Do you have a greenhouse?

[Happyinheels]

Hi, I'm contemplating getting a greenhouse. I'm wondering if it's worth the investment? Do you have a greenhouse? What do you grow in it - apart from tomatoes 🤣 Is it worth the money?

Hi Happyinheels I have a greenhouse and have had it well over 10 years. Actually saw an add for it in the local shop placed by someone nearby who was getting rid of it, so was totally free.

I grow cherry tomatoes, basil, several types of chilli's and kaffir lime.

So worth it...the taste from homegrown is amazing.

If you're planning on buying a new one then I know that can be a big expense. I was just lucky getting one for free.

@Cally62 That's fantastic! I've been looking on the free sites and selling pages but haven't found anything. I'd have to be able to dismantle it and build it myself (well, my teenage kids could maybe be bribed persuaded to help!)
Have you put yours on a concrete base or onto soil/gravel?
I've got a massive part of the garden that I'd like to build some raised vegetable beds on - I'm pretty much a beginner at this. I've grown runner beans in a pot and stuff like that but really would like to do more now but I have no idea where to begin!
I'd love to grow limes!

We also managed to get one free, but it is not huge. We have just put slabs on the bottom. I grow tomatoes, cucumbers, coriander and peppers in mine. Not very good with tomatoes to be honest! I grow from seed but have got plants if my seeds do not go very well! I do love it when you go in and you can really smell the tomatoes.

I'd like one but our garden slopes so it would be quite a lot of work to level off an area. I've been wondering if any of the lean-to mini greenhouse type things are worthwhile.

@mumonthehill

We also managed to get one free, but it is not huge. We have just put slabs on the bottom. I grow tomatoes, cucumbers, coriander and peppers in mine. Not very good with tomatoes to be honest! I grow from seed but have got plants if my seeds do not go very well! I do love it when you go in and you can really smell the tomatoes.

Oh fab! I've just put a request on our local free site - let's see if anything comes of it 🤞 I was chatting to my neighbour earlier - they buy tomato plants about 10/15cm high and then grow them in grow bags in their greenhouse. I'm liking idea of growing peppers - are they difficult to grow?

@mumonthehill

We also managed to get one free, but it is not huge. We have just put slabs on the bottom. I grow tomatoes, cucumbers, coriander and peppers in mine. Not very good with tomatoes to be honest! I grow from seed but have got plants if my seeds do not go very well! I do love it when you go in and you can really smell the tomatoes.

Oh fab! I've just put a request on our local free site - let's see if anything comes of it 🤞 I was chatting to my neighbour earlier - they buy tomato plants about 10/15cm high and then grow them in grow bags in their greenhouse. I'm liking idea of growing peppers - are they difficult to grow?

@ErrolTheDragon

I'd like one but our garden slopes so it would be quite a lot of work to level off an area. I've been wondering if any of the lean-to mini greenhouse type things are worthwhile.

I've had a look at the lean to ones - where you build it against an existing wall. They look great for saving space too!

Can't link at the moment but have a look on You Tube at 'Before you buy a greenhouse' by Kitchen Garden Eli and Kate - brilliant explanation of all the do's and don'ts.

Last year was my first season with a proper greenhouse 💚

I successfully grew tomatoes, cucumbers and aubergines.

I was unsuccessful with peppers and chillies.

I grew pelargoniums on a high shelf at the back for colour and have a hanging pitcher plant.

I also have a large brugmansia (Angels Trumpet) in there and am over-wintering my tree ferns and banana plant, and some random bits and bobs I never got round to planting out last year.

Hi Happy We had to dismantle and then build it in our garden...it's just on the top of the ground. No specific prep really apart from levelling.

Also have a huge raised bed that my dp made from railway sleepers.

I'm all set to plant my tomato seeds this weekend, they'll stay in the utility for now until it's warm enough to transfer. I grow tomato's in flower pots from the supermarket. Basil prevents greenfly.

