Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Choppers Greenhouse and patch project 2014

Collapse

X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Choppers Greenhouse and patch project 2014

    Hi Everyone

    I have come across this forum over the years and has been really useful for tips on my previous small scale growing, so only feels right that I now make the effort and become a full member here for my new project

    I'm James and I live in the Croydon area and have been growing mostly tomatoes, herbs, chillies, courgettes over the last few years and since moving from our terrace, I have got a lot more room to play with, so just bought a greenhouse (today!) to take things to the next level Gone with a greenhouses direct Rhino 10*16' with some staging and growbeds, it should be delivered within 2 - 3 weeks so got some time for planning.

    Always had an interest in plants which started with aquarium plants around 10 years ago & have a good basic knowledge of growing & the above veg, last year had a fantastic harvest of tomatoes and chills grown in a lean to we have (father in law was even jealous haha), however I have a lot more to learn and could really do with advice from members on here along the way and especially for setting up my greenhouse and plot

    Some photos taken of location of where greenhouse is going;



    Twiggy likes her photo taken




    There was a pergola that was blown down over Christmas which gave me a good excuse to start clearing the area out. The general plan is to remove all the small trees, climbers and level out, the front 2 beds in the second photo will be made into a plot and il be moving the slabs around to level out one area near the concrete slab & make a new path too the greenhouse entrance. Then to install the greenhouse, apparently I can install on level ground and in certain areas posts are concreted in. Veg plot in front of greenhouse following the shape of the lawn with a palisade fencing and gate surrounding the complete area to keep twiggy out. I'll also have to get power and water down there.

    Already got my chillies in a propagator and just waiting for the rest of my seeds to arrive in post to get others going. Planning to grow inside the greenhouse;

    TOMS: San marzano, alicante & brandywine maybe some cherry type too
    Aubergines: Black enorma & ophelia (never grown these..)
    Chillies: Scotch bonnets, thai type and few other I have
    Cucumber, worth growing inside?
    Marconi peppers
    Prob some basil and other herbs on staging

    I plan to have two beds (using the greenhouse growbeds) in the greenhouse running the complete length of it with a depth of 1m each & 1m central path. Will have 2 *4' freestanding staging and 30cm deep shelf above opposite the entrance.

    Outside my wife wants some sweet peas, blackberry & raspberry (need to look into this as never tried these) Various beans, carrots, leeks, broccoli etc.. any suggestions for others would be great! Last time I grew broccoli & cauliflower as soon as I got them outside the birds had them, so need to think about protection too.

    Is it worth doing raised beds with sleepers, or just go straight into the ground, what's the advantage of them? Anything else I should be thinking of or havent got right??!

    I think that's about it for now, and look forward to discussing the project over the coming year Thanks for reading

  • #2
    Welcome to the forum.

    do you have poor draining? Raised beds will help get around this, with new/loose soil/growing medium making up the bed. They look attractive I guess. I had them in my garden before.

    I have both on my allotment, and prefer no sided beds as they can grow/contract as needed - but that's a bit different.

    Comment


    • #3
      Hello and welcome to the vine James, it sounds like you've done a fair bit of planning already all you need now is the nice weather to arrive.

      I grow in none raised beds with old quarry tiles for paths it seems to work for me.
      Location....East Midlands.

      Comment


      • #4
        Welcome to the vine James.
        sigpic“Gorillas are very intelligent, but they don't have to be as delicate as chimps -- they can just smash open the termite nest,”
        --------------------------------------------------------------------
        Official Member Of The Nutters Club - Rwanda Branch.
        -------------------------------------------------------------------
        Sent from my ZX Spectrum with no predictive text..........
        -----------------------------------------------------------
        KOYS - King Of Yellow Stickers..............

        Comment


        • #5
          ........and from I!
          My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
          to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)

          Diversify & prosper


          Comment


          • #6
            Welcome to the vine James. That's a big greenhouse you're getting, how lovely to have the space for it. Have you thought about guttering for it, and a butt so you can collect the rainwater off the roof?
            Location - Leicestershire - Chisit-land
            Endless wonder.

            Comment


            • #7
              Welcome James and Twiggy Keep the photos coming - we're a nosey lot

              Comment


              • #8
                Hello,your greenhouse will be fantastic that size.Would definitely recommend cucumbers for it.Any of the all female types work well eg Passandra, also crystal lemon which is a round melony cucumber .
                I like raised beds in my veg patch in the garden as they make planning crops easy with rotation .Also they are great if you have a limited time to garden,as you feel you have achieved something in small chunks doing a couple of beds at a time.
                Gardening forever, housework whenever!

                Comment


                • #9
                  Hello and welcome the the forum. Great size greenhouse, but you'll get to a point where you wish you had more room. I have 2 but always run out of space. Good luck.
                  Chris


                  My Allotment Journal @
                  Google+ and Youtube

                  https://plus.google.com/106010041709270771598/posts

                  http://www.youtube.com/user/GrowingJournal/videos
                  -

                  Updated Regularly-Last Update was 30-05-16

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Hi Everyone,
                    Thanks for the warm welcome

                    I think raised beds are the only way to go unfortunately, most of the area was previously paved and even after clearing the sand/cement base the soil is full of stones and pretty poor. Have ordered all sleepers, paving and irrigation now and hoping that by next weekend all the beds and hardscape will be done.. weather dependant!

                    Cucumbers, my daughter loves them so will definitely be growing them, thanks for the recommendations ja9, will have a look at those

                    Taken a gamble with a local supplier who supplies bulk veg compost, 20% organic, 20% manure, 60% 18mm topsoil for £40 a bulk bag so that's my base along with the winters leaves and cuttings.

                    Looking forward to sharing and discussing my project with all of you over the coming months

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Been a busy few days. Sites all cleared now and main irrigation is in for the 5 beds il be making and almost finished levelling the base



                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Hello, and welcome to the Madhouse!

                        You've got enough room for Chickens...
                        All the best - Glutton 4 Punishment
                        Freelance shrub butcher and weed removal operative.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Hi, thanks for the welcome We wish we could have chickens but we have a lot of foxes and not sure how long they would last..

                          Raised beds have taken shape now, next job is a border to hold in the gravel and some paving slabs to be laid.

                          Greenhouse get delivered on the 12th so hoping to have most of it done for then

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Greenhouse still getting delivered on Wednesday.. so far greenhouses direct have been very helpful and quick to answer my questions

                            Weather has slowed me down this week, the border stones have been done, beds almost filled and made a small wall that use to be a mound of earth onto the slab

                            On other fronts have my tom plants and chilies on the go..





                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Looking good James.........roll on Weds hey?.........
                              sigpic“Gorillas are very intelligent, but they don't have to be as delicate as chimps -- they can just smash open the termite nest,”
                              --------------------------------------------------------------------
                              Official Member Of The Nutters Club - Rwanda Branch.
                              -------------------------------------------------------------------
                              Sent from my ZX Spectrum with no predictive text..........
                              -----------------------------------------------------------
                              KOYS - King Of Yellow Stickers..............

                              Comment

                              Latest Topics

                              Collapse

                              Recent Blog Posts

                              Collapse
                              Working...
                              X