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06-11-2007, 07:23 PM
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 Grow Your Own wants ........ ......... your hints, tips and advice on greenhouse care for the February issue of GYO. As usual the best comments will be published. I'm sure there are plenty of Grapes out there with some top tips! Many thanks.
__________________ ~ Aerodynamically the bumblebee shouldn't be able to fly, but the bumblebee doesn't know that so it goes on flying anyway. ~ Mary Kay Ash      |
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06-11-2007, 07:25 PM
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| Great thread Jennie. Can't wait to read the tips so I know what to do with my greenhouse over the winter months  |
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06-11-2007, 07:32 PM
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| Oh me too, only got the GH in May. The only thing I can suggest right now is buy much much bigger than you think you will need! I could use another two or three and I did not think I would fill this one  Mandy
__________________ No mater when time you set out, you always get there at the same time   |
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06-11-2007, 08:39 PM
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| If I had a greenhouse i would give it lots of care. 
__________________ Imagination is everything, it is a preview of what is to become. |
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06-11-2007, 09:13 PM
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| Hmm, greenhouse care! Once the growing crops are finished in autumn (or before you plant overwintering crops or spring sown crops) give it a really good clean, best to remove the glass and wash both it and the framing down with jeyes fluid to remove any biological spawn and ensure it is sterile for the next years growing. If you have beds in the greenhouse, then dig out the top 12" of soil from the beds every couple of years and replace with fresh, as this will prevent a build up of soil born pests that could wreak havoc with your crops. If not using the greenhouse beds overwinter, then cover with black plastic to prevent weed growth and retain your soils nutrients. Before the winter storms hit tighten all nuts and bolts and check the security of your glass, a little time spent now could save a lot of money in repairs and replacements later! If you want a coloured greenhouse, buy a plain aluminium one and hammerite it the colour of your choice before fitting the glass, keeps it looking good and saves a big amount of money over buying one thats been powder coated! If your greenhouse is sited in an exposed or windy location, then think about either bracing it with scaffolding or planting some windbreak plants around it to minimize the chances of wind damage! Ensure any trees near the greenhouse are trimmed of any damaged branches BEFORE the winter storms arrive! If you are in the market for a greenhouse, then keep an eye on freecycle, friday adz and in the local paper for greenhouses, as you may be able to get one for free! (We've got 2 for nothing so far!) If dismantling and moving a greenhouse, take plenty of piccies, write with a PERMANENT MARKER where each bit fits, soak all nuts and bolts in oil and remember you will probably need twice as many new z clips, w clips and new nuts and bolts as you think you will! Erm, thats all I can think of for now!
__________________ Blessings Suzanne (aka Mrs Dobby) 'Garden naked - get some colour in your cheeks'!  The Dobby's Pumpkin Patch - a blogspot work in progress! Last updated 26th November2008 - more new piccies! |
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06-11-2007, 10:12 PM
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| The overlaps on the glass tend to get green algae between them. If you have a pressure washer you could blast it out or if not, something like a plant label could be used to loosen it and then give it an upward blast with a hose! PS Or you could take the hose inside the greenhouse and give each joint a downward blast!
__________________ My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE) Last edited by Snadger; 06-11-2007 at 10:15 PM. |
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07-11-2007, 09:04 AM
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| dont forget the Loot, local papers and supermarkets have adverts, post office, dont bother with Ebay as it could work out expencive with all the nuts and bolts ex and expect to spent the day just taking one down and the next trying to put it back together
__________________ Some things in their natural state have the most VIVID colors Dobby |
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07-11-2007, 09:13 AM
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| We bought replacement nuts and bolts from ebay and saved ourselves a fortune |
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07-11-2007, 09:26 AM
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| Quote:
__________________ A garden is a lovesome thing, God wot! (Thomas Edward Brown) |
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07-11-2007, 09:48 AM
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| If I had a greenhouse, Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum. All day long I'd biddy biddy bum. If I had a greenhouse man. I wouldn't have to buy one. Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum. If I were a biddy biddy rich, Yidle-diddle-didle-didle man.
