How Soon?

[Mrs Dobby]

Just wondered how soon we can start to use our unnheated greenhouse on our plot?

We've been germinating and growing on some chillis, toms, aubergines, pumpkins, squash, cabbages, cauli, banana shallots and leeks, and we are running out of windowsill space in the house!

Just wondered whether we can take the leeks, shallots and possibly cabbage and cauli down to the plot and put them on our staging to grow on a bit, and perhaps try and germinate some more leeks, parsnips and perhaps one or two other things?

If its still a bit nippy at night could we use the tall shelving unit and wrap it in fleece, or would that cut out too much light?

Last frost is supposed to be May around here, so I dont want to run the risk of putting anything out thats going to be killed off, but we are in desperate need of growing space indoors to allow us to propogate some more toms and chillies, so have got to do something soon!

Any help / advice / opinions would be really appreciated!

[Alison]

I've got caulis and lettuce in the greenhouse growing on in modules ready to get a head start when I plant them out but they are varieties which state that they're OK for growing in winter with protection. The caulis in particular are doing very well. Definitely wouldn't put peppers etc out there yet as they're frost susceptible but do know what you mean about the lack of space, haven't been able to use our dining table for a couple of weeks now!

[pigletwillie]

Mrs D, your leeks, shallots and brassicas can all move down there without any problem and are quite hardy but could benefit from a layer of fleece if its forcast a good frost.

My tomatoes go into the tunnel at the end on April purely on space grounds and have a fleece sheet over them if required so I would keep them closer to home where a quick fleece cover can be added at short notice..

You are very early with your squash and pumpkins and I fear for them either from a size point of view or from some fungal/mould taking its toll. You would be far better to sow them in April ready to plant out at the end of May, your plants will be much stronger and will have suffered no checks in their growth.

Here in the Midlands my shallots are in the ground, the banana shallots in modules outside, with cabbage and cauliflowers to follow within a few days until ready to plant out.

[Alice]

Hello Mrs D, don't put your chillies, toms and aubergines in the greenhouse, but everything else should be allright. I've got my lettuce, carrots and banana shalots out there. I cover them with fleece at night as the weather seems to have gone colder again. I had them all outdoors when we had that spell of sunny days, as I think that's the best place for them. If you put fleece on have you time to take it off in the morning. being retired, I have the luxury of the time to move things about to best advantage . But fleece does let some light through and there's been times I've had plants covered for a few days with no ill effects.

[nick the grief]

I've had Cacti in mine all winter Mrs D and moved the Cauli's and shallots n there about a month ago (plus some currant cuttings)

[Mrs Dobby]

Hi PW, we'll move the shallots, brassicas and leeks down there asap then, the pumpkins and squash have only just been planted, but we were thinking of keeping them inside anyhiows, we've still got one from the November sewing thats growing away in the bedroom window, its not only flowering, but has a small (1 1/2") fruit on it aswell! So was thinking by starting them off fairly early we'd have them fully established before taking out and thus get a better chance of getting a good harvest!

We are hopefully picking up our second proper greenhouse in the next week or so, (as soon as its current owner moves his stuff out of it!), so once we've put that up we should be about ready to pop some toms and chillis in there, with the fleece ready for any frosty times! (or we could bring them back inside if needs be!)

[Snadger]

we've still got one from the November sewing thats growing away in the bedroom window, its not only flowering, but has a small (1 1/2") fruit on it aswell! So was thinking by starting them off fairly early we'd have them fully established before taking out and thus get a better chance of getting a good harvest!
)

As you know I have joined a giant pumpkin competition (no, I don't want to borrow your pumpkin!) and the Atlantic Giant seeds I have recieved advocate sowing on 15th April. It takes 120 days to reach maturity.

I just hope that your pumpkin you have sown in November doesn't mature in 120 days from sowing or else it will be all over before the end of March!!
The significance of this is that it will miss all the very warm weather that pumpkins like so much!
If nothing else, it will be an interesting experiment and it may possibly react to day length rather than time!

PS According to the blurb on my seed packet, and taking into account this is in USA, it says the pumpkin can put on up to 10lb per day!!!

[Alison]

PS According to the blurb on my seed packet, and taking into account this is in USA, it says the pumpkin can put on up to 10lb per day!!!

Everything's bigger in the good old U S of A though

[Two_Sheds]

It's so tempting to fill up all your windowsills with seedlings. However I have learnt from my mistakes not to murder 100s of seedlings by starting them off too early, or cossetting them too much.
Now, I grow everything hard. I won't start sowing until it warms up a bit more - the plants will soon catch up with anything that was started earlier indoors, but will be tougher.
You can see this with broad beans - those sown 5 months ago will only crop about a fortnight sooner than the ones that I sow next week.

[Benacre]

I would say use the unheated house all year round. I would plant daffodils for an early crop as you will be surprised how much heat an un heated greenhouse can produce.
Store Geraniums and other tenders too.

[Two_Sheds]

You could always build a hotbed in your greenhouse with fresh manure. Nice and warm, if a bit fragrant.

[stigoftheplot]

I use my unheated greenhouse to grow out of season crops, lettuce overwinter nicely, early spuds go in in Feb in a big tub or sack. Extra early sowing of stuff like carrots, grown in tubs. You'll also find that summer crops can last longer than outside so transfer the odd thing into there later in the season to keep cropping. I also over winter herbs. And of course it's brill for starting off seeds early.

[Alison]

Likewise, Stig, mine is used in a pretty similar manner. Had some lovely winter lettuce out the greenhouse with my tea tonight.

[Two_Sheds]

We've got onions, peas, cabbage, sweet peas, asparagus, dahlias and scabious in the (unheated) greenhouse. Still too cold for anything else.
And no glass! Well, only one pane missing this time, due to the winds. The whole thing has shifted another 2 foot on its moorings again. I think it just prefers to be shoved up against the plum tree, so we'll leave it there.

[shirlthegirl43]

Two Sheds, how do you grow asparagus in the greenhouse? I bought some crowns but OH says we might be moving and I was wondering if there is a way of growing the asparagus so that I can take it with me if we do move.