I also grow lettuce and coriander and they're grown in pots in the greenhouse and then I can just cut and harvest what I need. It's a whole Thai cooking experience in the greenhouse.

I have lovely solar lights all around inside...my dd thought it would make a lovely pop-up gallery a few years ago.

Just need a pizza oven now....

@Ancientruins great thank you, I'll definitely give that a watch. I don't want to buy one and it just languish in the corner!

@ViperAtTheGatesOfDawn how exciting though?! Definitely worth it would you say? Can I grow seeds in them instead of in my house?

@Cally62 oh you're totally selling it to me now! It sounds like a little haven of bliss. That's also great advice about the basil. Maybe I should just go for it?!

[quote Happyinheels]@ViperAtTheGatesOfDawn how exciting though?! Definitely worth it would you say? Can I grow seeds in them instead of in my house? [/quote]
Totally worth it, was so lovely last spring and summer having my own little space too.

I'm rubbish with seeds, but most people can and do grow from seed.

Hahaha...think we need what we're growing thread.

So pleased you're sold on the idea Happy Just keep looking out for a free one. You won't believe how many people buy houses and just don't want a greenhouse in the garden.

I've had ants in mine for the last few years...they live in one corner of the greenhouse. I've left them there in an old pot filled with compost. I'm definitely doing my bit for the wildlife. love my little natural ant farm.

Ok...now I'm starting to sound crazy.

Viper try planting some seeds now...just keep them warm and watered.

We have a greenhouse and a polytunnel on our allotment. We use the tunnel for overwintering pot plants which wouldnt stand being left outside.

We start seeds in the polytunnel. DH built a big hotbox which we fill with unrotted horse manure. As it breaks down it gives off a lot of heat which gives the seeds a boost. I top it up from time to time. Once seeds are out we grow tomatoes and aubergines and some salads.

At the end of the season the hotbox gets emptied and moved to another spot in the tunnel. By this point the manure is beautifully rotted down and really benefits the soil.

The hotbox is an old Victorian idea which works really well if you dont have power for a propagator.

I got one of the mini-greenhouses on my balcony to start our seeds off.
We grow tomatoes and cucumbers every year start them off in the mini greenhouse and then move them into the ground when they are ready to survive outside.

So if basil keeps greenfly off tomatoes, what do I need to keep the greenfly off my basil? (Inside, windowsills)

We used to have a greenhouse in the house we lived in previously. We kept a lemon tree in there and grew mainly salad stuff. Cucumbers grow well in a greenhouse. We preferred ready grown plug plants rather than growing from seed which we found were a bit hit and miss.

Errol Mild solution of washing up liquid in water. Spray lightly.

To answer the 'is it worth it' question, I grow tomatoes, peppers, chilis, aubergines. I have a lot of space so grow a lot. This gives us ketchups, chili sauce, pasta sauce which we use throughout the year.

In the winter the greenhouse and polytunnel we have somewhere to work (and there is always something to do) even if the weather is poor.

Have one on our allotment and we grow tomatoes, cucumbers, chillis, baby aubergines, and also start a lot of our plants off in there and over winter things. We also espaliered a fig tree! It’s really handy for littering around in during rain showers - we’re in the NW so get a lot of those - and it’s a good bit of shelter to keep busy when it’s raining.

@Cally62 I just missed out tonight on a free one on Facebook! Gutted! I'll give it a week and then I'll have to buy one! What's the latest in the season that I realistically need one by? Already thinking about twinkling solar lights, potting tables and water butts...

At least the ants are in their own little corner! I've got mice in the garage and can't bring myself to do anything about it!

@GnomeDePlume that's all fantastic advice thanks!
Today I asked a friend who has horses if I could have some manure - I had no idea that it had to be rotted manure though! Steep learning curve here!

Yes definitely definitely do it- love my greenhouse. I do cucumbers, tomatoes, chillies and basil. I grow marigolds in with my tomatoes to help with pest control - they attract hoverflies which control pests and you can buy ladybirds and ladybird larvae online against aphids . I start seeds inside and move them out to the greenhouse.