Tomato Growhouse

[Dazy]

I have just got one of these its 2mH x 1.98W x 0.78D and was planning to use it to grow 2 of each Tomato, sweet pepper and cucumber. Is this feasible, if so what would be the best variety's, was going to place it over a purpose built raised bed as space is limited, soil is poor and I got some good results from my raised veg bed last year. Please help because I keep looking at seed catalogs and I am itching to buy something, anything!

[Potstubsdustbins]

If it is of the type that has 3 shelves either side I think you would stuggle for space. I had one for 3 years and if it is the same type the shelving is integeral to the strength of the thing and they cannot be removed.

I found it very useful for bringing on seedlings early in the season and then I used the floor space for 4 Sungold tomato plants which got to 4 trusses each. Sungold are a lovely sweet cherry tomato and you should get 20ish tomato's per truss.

I would think you might well get 2 tomato and 2 sweet pepper but really struggle with cucumber.

One last piece of advice if it is the type I am talking off i.e. push together metal frame with a plastic sheet cover make sure you tie it down really well and use a lot of weight on the flaps at the bottom of the covering sheet as they have a tendancy to collapse in a good wind.

Colin.

[Two_Sheds]

Do you mean a blowaway?

I used them for tomatoes, two per blowaway. I left all the shelf rods in place & just removed the meshy horizontal bits - the tomatoes grow up and through the rods no problem

[Dazy]

Hi I've hopefully added the link below correctly, as you can see it has no shelving and I am going to do my best to stop it blowing away, I guess my main problem is that I am a complete beginner, last year I was constantly surprised by how big plants got, don't want to overcrowd them in there and I've no idea how much space sweet peppers or cucumbers need as I've never grown them before. Oh and I have been tempted by a self watering system called "big drippa" anyone tried it?

Tomato Greenhouse- £32.5 Free Delivery Available

[Two_Sheds]

It's a lot of money for a few tomatoes (says the skinflint in me) The plastic doesn't last forever (mine rip after one season) and the one in your link looks like it will take off in a gale. Did you click on my link above? you'll see my bent and twisted growhouse - and that was tied & weighted down

do a bit of research about your chosen crops first, and find out how much room they take up. As you say, it's surprising ! (my toms were 6 foot when I stopped them)
Here's your first link, for cukes: Growing Cucumbers - Vegetable Expert (UK)

[Dazy]

Blimey your poor blowaway was a mess, got to confess the picture made me smile (sorry). Got one of those, its lasted through the winter so far got my fig tree in it at the mo. Thanks for the link looks like I'll have the room for two cucumber plants, now need to do some research on sweet peppers

[Shadylane]

We've got one of those, though I don't think it was that pricey. I think Wilkos do it chepaer. If you stick it on a bed like it is in the pic it will end up on the other side of the village. Ours is attched to the fence and goes no where although it does rock a bit in the wind, so a bag of sand on the bottom rung helps. I think we had four cherry toms in it last year. The cover is ripped now though, but it wasn't of the green mesh variety. I have one of those in the attic ready to replace when spring arrives

[Davyburns]

I managed 6 toms in the one thats the next size down last year. It was a bit of a jungle that had to be constantly controlled, but the yeild was very good.

of course I was using the good old Morrisons flower buckets! what would we do without them!

[Potstubsdustbins]

That is very different to the one I had and the shelves had to stay in place as they added structural strength.

I must say that the one in the link looks a lot like a 'kite' big cover over very little foundation.

If you are going to cover a purpose built raised bed have you considered using polycarbonate roofing sheets or cheaper still PVC corrugated sheet.

PVC from Wickes in various sizes example 1.8mtrs x 660mm £4-87p you would not need many of those and it would give you a far stronger structure if screwed on two a wood frame.

Colin.

[Dazy]

Well I've grown tomato's from seed, chillis look healthy and ready to go (in a week or two), Cucs are getting there but the tom growhouse what a waste of money, it covered the purpose built raised bed, got pegged, tied down, installed drippa system and growing support frame, worried about wind blowing it away, plastic tearing . Then Nylon Zip on access door Broke, never mind the fact that the side vents advertised did not exist, now I have a door that wil not close. Reduced to the thought of Duck Taping it closed every night but Hey Hoo live and learn.