The Greenhouse
Why have a Greenhouse?
For flower and general decoration purposes, having a greenhouse will give you more the facilities for sowing your own seeds and starting them off earlier than if you were sowing directly into the soil. Thus savings are made by not buying plants already grown by a Garden Centre.
If you consider that a packet of seeds has up to 200 prospective plants and costs about £1.50 and centres are selling each plant fully grown for say £5 each - who's the winner ?
As far as vegetables go, the same theory applies, but having a greenhouse enables you to grow things you may not be able to in the open soil where our 'wonderful' climate is not so suited to them.
Again, it'll give you a head start with many vegetables and you'll be eating many things before the rest!
What type of Greenhouse?
Wooden, metal and PVC are the three main runners.
If you're feeling brave enough, a wooden one would be the easiest and these are held high by older vegetable growers who go back pre-man made etc. The drawback of course is the maintenance as, over time, wood will rot, possibly warp causing the grass to break.
Aluminium and steel frames are the most popular choice. They weather well and will last for years if looked after.
There are annoying little niggles sometimes where the doors will move a bit causing stiffness - but overall, the best choice.
Plastic is usually only used for more lightweight models, lean-to types and smaller in size.
Some can give a better effect if used with plastic 'glass' which bends and curved designs are often found when using this.
The only drawback is when the weather gets bad and the weaker structure may not like it much.
Size - it does matter!
I've two greenhouses (which I saved from people who were going to throw them away). One is 12' x 8' and the other 8' x 6'.
We tend to use the larger one for plants growing directly from the soil like tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, chillies etc. and the smaller one for more 'shelf work' in that we sow and start things off on staging.
For most people an 8' x 6' would be just right, but if you're going into production of chutney making etc., where you need 20 tomato plants or more - the bigger the better.
There are two expressions for greenhouses; Heated and Cold. The heated greenhouse is as stated, to use it through the winter for plants which would normally not survive outside. This is obviously more costly.
A cold greenhouse though, does not have to be redundant from October - February / March. Try putting some seeds in late August or September when you have room and just see if they come up. I've grown Carrots this way and harvested reasonably good ones in January!
During very hot weather you may have to shield the plants from the terrific heat caused by the sun blazing through the glass. There are various types of 'paint' you can put on, or look around the attic for some old net curtains which will do just as well.
You can also obtain automatic windows which will open when the greenhouse reaches a certain temperature and will ensure ventilation.
Cleaning the greenhouse is of utmost importance. After a long summer season or a damp Spring, much mould will build up on the glass and will infect your plants - especially tomatoes. I've seen a crop die almost overnight from this and it's heart breaking after all the work you've put into it.
Check out the greenhouse after very bad weather with high winds. You will often lose some of the holding spring clips as the wind gets under the glass and lifts it slightly.
If you haven't had one before, you'll be surprised at the joy it gives you. You'll find yourself tinkering around and becoming quite attached to your plants and watching them grow!
AND all the time you're doing that, you're not somewhere else spending money on less than useful things !
Cost effectiveness, saving money, reducing expenditure in the home and at play
