The Greenhouse Thread

[Sticks.]

Comacchio said:

I don't think they are self pollinating in the end - lots of the female flowers started to grow what looks like cucumbers but they've mostly all withered at the same size they were when flowering. I'm leaving a few male flowers to open then will nip them off and try to hand pollinate any female flowers that are left.

Lesson for next year to buy decent seeds that are from a self pollinating plant!

Sorry, I've only ever done the F1 hybrids, and have up with seeds years ago as I only want 4nor 5 plants. I looked to see which full size variety I'd bought but didn't keep the label it seems.

[Evoluzione]

Comacchio said:

I don't think they are self pollinating in the end - lots of the female flowers started to grow what looks like cucumbers but they've mostly all withered at the same size they were when flowering. I'm leaving a few male flowers to open then will nip them off and try to hand pollinate any female flowers that are left.

Lesson for next year to buy decent seeds that are from a self pollinating plant!

Greenhouses being what they are you should have plenty of insects in there to do it.

[Evoluzione]

Toms doing well and some just starting to get some colour on the first truss:



Something a bit different doing well:





Getting too many of these:



Unsure why, but have read it might be low nighttime temperatures.

A few French beans showing now:



Calamondin stepped up a gear when I repotted it and has a couple of buds on it now:



And as the train rolls into the station that's all for now....

[Sticks.]

Looking good. Yes it had been chilly at night and .y cucumbers have done something similar to your courgettes.

Had 3 of these this week but gave my cleaner one (ooer missus etc).



Not done full size for years, tasted good.

[Comacchio]

I’ve just been nipping the male flowers off the plant, ripping the petals off and hand pollinating any female flowers that are open - as a result now have a few cukes on the go. Although the plague of slugs we have in the garden have found their way across and started nibbling away at them. Also have the tiniest little tomato growing in the other pop up greenhouse thing we have.





I think if we get a couple of tomatoes and cucumbers I’ll be able to justify getting an actual greenhouse next year once the patio is laid….

[Evoluzione]

Right now you could be starting off some crops which will overwinter in the greenhouse, or at least start now and put in there when the toms have finished for an extended Autumn crop. Winter lettuce is an obvious one.

Kohlrabi is maybe another, i'm just harvesting our first ones:




Just shifted some celery outside to fill in the gaps left by slugs and rabbits, will see how it does:



Have started off carrots, Spring onion and radish.

Made the decision to nip the top growing shoot out of all the toms, I think they've set enough trusses for this year now. We're still eating 2020s chutney...

[LeadFarmer]

The sunflowers I grew from seed in my greenhouse are now 9ft tall and just beginning to flower..

[Jambo85]

Sunflowers looking great!

Does anyone have any idea what might be happening to one of my cucumber plants? Last few cucumbers have all been like this - skin damaged, sap leaking through and crystallising (the orange stuff you see):


I found this little beetle thing hanging out on the plant, so removed him in case he was the culprit:



Any thoughts?

[48k]

Hello 2023 greenhousers!

Has anyone fired theres up yet or considered doing so?

Mine needs a bit of TLC, probably a job for this weekend.



Will dig out the heater and get that set up. My Govee thermometer also needs a new battery. I've got a first set of tomato seeds that I will start off indoors that will probably go out to the greenhouse at the beginning of next month. Will probably end up doing cucumbers again, and that will probably be my lot for the greenhouse as it is only small.

Share your plans!

[M1AGM]

I cleaned out the greenhouse and polytunnel last week. I’m going to do toms again in the greenhouse starting next month I reckon, and cucumbers, french beans and lettuce in the poly tunnel. Last year I tried a lot more in the polytunnel and most of it never got eaten by the family (wife kept ‘forgetting’ there was produce available).

[droopsnoot]

I'm gradually trying to clear out quite a few years worth of clutter from mine, without just transferring it to another place where it will sit for a few more. Plenty of plastic stuff to go in the recycling as it's gone brittle. I envy yours, 48k, I have wild sweetpeas growing through mine that I need to try to cut back, but it means getting absolutely everything out of it.

