The Greenhouse Thread

[227bhp]

James_P said:

Finally got all my stuff in, about a month behind due to new patio, but worth it trying out strawberries this year, usual tomatoes, chilles and aubergine which did well last year.

I hope that's toughened glass in the roof looking at that conker tree

[PositronicRay]

I'm pleased with the tomatoes.

Last yr I struggled a bit with Chillies and peppers, too hot I think. So moved them out to a sheltered sunny spot. Is this two early or should they stay under glass?

[Pheo]

What’s the average night time temp where you are? That’s what tends to slow them down a lot apparently, if it’s too low. Same with dahlias

[PositronicRay]

Pheo said:

What’s the average night time temp where you are? That’s what tends to slow them down a lot apparently, if it’s too low. Same with dahlias

Around 10c.

[Jambo85]

PositronicRay said:

I'm pleased with the tomatoes.

Looking good!!

[Yorkshire Dangermouse]

Pheo said:

What’s the average night time temp where you are? That’s what tends to slow them down a lot apparently, if it’s too low. Same with dahlias

So....to deal with my greenhouse being too hot during the day (albeit with auto-vents), and cool overnight, I cobbled together a ventilation system using plastic waste pipe. Small solar panel running a fan at the top of the greenhouse routing the warm air down into the bottom of the fixed raised bed. Rubble filled at the bottom that retains the heat into the evening.

Works well in stabilising the temperature.

[227bhp]

Cause for celebration this week, my first ever ripe tomato



Won't be getting full on that, but it's a start

[PositronicRay]

227bhp said:

Cause for celebration this week, my first ever ripe tomato



Won't be getting full on that, but it's a start

Mine are miles off, how early did you start and do you have a heated greenhouse?

At the moment my Toms are in largish pots, greenhouse has a concrete base. Next Yr I'll try building some semi perment beds. Some 40l rubble buckets, a few holes and sit on bricks, will give me a decent volume.

[227bhp]

PositronicRay said:

227bhp said:

Cause for celebration this week, my first ever ripe tomato



Won't be getting full on that, but it's a start

Mine are miles off, how early did you start and do you have a heated greenhouse?

At the moment my Toms are in largish pots, greenhouse has a concrete base. Next Yr I'll try building some semi permanent beds. Some 40l rubble buckets, a few holes and sit on bricks, will give me a decent volume.

Yes you need somewhere warm and light, like a heated conservatory that's part of the house
I started them in there at the end of Feb I think and have brought on a few more since at different intervals so I get (in theory) an even crop throughout the year. I've got some outside bush type which are maybe 4 - 6 weeks old now and I think are just about starting to bud, they're still inside, the rest (those in the pic) are outside in a cheapo polythene thing.
If you have them in pots then obviously you can move them around, if we get a Summer like last year then outside, if it's like this year then inside. Speed them up? Inside. Slow them down - outside. A lot of dicking around I know, but you can control them to a certain extent if you have the facilities and time.

I dug the ground over to loosen it then scooped out a hole, maybe a foot diameter and a foot deep, filled with bought bagged compost then stuck them in that.
In theory (again) if i'm not there for a couple or few days they should be ok as the surrounding soil keeps them moist. In practice though (as it's my first go) it's difficult to know how much water to give them. You can't give them too much that's for sure as they're heavy drinkers, but I am left wondering if I should be watering them every day when the soil still looks wet, but better that way than the other.
I banked the soil up around them so I just fill it up like a pool and let it drain down to the roots.
Are you feeding yours? They need some of that as well as plenty of water. Also keep nipping the useless shoots out, post up a close pic of yours if you aren't sure which they are or haven't done it.

[PositronicRay]

I'm feeding twice a week, watering most days. The leaves tell me if they need water, even if the composts damp.

They're in 15-20 ltr pots.

[227bhp]

PositronicRay said:

I'm feeding twice a week, watering most days. The leaves tell me if they need water, even if the composts damp.

They're in 15-20 ltr pots.

When they get fruit on them that may be too late and it'll damage the toms. I used the time before the fruit formed to learn what they wanted and when.

