12 April 2008
Greenhouses are great!
Posted by Kate under: Fruit & Vegetables; Smallholding .
For the last three weeks we’ve been busy in the greenhouse propagating seeds, ready to fill our new raised beds, the first two weeks were frustrating with nothing showing it’s head, but this week even with a few days of hail and snow, our little unheated glasshouse stayed toasty, so much so that almost overnight trays full of seedlings appeared. Artichokes, tomatoes, courgettes, cucumbers, peppers, lettuce, leeks, sprouts, and herbs
I don’t know about anyone else, but for me there’s nothing more relaxing than being in a nice warm greenhouse, rain pouring down outside, with a nice cup of tea, a deckchair and veg book to hand, contemplating the next packet of seeds.
With the local village plant sale next month, I have become increasingly aware that there are many more bustling greenhouses in our village than had previously occurred to me, several of which I have visited in an attempt to pick up tips or just goggle at the array of vegetables and flowers being grown, I had always been led to believe that gardeners held their secrets of success close to their chest, but around here they seem positively bursting to share tips.
Plant your garlic in December, Onions in January, use vermiculite to prevent damping off, use old loo rolls as seed pots on a layer of newspaper, plant celeriac in peat pots with a 50/50 mix of vermiculite and soil topped with a thin layer of vermiculite, thin out and plant pot directly in soil (I am definitely trying this one). Plant carrots in drainpipes, plant tomatoes in old buckets or tins rather than grow bags as retain moisture better, parsnips like sand, use nets for supporting pumpkins, the list goes on.
8 Comments so far...
colour it green Says:
12 April 2008 at 10:36 pm.
yup - I’m with you - i ove my time in the greenhouse. It’s amazing what a difference they make, unheated and all.. I am pulling radishes from the border of mine at the mo. Himself doesn’t like ‘fiddling with seedlings’ so blissfully, it’s left to me.
Interesting what you have learned about celeriac.. have to see how you get on.. mine failed last year and this year I am trying again, but again in modules. if you way works I will have to switch!
Lucy Says:
13 April 2008 at 12:16 am.
greenhouses are indeed great, although I have yet to grow anything in mine. The hens are using it as their makeshift conservatory, for sitting, eating and general preening when the weather outside is a bit too yukky for their liking. However, my own conservatory has been doubling as a greenhouse, and whilst my peppers have yet to emerge, it seemed like my tomatoes shot up overnight after a couple of days of blissful warmth in there. I spent a while this morning potting up more tomatoes than I need. I’m still waiting on the aubergines too…but if they are as successful I think I’ll have to flog some from the ‘garden gate’ as we’re not as lucky as you. No village plant sales here as yet!
N. & J. Says:
13 April 2008 at 9:43 pm.
Lacking a greenhouse I haven’t experienced it on a rainy day but I enjoy checking out my window seedlings and find it to be a very relaxing past time.
Poppy Says:
14 April 2008 at 3:29 pm.
Hi Richard, don’t know if you play blog games but I got ‘tagged’ the other day and as I read your blog I have ‘tagged’ you, hope you don’t mind, the questions are on my blog dated the 13th April
Cottage Smallholder Says:
18 April 2008 at 10:43 am.
I’m off to buy vermiculite right now, thanks for the tip. We had a lot of problems with damping off last year.
paula Says:
20 April 2008 at 12:17 pm.
Are those courgettes I spy or cucumbers? So cold have the nights and mornings been that all our ‘delicate’ seedlings have been spending the night in front of the aga. Courgettes have failed even though in the greenhouse in pots covered up with thick paper and glass at night to keep the warmth in. The only thing that’s come up successfully is the mizuma(?). We are also very wet, but that’s an occupational hazzard around here.
Grass is not growing at all this spring - well it is in the garden as usual!
susi Says:
1 June 2008 at 8:51 pm.
Hello again,
No posts for ages - have you given this up?
Best regards.
Jo Knight Says:
13 June 2008 at 2:02 pm.
Hi folks -
hope everything’s OK & you’re just rushed off your feet as we are here. It’s a busy time & I hope your veggies are motoring, menagerie are bouncing in the fields & you yourselves are well, happy & enjoying your very ‘proper’ farm!
Best wishes -
Jo.