new greenhouse

[dexterdoglancashire]

Hi everyone!
have just managed to bag a fab 8 1/2' x 6 1/2' greenhouse off ebay for £20 - its now up and running in the garden.....just wish I had got it months ago....anyway can anyone give me advice re what are the best plants to put in there? is it too late to get ready started plants from a supplier? what veg should i be planting now to add to the ones ive already got planted? any ideas how to lower the temperature? as my hubby would say too many questions, but as a newling to all this "good life" i need all the help i can get! many thanks! dexterdoglancashire
ps had a letter printed in the mag this month (bernie) and so my total expenditure is now £70 including greenhouse!

[Alice]

Hello Dexterdog, congrats on getting that greenhouse - a real bargain You might still be able to find peppers and aubergines in a garden centre, maybe even tomatoes. As for lowering the temp - we're never happy are we you could invest in an automatic opening hinge for the window and leave the door open if it's really hot. Wetting the floor also helps to lower the temp and hot humid air is much less damaging to plants than hot dry air. I'me sure other grapes will be on to tell you what else you can grow in there. Have fun

[dexterdoglancashire]

Hi Alice - many thanks for the advice! know what you mean when you say we are never happy! will leave door open, and wet the floor - sounds a great idea! what do you think about painting inside of glass with window cleaner to create a bit of shade? thanx Dexterdog

[Alice]

I'm not sure about the window cleaner Dexterdog but I'm sure there will be plenty of advice coming your way. I think maybe a better idea is to hang some old net curtains over the outside of the greenhouse. If you put them on those wire things your granny had them on (you can still buy them in market halls etc) you can open and close them as required. See what others think.

[dexterdoglancashire]

another brill idea! thanks alice. im still learning my way around the grapevine - did i just see your photo? thats a good idea so you know who you are talking to. Dexterdog

[poultrychat]

Or if you have some spare clothes line you can use that - it works well on my greenhouse

[dexterdoglancashire]

Hi there - thanks for the advice. Took some fleece "type" material off my carrots/parsnips and it was ideal for covering the roof of the greenhouse. Thanks Dexterdog

[dexterdoglancashire]

on second thoughts!

Mmmmm, just realised i need to keep carrots ect covered in case of carrot fly - covering off greenhouse and back onto veg! learning as i go along! dexterdog

[Getoffmylande]

New Greenhouse

congrats on the greenhouse, i managed to pick one up for £15 a coiuple of months ago as the lady of the house wanted it gone that badly that i could probably walked off with it cheaper if i had tried. You could use greenhouse shading from a garden supplier at about £1 a metre which looks neat and tidy or Wilkinsons sell a greenhouse shading paint called Coolglass for just under £3 for enough to do a 6' x 6' greenhouse easily. If you have it in a sunny position you coulld still get a crop of tomatoes in it but you may struggle to get them to ripen before the sun loses its strength. Pepper plants will do well and don't forget it will come into its own for next year starting all those seeds off early. Good luck with it .

[dexterdoglancashire]

Hello Getoffmylande - thanks for the info! guess whos hubby works for Wilkinsons? yep, he has just said yeah, think we sell that!!! no wonder i dont trust him to do my shopping! Will give it a try. Cant wait tell next year and will be able to get all my seedlings a helping hand. :-) dexterdog

[pigletwillie]

Try some net curtain from a charity shop, it works a treat, can be slung in the wash er at the end of the season ready for next year.

[dexterdoglancashire]

thanks for the advice piglet must admit have just "painted" my "windowlene" on the inside of the roof panels and I think its a bit cooler! Have also ordered from ebay some plastic shading - cant wait for it to arrive! dexterdog

[dexterdoglancashire]

WoW!

Have just been in greenhouse for a look and cant believe the difference the "windowlene" has made! yes, I know the sun is going down, but I reckon the temperature has gone down by at least 10 - 15 degrees! Im well impressed. Has anyone else tried this? Also, when I do eventually clean it off my glass will be sparkling clean! dexterdog

[voodoo veg]

I was offered a lean-to greenhouse in exchange for a coupla bottles of wine.Incredibly excited about getting it as you can imagine. Went to pick it up and it is BRAND NEW, never taken out of the packaging, made in America in 1978 ...and TOO BIG TO FIT ANYWHERE IN MY GARDEN!!!!!

Needless to say I am gutted

[dexterdoglancashire]

dear voodoo veg -what a shame! you have my sympathies. your greenhouse would have defo been the bargin of the year! keep looking, Im sure something will turn up, just like it did for me. dexterdog