[48k]

Went to Madrid for 4 days. Came home to Day of the Triffids





I wasn't expecting everything to grow. I planted all the seeds expecting quite a few failures. 6'4' greenhouse is not big enough

The trouble I've got is that the biggest plants are the ones that need to stay in the greenhouse.

The tomatoes are Tumbling Toms - can they go outside?



Also do I need to truss up the cucumbers somehow so that the weight of the cucumbers doesn't break the plants?

[PositronicRay]

48k said:

Went to Madrid for 4 days. Came home to Day of the Triffids





I wasn't expecting everything to grow. I planted all the seeds expecting quite a few failures. 6'4' greenhouse is not big enough

The trouble I've got is that the biggest plants are the ones that need to stay in the greenhouse.

The tomatoes are Tumbling Toms - can they go outside?



Also do I need to truss up the cucumbers somehow so that the weight of the cucumbers doesn't break the plants?

I'm keeping all my Toms inside, the flavour seemed better last yr.

[Sticks.]

Great stuff. I'd pick those cucumbers. I always pick the first ones a bit smaller.

[Skyedriver]

Sticks. said:

Great stuff. I'd pick those cucumbers. I always pick the first ones a bit smaller.

Monty said pic the courgettes small, guess the same with cucumbers
I missed a few courgettes last year, ended up with great big marrows.....

And I'm jealous as while we are munching strawberries and the toms have started to flower, they are only about 500mm high and the cucumber about 300mm.

[Dr Mike Oxgreen]

48k said:

I wasn't expecting everything to grow. I planted all the seeds expecting quite a few failures. 6'4' greenhouse is not big enough

A greenhouse is never big enough, in much the same way that you never have enough guitars/motorbikes/cars/power tools.

48k said:

The tomatoes are Tumbling Toms - can they go outside?

Not yet. It’s too early for tomatoes to go outside. In the south we’re pretty much clear of frost risk now, but even so it’s still too early for outdoor toms. The cold nights will stop them growing. Wait until the nights are consistently above about 8 or 9 °C. Probably another 2 or 3 weeks at a guess - longer if you’re up north. We’re nearly there - patience, young padawan!

Edited by Dr Mike Oxgreen on Wednesday 5th June 21:54

[227bhp]

Skyedriver said:

And I'm jealous as while we are munching strawberries and the toms have started to flower, they are only about 500mm high and the cucumber about 300mm.

Are you in Construction, Engineering or something similar?

[Fermit and Sexy Sarah]

We're picking up this 48x12ft bad boy on Tuesday, excited.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/greenhouse-48ft-X-12ft-...



We have two adjoining allotments, one diagonally behind the other. The back one, where this will go is probably quarter of an acre, and this is going to be a perfect fit. The front allotment is full of raised beds, a regular greenhouse, and two sheds.

This will be for planting and growing in the colder months, and for big grow items, marrow, toms, pumpkins, whatever we want.

Can anyone link the 2019 allotment thread, as it's coming along nicely now, and I'll share some overall plot pics. Bloody useless PH search facility!

[Fermit and Sexy Sarah]

Dr Mike Oxgreen said:

48k said:

I wasn't expecting everything to grow. I planted all the seeds expecting quite a few failures. 6'4' greenhouse is not big enough

A greenhouse is never big enough, in much the same way that you never have enough guitars/motorbikes/cars/power tools.

Edited by Dr Mike Oxgreen on Wednesday 5th June 21:54

Is the above posted big enough?

[227bhp]

Fermit and Sexy Sarah said:

We're picking up this 48x12ft bad boy on Tuesday, excited.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/greenhouse-48ft-X-12ft-...


We have two adjoining allotments, one diagonally behind the other. The back one, where this will go is probably quarter of an acre, and this is going to be a perfect fit. The front allotment is full of raised beds, a regular greenhouse, and two sheds.

This will be for planting and growing in the colder months, and for big grow items, marrow, toms, pumpkins, whatever we want.

Can anyone link the 2019 allotment thread, as it's coming along nicely now, and I'll share some overall plot pics. Bloody useless PH search facility!

This is one of those occasions when you report back after you've done it, not before.