[Backtothenorth]

14 ft x 8 ft Rhino (thank you for recommendations on here) arriving and being installed last week in March.
V excited !!

[Jambo85]

Has anyone got any recommendations on plastic panes for greenhouses? I’ve inadvertently created a wind tunnel between my garage and gable end of the greenhouse, and in windy weather the gable flexes and the glass breaks. I’d like to replace the latest breakage with plastic, can anyone advise on suppliers; required thickness; best material (acrylic, polycarbonate etc.) and best way to fit it to a greenhouse originally made to take glass?

It’s a north facing gable close to a wall, so light transmission and solar gain are basically irrelevant.

Thanks.

[M1AGM]

Jambo85 said:

Has anyone got any recommendations on plastic panes for greenhouses? I’ve inadvertently created a wind tunnel between my garage and gable end of the greenhouse, and in windy weather the gable flexes and the glass breaks. I’d like to replace the latest breakage with plastic, can anyone advise on suppliers; required thickness; best material (acrylic, polycarbonate etc.) and best way to fit it to a greenhouse originally made to take glass?

It’s a north facing gable close to a wall, so light transmission and solar gain are basically irrelevant.

Thanks.

There’s a few polycarbonate panel suppliers online that do bespoke sizes and thicknesses. I’d measure the glass thickness and get a poly sheet of the same depth, its very strong stuff. Could possibly use a clear sealant to fix it in?

[Peanut Gallery]

I have recently replaced nearly all my plastic panes with glass, the plastic would glex enough with the wind to pop out from under the clips. All panes now have 3 clips per side.

Depending on your location, how about some of those double walled plastic sheets? Gain some insulation while you can!

[Jambo85]

M1AGM said:

Jambo85 said:

Has anyone got any recommendations on plastic panes for greenhouses? I’ve inadvertently created a wind tunnel between my garage and gable end of the greenhouse, and in windy weather the gable flexes and the glass breaks. I’d like to replace the latest breakage with plastic, can anyone advise on suppliers; required thickness; best material (acrylic, polycarbonate etc.) and best way to fit it to a greenhouse originally made to take glass?

It’s a north facing gable close to a wall, so light transmission and solar gain are basically irrelevant.

Thanks.

There’s a few polycarbonate panel suppliers online that do bespoke sizes and thicknesses. I’d measure the glass thickness and get a poly sheet of the same depth, its very strong stuff. Could possibly use a clear sealant to fix it in?

Cheers - I've referred to the greenhouse's manual (https://hallsgreenhouses.com/media/23370/magnum-1-02-28-11-2022.pdf) , it was available for purchase with polycarbonate but I went for glass. On page 33, it's piece 'J' I've gone for, to replace the 3xC + F on page 30. For some reason the polycarbonate sheets can be wider but checking my frame that looks tight.

Manual seems to suggest the same 'W' clips can be used but they also show a channel of sorts for the bottom edge. Suspect I'll get some silicone sealant involved as you suggest!

Even with shopping around I've ended up at £72 for that one sheet!! Tomatoes better be good this year!!

[Sticks.]

I know glass has gone up in price but have you checked it's not cheaper? I had to replace a toughened 4'x2' (the wind blew it out) and I thought it was £30 something.

Halls sell it direct but a local DIY/glass supplier could cut you a piece.

[Jambo85]

Sticks. said:

I know glass has gone up in price but have you checked it's not cheaper? I had to replace a toughened 4'x2' (the wind blew it out) and I thought it was £30 something.

Halls sell it direct but a local DIY/glass supplier could cut you a piece.

Glass is indeed considerably cheaper - £7 for a 610x610mm pane. I just can’t be arsed with constantly replacing it and picking shards out of the gravel, especially with dog and soon to be mobile kids. Despite my protests, price is secondary!

[Sticks.]

Fair enough. If it's not letting light in as such, maybe do something with ply wood etc add some protective coating.

[PositronicRay]

I just use thin-walled polycarbonate sheets. As glass breaks, just cut some to size and fix in with std w clips.

Not pretty, but seems to work.