Benefits of a greenhouse

[Tracey]

Hello

Can anyone please advise me on the benefits of a greenhouse? I'm having some paving layed and I'm going to add some more raised beds. I can't decide if I should add a greenhouse or not. I don't want to grow anything exotic and I can germinate seeds on my windowsills. I have coldframes and I have successfully grown tomatoes in the garden before. So why should I get a green house? I keep thinking if I don't and I really get into growing veg I may regret not getting a greenhouse.

Kind regards
Tracey

[veg4681]

I kept saying the same thing but gave in when B&Q were flogging them for £20 (6'X2'), pretty conventional looking greenhouse but with plastic the sort you get for soft drinks bottles . I'm just enjoying the luxury of space for putting your plants under protection that you don't quite get with cloches or coldframe.

[Hans Mum]

as veg says, plus you can have a longer growing season for toms/cucs etc

[rustylady]

In Surrey your climate is probably OK for tomatoes outside, but here in East Anglia they don't do terribly well. I use my cold greenhouse all year round. In winter I use it for shelter for some of my tender(ish) plants in pots. In spring I use it for germinating seeds and growing them on ready for planting out onto the allotment. In summer it's full of tomatoes, chillies, etc. I really don't have enough windowsills to do that in the house.

[starwatcher]

got to agree with rustylady there, don't have one meself yet and seedlings are taking over the house. On that basis alone i think they are a must.

[Tracey]

got to agree with rustylady there, don't have one meself yet and seedlings are taking over the house. On that basis alone i think they are a must.

Seedlings taking over the house is just in spring though. A greenhouse takes up room in the garden all year.

[jaykay]

I keep thinking if I don't and I really get into growing veg I may regret not getting a greenhouse.

Why not pencil in the area for the greenhouse and then keep track of what you use that space for over the next few months. If it is used frequently for other things, then you may decide you do not have space for a greenhouse after all.
You could also make a list of what you would have put in the greenhouse if you had one. This might help you make up your mind. Hope this helps.

[esrikandan]

You must also remember that having a greenhouse will open up other options as well, such as allowing you to grow things you may not have considered previously, such as cucumbers and other more sensitive items.

[Madasafish]

I have an 8x6 greenhouse (feet not metres alas) and by mid spring it has 60 trays of plants. Impossible in house.

[Tracey]

I have an 8x6 greenhouse (feet not metres alas) and by mid spring it has 60 trays of plants. Impossible in house.

Can I not put the trays in the coldframe instead?

[rustylady]

Sounds to me as if you don't really want a greenhouse Tracey. Go with your own feelings - you can always get one later if you change your mind. Me, I always wanted one and I'm really pleased with it - I just wish I could have afforded a bigger stronger one.

[starwatcher]

I have an 8x6 greenhouse (feet not metres alas) and by mid spring it has 60 trays of plants. Impossible in house.

you've frightened me there mad were on the virge of moving out of the house to make way for the seedlings now never mind mid spring, got the gran kids coming to stay in a couple of weeks and thier room is full of seedlings.