Some ideas for a covered, sheltered area?

[ourarka]

Hi all,

Just looking for some ideas, primarily for next year, as to what I could grow in this area (pictured). Until now it has primarily been used for show, but always ends up looking a bit silly and crowded so think next year I will use it for veg instead. It is used during winter to overwinter borderline perennials, citrus etc but from Spring will be empty. As you can see it is covered, sheltered from wind and south facing. Essentially it is like a very well vented greenhouse!! The brick holds the warmth well.

I have always grown tender veg (toms, peppers etc) in my greenhouse, but wonder if that just gets too hot as, while they do fine, they never do amazingly. I think maybe I might grow some toms at the back of here next year, with maybe some peppers, chillies etc but really wanted to know what ideas you all had.

It also begs the question - what HAS to have a greenhouse? Are there any crops out there that will thrive in the endless heat of a greenhouse that simply wouldn't work in an outside area like this?

[Scarlet]

I often grow a few extra toms on a sunny south facing wall but they are never as good as the GH toms. The greenhouse will give you a much longer cropping period and your toms are less likely to get blight undercover. Having 3 sides with high walls will also mean that you will get a lot less light too.

[skeggijon]

If its south facing then you should be able to grow pretty much anything you would grow in a greenhouse - albeit with a later planting out time and a shorter season, but the heat collected from the bricks should help.

[veggiechicken]

I'd grow fruit in there - a peach trained against the back wall, grapevine up the sides across the top, maybe be a scented climber like jasmine and a seat in the middle to rest on, eat peaches and enjoy the fragrance

[Scarlet]

Peach is a good idea. You will be able to cover it all over completely during the wet weather to stop peach leaf curl. I've got mine in a pot and it goes inside the GH during the wet weather. It could be planted in the ground with that cover.

[ourarka]

I'm loving the ideas, thanks. The only thing is I want to avoid anything too permanent (like a seat, fruit trees etc). This is area is very much round the 'functional' side of the garden - I am lucky enough to have lots of beautiful places to sit with container fruit trees elsewhere. This spot is going to be an overwintering area for borderlines, then a sort of 'big cold frame' in early Spring. After that I am thinking how best to use it until early autumn, when it will fill up with the half-hardy stuff again.

[Scarlet]

If you've already got a greenhouse just use it for your surplus tomatoes, hoping they ripen before the blight hits. I find peppers and chillies perform so much better underglass I wouldn't put them outside unless I've run out of space.
Cape gooseberries grow well in a pot and would like the extra warmth and protection that the shelter has to offer, I've only grown mine in the GH but I do know some grow them outside.
Fat baby achocha would like the wall to scramble over, not sure how well they do in a pot though ..

[Rocketron]

French beans.
My answer to nearly every question.

[BUFFS]

build a sturdy cane frame and grow melons up it, enough room there for 2-3 x 12ins pots = about 10-12 fruit and we are enjoying ours now, grown in that way...

[ourarka]

build a sturdy cane frame and grow melons up it, enough room there for 2-3 x 12ins pots = about 10-12 fruit and we are enjoying ours now, grown in that way...

I must admit - melons crossed my mind earlier. I've never tried but I might have a go. Cape Gooseberries interesting me too .....


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