New to vegetables

[hellokittysmum]

I started last year growing a few tomatoes (successfully) in a plastic mini greenhouse, some salad leaves in containers, strawberries also in containers all successfully (plus corn, peppers and aubergine unsuccessfully) and caught the bug. have just had a greenhouse build for my birthday and have done a vegetable patch (I have a very big garden which is mostly lawn and trees).

In the greenhouse (6x10) I have seedlings which I started in the house on Mother's Day and am just getting ready to plant things properly. This year I am just going to use grow bags but next year I will have beds in the greenhouse. I am planning tomatoes (cordons and tumbling), red peppers, aubergines, courgettes and maybe some lettuce and rocket (but can that go outside).

Outside I have planted potatoes, onions, courgettes (which I started in the house), pumpkin (again stated in the house), carrots, celery, spinach, dwarf French beans (these four I bought plants) and have some peas savoy cabbage and leeks which are still in the house propagating. I have also sown beetroot and broccoli directly into the soil. We have discovered some currants and gooseberry bushes in our garden but I think they have been neglected for 20 years (certainly for the 13 years we have lived here). I also have strawberries from last year (and babies form them as well)

My mum (who is not a gardener but her dad was an amazing gardener who had greenhouses and allotments when I was a small child in the 70s) thinks I am doing too much and should start with just a few things but I would rather try lots of things and accept some might not be successful.

Any tips on what else I should grown in the greenhouse? My husband has just realised that the greenhouse he put up will be largely veg which he isn't that keen on so if there is any fruit I could grown this year that would be great (we already have a successful grape vine that grows against the house (sheltered on 3 sides). I've said we will do some fruit next year as I think I need to prune the existing fruit bushes and look after them but if we could grow raspberries that would be good. Am I too late.

(sorry this is so long)

[Dorothy rouse]

Sounds like you're doing very well, I don't have a greenhouse, well not a real one! So can't advise on growing in greenhouses, but sure someone will along in a minute who can help.

I grow lots of fruit up on allotment, currents, strawberries, raspberries etc.

[Alison]

Sounds like you are doing great but please be careful with some of the plants you have planted out. You can't be far from me and it is very early to be planting out courgettes, pumpkins and French beans. I haven't even sown all my French beans yet and the squashes are still little babies. I won't be planting them out until the end of the month to avoid frost damage. I'd suggest you get some fleece to put over them if a cold night is forecast as they will get quite sulky if they get cold and stop growing which is a real shame when you've done so much work.

You mention you also have a courgette in your greenhouse, this is likely to get pretty big in there so you might be better with it outside but that's up to you.

What does your OH like? You mention fruits, yes it is too late for raspberries this year but you can plan for next. You might be able to buy a melon plant at the garden center which you could put in the greenhouse if he likes them? Probably easiest to say what you'd like to grow and then people can give specific advice but it sounds like you have a great attitude and are realistic enough to realise that things won't always work as you want - oh and yes, get the rocket outside, it will bolt in the greenhouse.

[Penellype]

For fruit this year buy a blueberry bush. It will be in flower now and will fruit from late July. You can grow it in a large pot of ericaceous compost and water with rain water if your soil is not acid, and it will reward you with white flowers, delicious fruit and red autumn leaves.

You should also be able to grow autumn fruiting raspberries this year. For both of these you will get a much better crop if you have a fruit cage to keep the birds off - your strawberries will benefit from this too.

[hellokittysmum]

Thank s for all the advice.

I've got some bubble wrap so I will go and put that over the beans or we have a small poly tunnel so I could put that over.

My best friend (who got a greenhouse last year) grew melons and they didn't do very well so I wasn't going to bother with time but maybe I will try.

We have lots of Rhododendrons and azaleas so I think our soil is acid so I will try a blueberry bush. And will get some raspberries next year - when should they be planted.

The rocket is very small at the moment (grown from seed) - should it go outside now or when they are a bit bigger?

[Polytastic]

you might want to think twice about planting your cucumbers with your toms / peppers ... peppers and toms can go in together but not with cucumbers or his .... hope this helps ...

[hellokittysmum]

you might want to think twice about planting your cucumbers with your toms / peppers ... peppers and toms can go in together but not with cucumbers or his .... hope this helps ...

Wasn't sure about cucumbers as we're not that keen on them but I will keep the advice in mind - should they be in the greenhouse or outside?

When you say not together how near can they be - on opposite sides of greenhouse or completely away?

[WendyC]

you might want to think twice about planting your cucumbers with your toms / peppers ... peppers and toms can go in together but not with cucumbers or his .... hope this helps ...

I do it every year! My greenhouse is very small too. I put the tomatoes along the southern side and the cucumbers to the north. I know the cucumbers prefer moister conditions but needs must!

[Scarlet]

I do it every year! My greenhouse is very small too. I put the tomatoes along the southern side and the cucumbers to the north. I know the cucumbers prefer moister conditions but needs must!

Same here, never had a problem.

[Penellype]

And will get some raspberries next year - when should they be planted.

The rocket is very small at the moment (grown from seed) - should it go outside now or when they are a bit bigger?

You can plant pot grown raspberries at any time of year, bare rooted ones in late autumn or winter. The thing with the summer fruiting ones is that they fruit on last year's wood, so the sooner you plant them the better as you will have to wait a year for fruit. Autumn fruiting ones fruit on this year's wood, and they should not be too big yet (mine are about 6 inches high), which is why I suggested them for this year.

The rocket wants to go out asap - it is hardy and doesn't like being too hot. Its going to be warm for a couple of days so now is quite a good time to put it out.