New to gardening - greenhouse suggestions please

[roseh]

Hi! Some complete beginners to gardening here inspired by Hugh FW and want to grow our own!

We're thinking about buying a new greenhouse: any general suggestions in what to look for?

We are worried about what would happen if we go away on holiday for a week or so - would we need to have a neighbour round or are there ways round this?

[BFG]

Do you need a green house? I'd wait until you're a bit more experienced before splashing out.

[Littlemouse]

I don't have a greenhouse but can understand your enthusiasm.. am wishing for a greenhouse myself but (unusually for me) have reined in my impulsive streak and am currently reading through 'Be your own Greenhouse Expert' (Dr DG Hessayon) and finding it really useful for things I hadn't really thought about.

Also I know that I really will only be able to have a v small greenhouse and that might be more frustrating than not having one at all and most sources of advice, same as for sheds, suggest you don't underestimate the size you will require.

[Capsid]

I don't think you need to be experienced to have a greenhouse. In fact it makes life easier in a way as the seedlings are nicely protected from the elements and pests. I get good germination rates and seedling growth as a result. I sow into modules which can be transplanted with little root disturbance. I rarely sow direct nowadays.

I'd recommend that you also invest in automatic roof vent and automatic side louvres for when you go on holiday but even then it takes the hassle out of manually opening the vents daily and automatic venting controls the temperature better. Another valuable investment is an automatic drip irrigation system.

[krazy_krok]

What are your DIY skills like? I've just built a polytunnel out of some old pallets and water pipe. Some great threads on here on how to build one, i just used the ideas on the plans and custom made a design to suit my needs. Total cost - Free, even got the screws and plastic through recycling. Assess your needs before spending, if this hobby takes off you'll be wanting more indoor growing space,

KK

[fleegle]

plytunnels 'r' us

Me and my other half built one check out me piccies on my profile page. Got details off internet and re-jigged it for my needs.Type 'Alans polytunnel' in your search engine and it should come up.

It couldn't be anchored into the ground as it sits ontop of a patio area and the size is more like a dome than a tunnel, so we kind of made it up as we went along and it worked haha!

Saved an absolute fortune, to buy one of a similar size would have set me back in excess of £300. Had lots of fun doing it and most of the stuff I got free or scrounged from local companies. Got a huge reel of the blue water pipe left, collecting 'dust in me yard' if yer interested!

It has served me well since completed in March of this year and I have grown all sorts in it including chillies, cucumbers, water melons, lettuce, toms, potatoes, herbs to name but a few and all in pots and growbags. Extremely low maintenance, no weeding required and the spent growbags have gone on my compost heap, garden borders and home made planters which I have added 'green manure' seed to - waste not want not!

I could carry on and keep growing but it's getting cold and I'm old and decrepid so I shall give it a good clean, move indoors and start designing my planting schedule for next year.

[sweetiepea]

Greenhouses can be expensive. Budget and space restrictions (if any) may influence your choice, as might your location. There's no point going for a flimsy structure if you're on an exposed site! I don't think I know anyone with a greenhouse who doesn't want a bigger one!

Capsid is absolutely right - if you do buy a greenhouse, spend that bit extra and invest in automatic vents and louvers - they make life so much easier, and your plants will really appreciate them! As well as irrigation systems, consider capillary matting. I use it when away for a day or two.

If you can build something yourself, then definitely do. It'll be a lot cheaper, and you can customise it to suit your site and requirements. Whether it’s a greenhouse or polytunnel you finally opt for, don't forget to include gutting and water butts. It might surprise you how much water can be gathered from even a small greenhouse roof!

[phil the shed]

just remember the words of the great gardening guru NICK THE GRIEF whatever you choose,

IT WON'T BE BIG ENOUGH...............................

everytime i think about my little green house i think of those words
good luck though it extend your seasons and makes potting on or up much better in the dry.

[tlck9]

I am thinking of getting a poly tunel on my allotment, I've seen a couple of cheaper ones on ebay 4.5 meter ones for around £70

has anyone any experience of these

[Joanne]

I wouldn't be with my Greenhouse now, I got mine from a Garden Centre, I just looked round for the best deal, it's a Gardman with Polycarbonate glazing. I am going to try seeding carrots and salad to keep me going through the winter, til I can start outside. Is there anything I can plant outside now apart from Onion Sets and Garlic.

[Capsid]

I wouldn't be with my Greenhouse now, I got mine from a Garden Centre, I just looked round for the best deal, it's a Gardman with Polycarbonate glazing. I am going to try seeding carrots and salad to keep me going through the winter, til I can start outside. Is there anything I can plant outside now apart from Onion Sets and Garlic.

Shallots and broad beans (overwintering variety Aquadulce)

[Joanne]

Thanks Mark,

Not tried Broad Beans before, will have a go, any tips

[Capsid]

Thanks Mark,

Not tried Broad Beans before, will have a go, any tips

Well if you have a greenhouse sitting empty(ish) over winter then sow the broad beans in 3" pots or modules and they will be nice looking plants for planting out in the spring. Like this!

[Robinson Polytunnels]

Hi,

If your main concern is about how the plants will look after themselves while you are away there's a couple of "automatic" solutions which might just do the trick.

Look for a greenhouse with windows / vents operated by automatic openers. These are a gas filled strut with the gas being temperature sensitive. As the temperature increases, the gas expands and the strut extends, opening the window / vent. The gas struts are available to buy on their own for you to fit onto virtually any greenhouse window.

Another automatic option is to set up an irrigation system with a timer valve. The timer valve is battey operated and is easy to link into a simple irrigation system with a hose pipe permanantly connected. The timer valve can be set to come on at certain times of day for a set length of time and you can always test it out before you go away.

These automatic gadgets probably won't do as good a job as you would do if you were there in person but at least they'll keep your plants alive!

[roseh]

Thanks some useful ideas here. Because of the sorts of things we want to grow we are getting the greenhouse as we do have a base for it at the bottom of our garden (left by previous house owners) but not cheap. We had to put in for a fair bit of overtime work this month to afford it!

However thinking of using some poly tunnels as well - for anyone looking for freebies I recommend freecycle i got quite a few seeds off generous souls.