The Greenhouse Thread

[Gemini]

You have green fingers Enfys

[Daisy]

Enfys, that's great. I'm really struggling with most of my seeds this year, but at least we've got cucumber and melon growing, and I've put in my last few tomato seeds (fingers crossed) and will sow some more lettuce and salad leaves this week, and hope for the best. But they are old seeds, and old compost, so I suppose it's my own fault!

One of the melon plants should be ready for transplanting into a pot later this week if the weather stays warm enough.

[Gemini]

After 9, I repeat NINE years, OH has finally converted the wasteland behind the greenhouse into a raised vegetable bed. It only took a pandemic.

That corner is the last part of the garden to get the sun. I wanted a little Summer house there. I imagined us down there, glass of wine in hand, enjoying the summer evenings. OH said no as she was going to make a vegetable bed. At last she has!

[Daisy]

Gem, well done to S. It's a good time to start off a new project. I hope everything grows well.

I can see the dilemma though - summerhouse/glass of wine/relaxing at the end of the day versus healthy outdoor exercise (gardening)/fresh vegetables for the kitchen.

[Daisy]

After a disastrous year last year for the greenhouse, and giving up the allotment I decided the greenhouse had to go! It's the sunniest part of the garden and would make a nice seating area for much of the day. I offered it to DS1 to replace their very dilapidated polycarbonate greenhouse. They're in the process to redoing their garden after house alterations, and aren't sure if they want it or not. I didn't want to push them into making a decision, so I said they could have it whenever they wanted, or if they decide not to have it I'll get rid of it elsewhere, but no rush and no pressure.

So I decided to use it until its fate is decided - if DS and DIL have it they can have whatever is growing in there as well! So I've started some seeds off - tomatoes and French Marigolds mainly - and I've still got several banana plants and canna lilies in there sheltering from these frosty nights. I've put some seed potatoes in a potato bag, but they can stay outside. It's a slow start, but at least the first tomato plants look fairly healthy.

Today I sowed some dwarf runner beans, dwarf French beans and some more tomatoes - beefsteak ones this time. I don't want a lot of beans, just enough to put in some pots. Last year a kind neighbour gave me some Hestia runner beans, and the flowers were so pretty I decided to try growing them this year. I also sown some more Marigolds as the first sowing isn't doing very well.

The next urgent job though is to give the whole greenhouse a good wash and let some light in. It looks awful after the winter!

[Gemini]

Daisy, our greenhouse is looking pretty bare at the moment. We have had so many very cold nights that OH brought everything into the conservatory/playroom!

[Daisy]

Gem - I'm lucky enough to have a heated propagator for the seeds, and the tender plants have had fleeces on them as well as being in the greenhouse. I can't remember April nights ever being so cold for so long!

I'm sure your plants have appreciated being in the conservatory.

[Plantaholic]

My main use of my greenhouse was to grow the veg for OH to plant out in his veg garden, our greenhouse is more like a place for putting things in to save a walk to the shed. I went mad and bought some flower seeds so I shall have to tidy up and make some space. I am wondering about buying some tom plants to grow in a grow bag.

[Oma]

I do miss my Greenhouse but as our garden is so tiny we have no room ,

I do have a small wall between the Patio doors and the back door I may treat myself to a small little plastic lean too one for next year now we have a little boarder again

[Daisy]

Plant - we went to our local garden centre today and there were lots of lovely little vegetable plants for sale and more varieties of tomato plants than I've even seen.

Oma - I'm sure you'd enjoy a little lean-to greenhouse, and it might be useful if any of your garden plants are a bit tender.

[Nanto2girls]

Hubby found a packet of tomato seeds (dated 2016) in a cupboard in the shed.
He decided to start them off and they are coming on a treat.
Can't remember what variety they are.
He's also grown the sweetpeas from seed and they are doing great.
Got quite a few plants in the greenhouse that will go outside once the fear of frost is gone.

[Daisy]

Nanto - well done to your OH. I have sometimes had success with very out of date seeds, but they've never been as vigorous as fresh seed, so I think your OH has the magic touch. At the moment I've got plants spending the day out of doors, but going into the greenhouse at night.

[Gemini]

My OH has tried with out of date seeds. Some success, and some doing nothing! It's always worth planting I think, nothing to lose and it may work out!

[Daisy]

You're right, Gem. It's always worth giving them a go. But a bit disappointing when nothing at all comes up.