Do we need a greenhouse?

**Jono** · 15-02-2011, 01:44 PM

Originally posted by alim0229 View Post

We're a young couple trying to get into growing our vegetables. We are complete newbies, looking into it all and reading up it seems February and March are good months to get going, so to speak. We're planning on perhaps trying some potatoes in bags, spinach, onions, courgettes, tomatoes, chilli, runner beans, peas and carrots. We may try some fruit also, perhaps raspberries and strawberries.

Lots of people seem to recommend a greenhouse, especially to get things growing from seed and then once established to plant outdoors. Also, I understand tomatoes greatly benefit from a greenhouse.

What is the general advice here? Are greenhouse mainly best left to a few years down the road or is it best to buy one as soon as one can afford it to enhance the whole experience. I would be grateful for any advice you all can offer

Thanks

Maj

Hi Maj,

Welcome to the forum.

Personally, I'd leave it for this year at least, and concentrate on growing outdoors. I thought of getting a greenhouse, but glad I didn't as found there was enough to remember to begin with!

You can always start seeds off on windowsills or in a cold frame.

Be useful if you added your location to your profile, then we'll be able to see how mild where you live is.

Jono.

**alim0229** · 15-02-2011, 01:55 PM

Sorry, my fault. We're based in Worcestershire. For growing on window sill, we have a spare south facing bedroom. If I use the window sill and turn the central heating radiator off (which is located directly beneath the window sill) will this work. Do I need a heated propagator?

**Hazel at the Hill** · 15-02-2011, 02:02 PM

Do you need a greenhouse? No. It's nice, but you don't need one, and certainly not yet. I wouldn't bother until you are a year or two down the line - there will be so much going on to do/remember as novices, that you can prob do without the extra hassle.

The only things that a greenhouse (or indoor growing) will be essential for, I reckon, will be chili peppers and aubergines. Tomatoes will be fine outdoors as long as you choose an outdoor variety.

Oh - and I wouldn't sow anything until April - march at the earliest - early sowing is generally a faff as the seedlings will need some degree of cosseting, and most things catch up anyway.

Welcome to the Vine.

**Suky** · 15-02-2011, 02:34 PM

I started with a 'blowaway' walk in greenhouse (a vine expression for a plastic mini house, one of several styles). I grew tomatoes and peppers very successfully in mine. They are often on offer in GC's. Then I was lucky enough to have a relative who gave me her small 6x6 glasshouse. You don't 'need' a greenhouse but if you would like one join Freecycle/Freegle and ask or keep your eyes open for one being offered in your area.

**Amanda1** · 15-02-2011, 02:43 PM

I know I'm bucking the trend but as a novice the first thing I did was buy a greenhouse (second hand off ebay for �58). I think it made things so much easier by having one than if I was relying on variables such as warm weather/sunny days etc. It's unheated so I still had to take these variables into account but I don't think I would have had such a success rate without a greenhouse. I've now also got a plastic greenhouse which I use as a coldframe and I'm looking to buy a bigger one so I can grow more plants like aubergines/indoor tomatoes/chillies. I know lots of people manage without one but I see it as essential for my way of growing things anyway. And it did make it much more enjoyable for me. I love spending rainy April evenings potting up seedlings in my warm and cosy greenhouse. It's alot more hassle to do this type of thing if you have no where to do it and are relying on the weather being good to do it. If money is a problem try ebay like I did. I certainly didn't have �500 to spend (and I still don't) but for my first year of growing it was the best �58 I spent

**Two_Sheds** · 15-02-2011, 03:13 PM

Originally posted by alim0229 View Post

We're planning on perhaps trying some potatoes in bags, spinach, onions, courgettes, tomatoes, chilli, runner beans, peas and carrots. ...perhaps raspberries and strawberries.

Out of that list, the only things that would need a greenhouse are the toms and chillies

I've been growing veg for 15 years and only got my greenhouse last year (although I did have the little plastic blowaways to use as coldframes. I hate them though, the plastic covers barely last a season before they rip to shreds)

**Aberdeenplotter** · 15-02-2011, 03:24 PM

If you can afford a greenhouse, it is definitely much better to have one. It will allow you to extend the growing season for a number of crops and really is a must for tomatoes, cucumber and peppers.

A greenhouse does need a bit of attention daily though so bear that in mind. Crops grown outside will adapt to water shortages and such like but in the extreme heat which can be generated in a greenhouse, regular daily watering is a must.

I have three greenhouses at home, another at my allotment and yet another one there waiting for the weather to improve before I erect it.