__________________ A simple dude trying to grow veg. http://haywayne.blogspot.com/ - Updated 30th November http://tickers.baby-gaga.com/p/dev036pr___.png |
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07-11-2007, 02:17 PM
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| The only greenhouse I've got is a small plastic one but even that's better than nothing & can be used to over winter slightly tender plants & harden off seedlings in the spring. A lot of people line their greenhouses with bubblewrap during winter but you have to remember to ventilate them on warmer days or the bubblewrap could cause condensation & sweating leading to mould on any plants in there. Check any plants regularly especially things like pelargonium cuttings which are prone to go mouldy if you're not careful & remove any damaged leaves.
__________________ Into every life a little rain must fall. |
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07-11-2007, 04:11 PM
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| As already mentioned paint an aluminium frame with hammerite to get the green powder coat effect. Also if its tucked into the corner of a garden you only need to paint the visible bits... Don't use the frame to support heavy fruit, instead get a trellis and install that. You can use the frame to keep it in position with taut wire etc. All the weight of heavy fruit such as cumcumbers or even melons will then go through the trellis to the ground, not via the frame. It also gives you more points to tie plants to. Smear vaseline on the door runners when they start to stick. Fill your watering can after you've watered. Leaving the full can inside the greenhouse allows it to warm to ambient temperature mimising root shock for warm plants. Obviously this applies everywhere but is maybe more important in the greenhouse.
__________________ http://plot62.blogspot.com/ |
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07-11-2007, 07:36 PM
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| Quote:
See Scarey walking around the house singing that now
__________________ A garden is a lovesome thing, God wot! (Thomas Edward Brown) |
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07-11-2007, 07:55 PM
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| Most important tip I've found is clean it before winter. Clear out spent plants, dropped leaves etc. Move everything you can outside and give the whole thing a good wash. Cleaning the glass/plastic admits maximum light which is essential during winter, and washing/disinfecting will deal with mould spores and plant diseases. When all clean and dry bring back overwintering plants. I don't heat my greenhouse and generally use it to overwinter fuchsias, pelargoniums etc, and also in early spring to germinate new seeds. Keep everything on the dry side, fuchsias and pelargoniums cope with cold and dry, but not cold and wet, which leads to rotting. Even if you heat your greenhouse you need to be aware that during winter light levels are lower, and too much heat/water combined with low light levels will lead to soft vulnerable growth. |
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08-11-2007, 10:01 AM
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| A good clear-out in late autumn/early winter also allows you to see where the little blighters (slug/snails) are hiding. I evicted one at the weekend when doing the border at one side.
__________________ Earth laughs in flowers. Ralph Waldo Emerson www.vegheaven.blogspot.com Updated November 30th - Mr Stinky's Excellent Adventure (and a Christmas Cake) |
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08-11-2007, 12:30 PM
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| If you don't grow crops in the sil in your greenhouse, i would suggest laying a floor of some description - we laid paving slabs as last winter some of my staging started sinking into the soil under the weight of all the overwintering plants and going skew-wif! having bare soil also meant there were loads of weeds popping up everwhere ready to wreak havok in spring. A level floor is safer for you to walk on, easier to clean (sweep up dropped compost and blast with a pressure hose), means your staging doesn't topple over (!) and provides a level base to stand heaters on in the colder months!
__________________ There's vegetable growing in the family, but I must be adopted  Happy Gardening! |
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08-11-2007, 12:43 PM
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| Quote:
__________________ Imagination is everything, it is a preview of what is to become. |
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08-11-2007, 10:59 PM
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| Sorry to hi-jack this thread a bit but...... Guess what I've got. A lovely noo 6x8 ft greenhouse. Now the only problem is where to put it and no, I don't want answers on a postcard.Looking forward to reading all about how to use it on this thread. You're next Lainey Lou
__________________ A garden is a lovesome thing, God wot! (Thomas Edward Brown) |
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08-11-2007, 11:06 PM
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| Quote:
NOW I'm jealous!
__________________ Hazel www.hazelandjanesallotment.blogspot.com update Sun 30/11/2008......Indoor Allotmenteering too!..... |
