Total Newbie!

[Darren91]

Hi there everyone just starting out now!
Only bought one of those 4 tier plastic growhouses as a starting point.
I dont really have much if any experience gardening except helping my grandad out in his greenhouse now and then.
Just wondering if anyone has any tips on easy things to grow and general tips and tricks please
All help will be appreciated!

[Newton]

Welcome Darren. Stick around and read posts on the vine. What I did today gives great clues as to what you should be dong.

You will learn much and get addicted........Good luck with the season......and with your Blowaway......

[Currysniffa]

Hello Darren welcome to the vine Make sure you secure you blow-away to a fence or something, they don't call them blow-away's for nothing! I still use mine and they go over at least once a year

[Darren91]

Yes so far thats all im reading that they are gonna blow over haha! Im gonna get it up and secured outside problys tomorrow. Is there anything inparticular i should put it on top of or is blockpaving fine?

Also problys gonna go with trying things like tomatos, chillis and herbs so will read up on them also.
Thanks for the replys x

[veggiechicken]

Hi Darren and welcome! There is a lot of information on here to help you and when you get really stuck or confused, just ask!

[taff]

oh dear, it's too late for you. You ar enow an addict. And best batten down the hatches on that greenhouse, they aren't called blowaways for nothing and welcome

ahhh....I see someone has already written the above and we are singing form the same page

[francesbean]

Don't forget some fruit - buy a few strawberry plants they don't take up too much space and you won't regret it. (assuming you like strawberries that is !)

francesbean

[Newton]

Darren

Chillis need a bit of heat to get them goingand have a long growing season. They germinate over a constant 20 degrees.....ideally more! Get them in a on a warm windowsill or in a heated propagator ASAP.

[di]

Hi Darren, I've got a couple of paving slabs sat on the bottom shelf of mine....didn't have any blow away incidents last year.

All the best.

[Two_Sheds]

What I did today gives great clues as to what you should be dong.

...

That sentence would make more sense with a link

[Kaiya]

Welcome!

I'm sure I will regret saying this but I have two blowaways and despite my garden being a wind tunnel, so far they haven't blownaway. They aren't secured; I have a bag of compost in the 3-tier, and the four tier has a stone pot in the bottom, both are against the house and not in the wind-tunnel area. I love my blowaways - the 3-tier is about 2-3 years old and the polythene, though still fundamentally ok is noticeably harder/more brittle than the new one, and the zip is damaged so it doesn't quite seal. That is my cold frame. The other zips properly and is fleece lined, so is my 'as-close-to-a-greenhouse-as-I-can-get' one. I use them for seedlings in spring, and then take the middle shelves out and use them for tomatoes/chillis (maybe an aubergine this year) for the rest of the year. Taking the shelves out is optional, the plants will grow through them, but you'll have to destroy the plant to remove it.

For easy growing, try courgettes (not 25 like I did - you only need a few). They are so satisfying! You just - grow them!

[PMW]

I would also recommend courgettes. They were one of the first things I tried a couple of years ago and was very pleased with the 70-80 courgettes from 2 plants. Not so successful last year though when I tried them in pots as I think its difficult to keep up with the watering they need.

A useful tip I was given last year for starting off chillis was to germinate them in damp kitchen roll inside a sealed plastic bag in the airing cupboard. It worked well last year and I have just done the same again and also tried it with sweet peppers this time. As soon as they sprouted (about 5/6 days) I have sown them into an unheated propagator on a warm window.

[Florence Fennel]

Whereabouts in the country are you Darren? It helps us when giving advice if you pop your location into your profile. I had 3 blowaways that blew away. They had sandbags on the bottom shelf. All 3 bases were left standing after a gale, but the rest of the shelves and the covers took to the air. I now have a stayput attached to the wall, but a few of the panes have been blown through already. I'm just unlucky I guess. Good luck with your growing, you'll soon become addicted if you're not already!

[Florence Fennel]

Oops sorry - Welcome to the Vine Darren!

[vanessa m]

I bought one last year and they are terrible for blowing make sure you have it secured. I hope you dont live somewhere that is a bit windy