I have managed to get all of them without paying a penny for them, indeed I have only had to buy the odd packet of glazing clips and nuts n bolts. So keep your eyes peeled on freecycle and in the freebie advertising mags. I hope you get lucky

**teakdesk** · 15-02-2011, 03:37 PM

Tomatoes CAN grow well outside - Gardener's Delight do well for me in pots against a sunny wall - but in recent years many crops have been decimated by blight. Growing inside a greenhouse will not guarantee you are blight free but it goes a long way to preventing an attack.

However, perhaps the two most important factors about greenhouses are location and size. You probably need to study a potential site for a greenhouse over the whole season to make sure it is sunny enough and can be ventilated. Trees that seem small and not casting shade now will be like big, black umbrellas come mid-May.

You will also find that no matter what size house you buy you will soon need one larger!!!

Chillis - and cucumbers - do well in greenhouses but can be grown outside with a little protection from the elements.

Glazed doors and windows rescued from skips can make a valuable cold-frame for use as a greenhouse substitute.

.

**Aberdeenplotter** · 15-02-2011, 04:06 PM

Originally posted by teakdesk View Post

Tomatoes CAN grow well outside - Chillis - and cucumbers - do well in greenhouses but can be grown outside with a little protection from the elements.

Undoubtedly tomatoes can grow well outside and some years I even manage that up here in Aberdeen but the point is that they positively do very well under glass and the growing and ripening season is extended for them there and that is also so with peppers and cucumbers.

A point very well made about size. It doesn't matter how big your greenhouse is, it will never be big enough.

**teakdesk** · 15-02-2011, 04:37 PM

Originally posted by Aberdeenplotter View Post

... but the point is that they positively do very well under glass and the growing and ripening season is extended for them there and that is also so with peppers and cucumbers.

I wasn't disagreeing with you - you hadn't even posted when I started to type and I have only just seen that you posted just before me - in fact I completely agree with you.

However, my greenhouse is now shaded by a massive oak tree that has spread out and down in recent years, so my plants receive such a check in light levels that my tomatoes must be the exception that proves your rule.

The point I was making - but held back from making too strongly - was more about blight causing major disappointments for a lot of people who grow outside. Many people now only grow under glass.

Perhaps I should clarify: if you grow tomatoes outside you will probably get some fruit - so you don't need a greenhouse - but be prepared for disappointment. If you can afford a greenhouse and can site it well then I would wholeheartedly recommend that option as it will give you masses of lovely fruit over a long season.

.

**Aberdeenplotter** · 15-02-2011, 06:10 PM

Originally posted by teakdesk View Post

I wasn't disagreeing with you - you hadn't even posted when I started to type and I have only just seen that you posted just before me - in fact I completely agree with you.. .

Bummer when that happens, happened to me today earlier as well.

Originally posted by teakdesk View Post

However, my greenhouse is now shaded by a massive oak tree that has spread out and down in recent years, so my plants receive such a check in light levels that my tomatoes must be the exception that proves your rule.

My rule is based on the assumption that the plants will be given what they need to sustain themselves. Water and light being the bare minimum so you plants wouldn't thrive ouside in that location either in or out of a greenhouse.

Originally posted by teakdesk View Post

The point I was making - but held back from making too strongly - was more about blight causing major disappointments for a lot of people who grow outside. Many people now only grow under glass.

Perhaps I should clarify: if you grow tomatoes outside you will probably get some fruit - so you don't need a greenhouse - but be prepared for disappointment. If you can afford a greenhouse and can site it well then I would wholeheartedly recommend that option as it will give you masses of lovely fruit over a long season..

Both points very well made so indeed we seem to agree on almost everything.

**Snadger** · 15-02-2011, 07:07 PM

A greenhouse can be very 'tying'.

I wouldn't get a greenhouse unless you can get to it at least once EVERY DAY during the summer.

Having said that.......I have three!

**vegnut** · 15-02-2011, 07:21 PM

Originally posted by Snadger View Post

A greenhouse can be very 'tying'.

I wouldn't get a greenhouse unless you can get to it at least once EVERY DAY during the summer.

Having said that.......I have three!

I totally agree, you certainly need to water every day.
Most things have an alternative to growing in a greenhouse, for instance ridge cucumbers for outside growing, tomatoes as was stated earlier, there are some good outdoor varieties, and last year my lottie neighbour grew aubergines outside and they did better than my greenhouse ones.
The only thing that did very well in the greenhouse was chilli peppers and sweet peppers, that was a bumper crop and still have loads in the freezer.
Guess what i'm growing again this year

**Davyburns** · 15-02-2011, 11:48 PM

If you get a greenhouse, and I did from day one, cos its a great help, it also helps to cultivate neighbours, cos at some point, you will need them!

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