Without a greenhouse?

[Scarlet]

I've lived in this house for nearly 17years...I always wanted a GH, but had to make do for many years. Small plastic grow houses work well if they are weighted down. Gives protection for brassica /peas seedlings at night from slugs and frost in early Spring and are good grow houses for peppers and chillies in the summer so long as they are well ventilated. Green houses just extend the growing season a little. All my tender plants were inside on windowsills at night and out doors in a sunny sheltered spot during the day.

[MarkPelican]

Its a very open question. I depends where you are. It depends what you want to grow.

A greenhouse helps with tender things (peppers, some tomatoes, melons, etc.). But if you want to grow carrots, potatoes, peas, brassicas and other things you sow direct in the ground it makes no difference.

You can always buy plants (your choice might be more restricted but in general they are great if you just want a few of anything).

I start my seeds on a windowsill and when I prick them out I put them into one of the plastic 4ft wide flyaways to protect them from overnight frosts.

[JaniceH]

I start my seeds on a windowsill and when I prick them out I put them into one of the plastic 4ft wide flyaways to protect them from overnight frosts.

I just wanted to say thank you for everyone's advice. I think that this year I will manage using my various windowsills and I have invested in some cheap windowsill width cells with a plastic cover/cloche top which will help. I have discovered that my mum has got one of the small flyaways (2 shelves?) that we will weigh down and use at her house to harden things off. Maybe it can be my plan for next year to find space for a small greenhouse as I would like to be able to grow some tender things and I have a 'thing' for auriculas which need protection.

[Florence Fennel]

Janice as others have said, you can simulate greenhouse conditions. At the mo I have modules of kidney beans and sweetcorn, sown in modules, in supermarket delivery trays (don't ask ) covered with fleece. outside my back door because I only have a small stayput (one up from a blowaway)

[MarkPelican]

One advantage of NOT having a greenhouse is of course that you don't try to start things too early. I have a tendency to sow sweetcorn and courgettes earlier than I should so that I have to look after them carefully whilst there are still frosts about.

[jackarmy]

I started this growing malarchy with a tiny grow tent for a couple of toms . Next yeara bigger one and the year after a 6x4 walk in one from lidl which cost 50 squid.
Since then ( 4 or 5 years ago) i have built my own greenhouse in the space that i had available using 2 x 2 and polycarbonate sheets last season ( approx 10 x 8 feet) .Despite teething problems last year, i cant see me without a green house again, they just rock .

[SusieG]

I LURVE my super, duper GH ...
I'm absolutely sure I'm not using it to full advantage, but I am trying!
Hoping to have no space left in there very soon. It's looking good so far ...
I think of it as my 'going away' gift from my Mum and Dad, I bought it with money they left me and named it 'Caeau Glas' after our family home ...

[veggiechicken]

"Green fields" - what a lovely name for a home and a GH, with so many memories wrapped up in it. I'm sure it will overflowing with plants and love soon, Susie

[SusieG]

"Green fields" - what a lovely name for a home and a GH, with so many memories wrapped up in it. I'm sure it will overflowing with plants and love soon, Susie

Awwww, thanks VC, I'm just sobbing quietly to myself now ...

[veggiechicken]

Ooops, sorry, Susie, didn't mean to upset you Where was Caeau glas?

[Bigmallly]

I think of it as my 'going away' gift from my Mum and Dad, I bought it with money they left me and named it 'Caeau Glas' after our family home ...

That's lovely Susie.

[jackarmy]

With happy memories im sure Susie.