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Gardening

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

Do you have a greenhouse?

128 replies

Happyinheels · 19/02/2021 13:21

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?

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Happyinheels · 20/02/2021 11:42

@MereDintofPandiculation very true! I love my garden but it's been neglected for the past few years. My exh and I spent a lot of time in it together. Since we split up it's been quite a painful place for me and I couldn't bring myself to do much to it apart from general care. I'm saying that though it has been my refuge, if that makes sense? A lot of healing has taken place - I love to just go out there and sit with a cuppa listening to the wind in the trees. I've decided it's time for me to reclaim the space and make it my own.
I'm actually about 20 minutes away from Cally.
I'm really loving the idea of a fig tree. I have quite a big garden and a massively long fence that I could easily grow a few trees or fruit bushes against as it gets lots of sunlight.
That's great to know about the polycarbonate greenhouse as I could actually get one of those - I just need to be certain that's the kind I would like.
Loving the sound of it being your refuge with comfy chairs. I have 2 teenagers and can already see it becoming my sanctuary 😊

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MereDintofPandiculation · 20/02/2021 11:48

My Dad's garden is probably less windy than you. So if you go for polycarbonate, check the firmness of the frame, and possibly only do it if you can get it free and very cheap.

ErrolTheDragon · 20/02/2021 11:50

I'd love a fig tree. I'm in the NW - much wetter but significantly less cold in general than the NE - I used to live in Thirsk, the frost season is quite a bit shorter here most years.

Cally62 · 20/02/2021 13:56

Happy when lockdown eases I'll pop to Guisborough with a fig tree.

Errol I'll post one to you....

Can't actually take cuttings as such...have to encourage root growth then cut with root attached...no trouble really.

Happy sounds like you've got a plan for the summer to make the your garden your happy place...think gin helps with that.

Right I'm off out making deliveries of home made profiteroles to the neighbours.....

Happy planning....

GnomeDePlume · 20/02/2021 16:50

We are slowly changing the glass in our greenhouse to twin wall polycarbonate. The field it stands in is quite exposed so wind damage is quite a common occurrence. It feels more secure than the glass as DH has sealed it in.

When you get your greenhouse it is worth thinking about irrigation before you start planting. We use a water butt which we fill by hose which is then connected to plumbing tube in the greenhouse. It means we can water easily once plants in the greenhouse borders are getting going.

MereDintofPandiculation · 20/02/2021 17:22

Can't actually take cuttings as such...have to encourage root growth then cut with root attached...no trouble really. "air layering" in case people come across the term and don't know what it is.

quince2figs · 20/02/2021 17:27

@Cally62

Happy when lockdown eases I'll pop to Guisborough with a fig tree.

Errol I'll post one to you....

Can't actually take cuttings as such...have to encourage root growth then cut with root attached...no trouble really.

Happy sounds like you've got a plan for the summer to make the your garden your happy place...think gin helps with that.

Right I'm off out making deliveries of home made profiteroles to the neighbours.....

Happy planning....

@Cally62 can you give a bit more info on how you take the fig cuttings?

The dcs bought me a lovely fig tree last Mother’s Day. It looked great all summer, but leaves all dropped suddenly when we had a cold snap in autumn. It’s overwintering in the greenhouse, but is just a 3ft tall stick now. Still alive though, so fingers crossed will revive in warmer weather.

Will attempt cuttings from friend’s large fig if it’s easy!

I have a very old greenhouse, but smallish. I would suggest get as large as you can acquire/have room for. It’s nice to have space for plants/sowing/cutting area/ chair to relax in.

quince2figs · 20/02/2021 17:28

@MereDintofPandiculation, is that where you pell the bark and cover with compost in a plastic bag? Always sounds something “advanced” gardeners are good at 😀

quince2figs · 20/02/2021 17:29

Peel, not pell

MereDintofPandiculation · 20/02/2021 17:36

[quote quince2figs]@MereDintofPandiculation, is that where you pell the bark and cover with compost in a plastic bag? Always sounds something “advanced” gardeners are good at 😀[/quote]
You don't have to peel it, just scratch it a bit. You're just trying to damage it a bit, not take it off.

It's actually an easy technique. Easiest way to propagate is to layer - ie peg down a runner or branch to the soil, wait for roots to develop and a new plant to establish, then sever the branch. This is what you're doing if you start strawberries from runners.

Air layering is the same, except you take the soil to the plant. It's a lot easier to do now we have cling film Grin

You've got a much greater chance of success than if you have to remove the twig before starting it as a cutting in the normal way. It's still getting water and nutrient from the parent plant.

Cally62 · 21/02/2021 08:03

Mere That's exactly what I do...Pegdown I've been doing it that way for a couple of years just with the lower branches. When roots are established I Cut and dig up and pot on.

Quince I kept my fig tree in a pot in the greenhouse for the first year after which I planted in in the ground...it really took off after that. I did trim the top of some branches to encourage more growth and that seemed to work really well.
Also at the end of the summer snap off all fruits to encourage nourishment to go to new growth instead of old fruit.

Happy I'll keep a look out for anyone offering free greenhouses nearby. My dp and I dismantled our from a garden not too far away and put it up in ours. Think it was easy knowing how it came apart to put it up again.

Right...I have cakes to make. Red velvet cupcakes today.Grin

Happyinheels · 21/02/2021 09:24

@MereDintofPandiculation thanks for that advice. I had a good look at polycarb ones online yesterday. I was seriously tempted as they're the only kind I could actually get my hands on in the next couple of weeks. I think I've got my heart set on a glass one though...

