Grow Your Own wants ........

[JennieAtkinson]

......... your hints, tips and advice on greenhouse care for the February issue of GYO.

As usual the best comments will be published. I'm sure there are plenty of Grapes out there with some top tips!

Many thanks.

[shirlthegirl43]

Great thread Jennie.

Can't wait to read the tips so I know what to do with my greenhouse over the winter months

[mandyballantyne]

Oh me too, only got the GH in May.

The only thing I can suggest right now is buy much much bigger than you think you will need! I could use another two or three and I did not think I would fill this one

Mandy

[lainey lou]

If I had a greenhouse i would give it lots of care.

[mapcr77]

I'd love to have a garden big enough to have a greenhouse!

[Mrs Dobby]

Hmm, greenhouse care!

Once the growing crops are finished in autumn (or before you plant overwintering crops or spring sown crops) give it a really good clean, best to remove the glass and wash both it and the framing down with ***** fluid to remove any biological spawn and ensure it is sterile for the next years growing.

If you have beds in the greenhouse, then dig out the top 12" of soil from the beds every couple of years and replace with fresh, as this will prevent a build up of soil born pests that could wreak havoc with your crops.

If not using the greenhouse beds overwinter, then cover with black plastic to prevent weed growth and retain your soils nutrients.

Before the winter storms hit tighten all nuts and bolts and check the security of your glass, a little time spent now could save a lot of money in repairs and replacements later!

If you want a coloured greenhouse, buy a plain aluminium one and hammerite it the colour of your choice before fitting the glass, keeps it looking good and saves a big amount of money over buying one thats been powder coated!

If your greenhouse is sited in an exposed or windy location, then think about either bracing it with scaffolding or planting some windbreak plants around it to minimize the chances of wind damage!

Ensure any trees near the greenhouse are trimmed of any damaged branches BEFORE the winter storms arrive!

If you are in the market for a greenhouse, then keep an eye on freecycle, friday adz and in the local paper for greenhouses, as you may be able to get one for free! (We've got 2 for nothing so far!)

If dismantling and moving a greenhouse, take plenty of piccies, write with a PERMANENT MARKER where each bit fits, soak all nuts and bolts in oil and remember you will probably need twice as many new z clips, w clips and new nuts and bolts as you think you will!

Erm, thats all I can think of for now!

[Snadger]

The overlaps on the glass tend to get green algae between them. If you have a pressure washer you could blast it out or if not, something like a plant label could be used to loosen it and then give it an upward blast with a hose!

PS Or you could take the hose inside the greenhouse and give each joint a downward blast!

[Dobby]

dont forget the Loot, local papers and supermarkets have adverts, post office, dont bother with Ebay as it could work out expencive with all the nuts and bolts ex and expect to spent the day just taking one down and the next trying to put it back together

[jayne&tony]

We bought replacement nuts and bolts from ebay and saved ourselves a fortune

[scarey55]

If I had a greenhouse i would give it lots of care.

So would we Lainey Lou, IF we had one, that is

[scared55]

So would we Lainey Lou, IF we had one, that is

Don't go on! I've said I'm going to get you one!

KK

[HeyWayne]

If I had a greenhouse,
Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum.
All day long I'd biddy biddy bum.
If I had a greenhouse man.
I wouldn't have to buy one.
Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum.
If I were a biddy biddy rich,
Yidle-diddle-didle-didle man.

[SueA]

The only greenhouse I've got is a small plastic one but even that's better than nothing & can be used to over winter slightly tender plants & harden off seedlings in the spring. A lot of people line their greenhouses with bubblewrap during winter but you have to remember to ventilate them on warmer days or the bubblewrap could cause condensation & sweating leading to mould on any plants in there. Check any plants regularly especially things like pelargonium cuttings which are prone to go mouldy if you're not careful & remove any damaged leaves.

[Matt.]

As already mentioned paint an aluminium frame with hammerite to get the green powder coat effect. Also if its tucked into the corner of a garden you only need to paint the visible bits...

Don't use the frame to support heavy fruit, instead get a trellis and install that. You can use the frame to keep it in position with taut wire etc. All the weight of heavy fruit such as cumcumbers or even melons will then go through the trellis to the ground, not via the frame. It also gives you more points to tie plants to.

Smear vaseline on the door runners when they start to stick.

Fill your watering can after you've watered. Leaving the full can inside the greenhouse allows it to warm to ambient temperature mimising root shock for warm plants. Obviously this applies everywhere but is maybe more important in the greenhouse.

[helly]

if using bubble wrap use those extended clips that allows a gap between the wrap and the glass which help s to prevent condensation