another email this morning saying that greenhouse will be delivered on Tuesday! No idea why they originally said Friday. Shame as we have the weekend that we could have assembled it!

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clarabellski · 28/08/2017 16:20

Oh my god. Why have I never thought to put a stool in my greenhouse before?

feeling very stupid

This is an excellent idea as our staging is ever so slightly too low for me to stand comfortably at....

bookbook · 28/08/2017 18:00

If its like my greenhouse though clara , there isn't room, with all the plants, and bags of compost and pots ...Grin

clarabellski · 29/08/2017 09:38

I've just put a cheeky message up on freecycle to see if anyone locally wants to get rid of a folding bar stool.

Next year we're going to reorganise our greenhouse again to try to make more room. It is an eternal battle! I remember debating with DH at the time we got it built 'we should get a bigger one' and we didn't. Now regretting it! Same for the garden shed!

Ifailed · 29/08/2017 09:54

I think you have to be ruthless about what goes into a greenhouse, no spare pots, bags of compost etc. That is space that should be reserved for plants. (plus the radio and chair, of course. Like the idea of a folding stool)

AlternativeTentacle · 29/08/2017 10:28

Oh gosh yes you need a stool or chair in a greenhouse. Esp for the pricking out and potting on situations. I have a wooden greenhouse and immediately put up 8 shelving brackets and bought 4 decking boards. They sit on the brackets but because I haven't screwed them down, they can be moved onto the darker side for when the tomatoes are growing up the lighter side, but can be moved back for higher up light during the winter for my overwintering seedlings and plants. One of the best things I did...

mine also has staging along one side - it came with the greenhouse, the other I use an old wooden bench for potting on and for plants. They built the greenhouse round it, as it was originally here when we moved. I have several large trays, and all plants [apart from aloes, and agaves which need good drainage] sit on them, so I can water the tray and let the plants soak up what they need.

Under the staging is where I store pots etc, because my greenhouse is in my courtyard, that part of it is always dark so that is storage only. Also, it is on concrete, so everything is in pots. I am slowly getting rid of all plastic though, and making my own wooden seed trays and deeper containers for growing everything in. The only thing that will be plastic soon is the large gravel trays that they all sit on. Hopefully, one it all changes to wooden - the soil dries out alot less as the wood holds moisture that can be taken up by the plant, I may not need the plastic at all. Hopfully.

I have those ikea stacking containers with the front opening bits, three of those - one for normal compost, one for bought in organic seed compost [so expensive] and one for home made leaf mould/seed compost. Which means plants can still sit on the top. You have to make as many horizontal surfaces as you can in a greenhouse. I also have two sawhorses with a long flat tray on top, for more plants. Again, these all to go at one point and to be changed for wooden alternatives.

I have saved up over the past few years and am hoping to get a builder to make a roof and front, using the two brick walls of our courtyard, and one wooden wall of our garden room, to make an orangery type greenhouse, which would be three times the size and mean we could have proper year round growing as we can then heat it. We can then also have space in the middle for sitting in properly. Work in progress! It will be on the space that used to be the old toilet, which now boasts a Belfast sink which I use to rinse down all the veg when it comes back from the allotment.

There is nothing like pottering in the greenhouse after a full day's spreadsheet wrangling/meetings with clients/colleagues. Clears my head.