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Happyinheels · 21/02/2021 09:24

@ErrolTheDragon Thurso isn't far from me at all 😊

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Happyinheels · 21/02/2021 09:25

@ErrolTheDragon 🤦🏻‍♀️ that was obviously meant to say Thirsk before spellcheck kindly changed it for me!

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Happyinheels · 21/02/2021 09:27

@Cally62 awe why am I 20 minutes away - you sound like an awesome neighbour! Cake is goooooood!
That would be great - I'm holding off ordering one in the hope I find one for free!

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Happyinheels · 21/02/2021 09:29

@GnomeDePlume I can understand why you would change them for that reason...
Great advice about the irrigation thanks. I'm going to get guttering on the greenhouse and a water butt, that's as far as I've thought right now...

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Cally62 · 21/02/2021 09:34

Multi tasking today, cupcakes are in the oven, cream cheese frosting made, washing machine on, fed the garden birds and ndn's cat, watching netflix and Mn'ing.

May even do a bit of tidying up in the garden 'cos it's so mild outside.

Happy Thanks...Smile 20mins away is almost next door.

Happyinheels · 21/02/2021 09:36

Update

Still haven't bought a greenhouse as there aren't any available for 15 weeks. I'm looking on all the free sites to see if I can find a free one, also looking on marketplace and EBay.

However, it is giving me time to work on the area where the greenhouse is going. I'm putting raised beds next to it. Yesterday I dug the ground over where I'm going to put the raised beds. Today's job is to build said raised beds 😬 I've covered the area in cardboard to keep the weeds down while I build the beds. Then I'm going to put membrane down around the outside of the beds and gravel on top. I need to read up on what to fill the beds with!

Have a great day everyone.

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Cally62 · 21/02/2021 09:56

Have a lovely day Happy

I've just been looking on gumtree...there were a few but have been sold...Just keep trying.

MereDintofPandiculation · 21/02/2021 12:30

Cally That's ineresting, I've only air-layered. Scratch bark on underside of branch, squash a good handful of moist compost round it, hold compost in place and stop it drying out with clingfilm wrapped round and round. When roots are visible and reasonably abundant against the clingfilm, cut through the branch and pot up the cutting.

I did it for insurance when we knew we were going to have to move our fig tree which at the time was about 3 ft high and 3ft across.

Figs grow on the new growth at the ends of branches, therefore prune to encourage new branches.

Greenhouses - if you're dismantling one, label every single piece, including the glass, with where it came from. Makes it a lot easier to rebuild.

Water butt - much quicker to take lid off and dip watering can into it, than stand waiting while water trickles from the tap. If you're using 12 cans of water inside the greenhouse, this matters!

However, it is giving me time to work on the area where the greenhouse is going. I'm putting raised beds next to it. This gives possibilities! Under bench level where you have a raised bed close isn't going to get much light, so could be used for storage. In which case, would putting the raised bed up against the greenhouse offer useful winter insulation? I've always liked those Victorian greenhouse built 3ft underground, with a flight of steps down to the door.

quince2figs · 21/02/2021 16:37

@Cally62 and @MereDintofPandiculation, thanks so much for the air layering advice. Makes perfect sense; I’ll give it a go

MereDintofPandiculation · 21/02/2021 17:18

Did I misunderstand Cally? I thought you were layering ie pegging lower branches to the ground? If I did misunderstand, you must have been scratching your head at my last post.

Cally62 · 22/02/2021 06:40

Morning Mere I literally just push lower branches into the ground and secure them. No scratching of bark. It's what seems to work for me...at least whilst I have a good few lower branches.

Happy Hope you had a lovely day in the garden yesterday...it certainly felt like spring is here.

Oh...I planted some fruit trees last year...cherry, plum and a bramley apple...my apple pie tree. Can't wait until I have actual fruit to pick.

Happyinheels · 22/02/2021 12:34

MereDintofPandiculation again, excellent points thank you!

I asked a guy friend about taking down a greenhouse - I swear he physically recoiled in horror at the thought! If other people have done it then surely I can!
If I can get one for free or even at a reasonable price then that will free up the money I would have spent to them spend on other 'garden necessities' 🤣 Plus I won't have to wait 15 weeks for delivery 😬

All these things that I haven't even considered - that's why it's great getting advice from friendly knowledgeable people such as yourselves!

I was going to go for a slimline water butt however I can totally see the point in being able to dip a watering can in the top!

I spent a lot of time yesterday playing around pegging out various sizes of vegetable beds. The area is a really strange shape so I'm stuck between how many to have and the position of them. I was wondering about leaving enough of a gap against the fence so that I could plant some fruit trees or canes. I read that ideally it's best to be able to reach the bed from all sides. I think I'll build 2 and go from there. I just want to get it right.

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Happyinheels · 22/02/2021 12:45

@Cally62 I had a great day thank you, I hope you did too.

The weather was so nice that I ended up painting the fences from a dark and mildewed green to a bright and light stone colour. The difference is amazing! I wanted to make the most of the sun - however I'm a little concerned that it's raining today. I hope the paint holds up!

I was also playing around with measurements and imaginary raised beds to see how big I should make them and where exactly I should put them.

I bought myself 2 gardening magazines yesterday while out food shopping and I've ended up with 18 packets of vegetable seeds! Also bought myself a month by month veg book!

Do you have a greenhouse?
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