I've got an urge to buy a greenhouse

[Greedo]

and start growing stuff this year. Tomatos etc....

Really fancy trying it. Think it was the talk of growning chillis in my Indian food thread the other day.

Mrs Greedo has come to not be surprised by anything i do but last night found when I mentioned this highly amusing as she reckons it will take a bit more effort than I think it will.

Who's right??

Me? as i don't think it will be that difficult or mrs Greedo?

 

[MacB]

Will the greenhouse have internet access?, no, then go for it

 

[accountantpete]

Putting the greenhouse up - nightmare

Keeping the Tomatoes watered but not over-watered - nightmare

Feeding the tomatoes - nightmare*

Keeping the bugs off tomatoes - nightmare

Tying the plants and pinching off unwanted shoots - nightmare.

Other than that it's plain sailing


*actually Tomorite and a weekly dose of epsom salts should do the trick

 

[Greedo]

Will the greenhouse have internet access?, no, then go for it

I'll get a wireless router to just annoy you

I'll PM you also every day with pictures to keep you up to date with the growing progress.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Knowing you Greedo, it won't be any old greenhouse

 

[Arch]

Growing stuff is easy.

Growing stuff well, takes some effort. Most people could probably get a few tomatoes, but to get plenty, you'll need to make sure you keep up with the watering, maybe the odd feed, checking for pests, keeping plants supported. Try and grow more than a couple of things and it helps to be organised about sowing, thinning etc... For a start, buy plants rather than trying to grow tomatoes from seed - way less bother.

Before you invest in a full scale greenhouse, think about one of those metal framed clear plastic 'tents' you can get - cheap, take up little room, but have enough space for a couple of tomato plants in a gro-bag, or several things in pots. Or plant a tumbling cherry tomato type in a hanging basket. I'd certainly have a season to see if you enjoy it, before forking out on a full greenhouse. Start with a few easy veg, see what seems worth the effort, and what doesn't. Salad leaves are good, as you can harvest a few at a time as you need them. Tomato plants are dead easy to get hold of, maybe peppers too? And you can't beat peas fresh from the pod.

 

[Greedo]

Knowing you Greedo, it won't be any old greenhouse

nah that's a bit too fussy.

I'm going for this one

 

[upsidedown]

Start small with one of those 4 shelf plastic things a couple of feet wide and see how you get on.
We bought a full size glass greenhouse, it was like walking into a blast furnace in the middle of summer, ended up whitewashing the windows to cool it down. Then you have to warm it up in winter.

Then there's the slugs, and the bugs.
Ours ended up on freecycle, bloody thing.

 

[MacB]

MacB searches online for seeds to a giant man eating venus fly trap, he's in a giving mood

 

[Amanda P]

Putting the greenhouse up - nightmare

Keeping the Tomatoes watered but not over-watered - nightmare

Feeding the tomatoes - nightmare*

Keeping the bugs off tomatoes - nightmare

Tying the plants and pinching off unwanted shoots - nightmare.

Other than that it's plain sailing


*actually Tomorite and a weekly dose of epsom salts should do the trick

Go for a polytunnel. A doddle to put up, and a useful overflow storage space for bikes during the winter. Immune to neighbours' children's footballs.

Keeping it watered: get a watering timer and a dripper system. You can now go on holiday and the plants will be alive when you get back.

Feeding: Pull up a barrowload of nettles. Put 'em in a barrel and fill it up with water. Two weeks later you have 20 gallons of really stinky but excellent tomato food.

Bugs? Grown tomatoes for years and never had any trouble.

Tying the plants and pinching out the axial buds is not a major chore - once a week will do it. If you don't pinch out the buds, you'll get bushes rather than vines, but you'll still get tomatoes.

Try "sweet millions" cherry tomatoes. Fantastic flavour. We were still eating ours at Christmas.

 

[fossyant]

Will the greenhouse have internet access?, no, then go for it

Erm...probably - wireless....laptop...sorted for a couple of hours.......

 

[threebikesmcginty]

MacB searches online for seeds to a giant man eating venus fly trap, he's in a giving mood

Any good?

 

[rich p]

You haven't got the patience needed, you big yang.
Every time you should be watering, dead-heading and pinching out the sideshoots you'd be away on your bike......

.......oh, hang on a minute

 

[Slowgrind]

I aquired a second hand greenhouse last summer. In the last few months I read all the books bought the seeds, this week bought some fresh compost! I'm ready for action at the end of the month. Seed potatoes are chitting in the shed. I think it's called the good life?

 

[Twenty Inch]

keep an eye on the temp in the shed, not too late for frosts still.