Do I need gravel trays in GH?

[Rossa]

I'm new to growing undercover. GH just arrived in boxes waiting for the next dry spell to be put together....what fun! Took one look at the "destructions" (well I am a girl) and know I'd need at least a sliderule, plumb line or some such thingy watsit to get it straight

Anyway I've read on this forum that things like tomatoes when grown in pots indoors should be stood in trays on gravel for watering and for humidity. Is this necessary or can I just water from the top and spray water around occasionally? I work from home so watering regularly isn't a problem.

If trays are the best way, does that also apply to other things like peppers, chilies, cukes and sweetcorn?

Any other equipment that you would say was essential? I have a couple of bits of staging otherwise everything will be standing on the concrete floor (unless I get the trays, of course).

[Tomatoking]

Hi Rossa
Congratulation on the new greenhouse. if you stand the pots in gravel is will give a slight water reserve as some of the roots will eventually grow down into it.
A lot of people who use this system water the gravel so the compost in the pot soaks up the water. and then feed only from the top.

I would alway recommend that you keep the top of the pot always moist anyway though.
Especially when your plants are still quite young.

Fine also for other plants, but sweetcorn is better grown outside.

Mr TK

[Sanjo]

I have one tomato in the greenhouse in a bottomless morrisons tub and this is placed on another morrisons tub with more compost in it. I feed the tomato from the top but water into the bottom pot. It's growing, but not what I would call rampant.
In the garden I have another 8 or so plants, in bottomless morrisons buckets some placed on trays of gravel and two on trays of sand.
They are very healthy looking, even if not much flower We went away for a few days and left the automatic watering system in charge and when we got back the trays were full of water. However, the pots themselves were not soaked and when I lifted one up the roots were out the bottom into the gravel. I am so pleased with the way it has worked that next year I shall not bother with the second pot of compost (which works out expensive if you have to buy it) but just sit the trays on gravel.

[rustylady]

I'm new to growing undercover. GH just arrived in boxes waiting for the next dry spell to be put together....what fun! Took one look at the "destructions"

I'm so glad someone else calls them destructions. What type of greenhouse is it, and will it stand on a concrete or slab base or on soil?

[Rossa]

Hi Rustylady. It's 6'x8' greenframe with twin walled polycarbonate glazing, 2 windows etc. Not branded, though the boxes say Jadebay Ltd, hence the price of �279 on eBay.

It has a base and from the destructions it looks like it has pegs out of the bottom of the base which I think is for holding it firm if placed on soil. I have a reasonably flat concrete hardstanding where a shed used to be and where I plan to site the greenhouse so won't use the pegs.

I've never built anything like this before so it will be interesting to see what happens. My Dad was going to supervise but it was too wet and windy when he came over last week and he's now on holiday for 2 weeks. So I'm going to have a go at putting the frames together ready to either "borrow" my neighbour's husband or wait until Dad gets back.