Raising seedlings in a mini-greenhouse?

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Right, I'm very much of a chuck it in and see what happens type of gardener. It seems to serve me pretty well as a rule, having just finished 7kg of tomatoes and 4 kg of runner beans, plus countless strawberries, herbs and other plants on my balcony.

However, as the balcony faces due east on the top of a hill, no direct sunlight after 11.30am at best and winds coming all the way from the Thames estuary with nothing taller to get between them and me, it gets a little chilly and dark.

I have been presented with one of those little plastic greenhouses which look rather like something I would pack my OH's suit in, on the grounds that I should be able to do even more with some warmth.

At present, I have a pot of greek basil, a pot of coriander and a tabby cat snoring contentedly in there. I have a couple of packets of winter lettuce and the leftovers from the freebies on magazines. We eat pretty much anything plant based in our house, but, as we only have a few square feet of space on the balcony to grow things, we have to prioritise the expensive/most consumed items. I already have sage, thyme, rosemary and mint in troughs hanging off the balcony railings. I also have the 2ft by 3ft by 18inches tub the tomatoes grew in and the 18in diameter tubs the beans grew in.

Every available windowsill and shelf in the flat is already occupied by plants, most of which are happily trying to multiply (anyone for 1 - 45 spider plants, 10 new African Violets, 22 money tree seedlings or 37 aloes?)

Other than just going with what I know, does anyone have some advice as to what I could do to get the most out of this unexpected (but very welcome) gift?

kimmi_b

Hi everyone, am delurking after reading some fab tips on this board to ask a question about growing veg in a mini-greenhouse.

My darling OH bought me a 4 tier greenhouse for Mothers Day which I managed to get put up and secured this weekend during the brief Sunday sunshine

I've currently got my herb planters in there (moved from kitchen windowsill), garlic, parsley, tomato seedlings which have been potted out of their propagator into individual pots plus various flowers which I am starting off before planting into the borders. Oh, I've also got a large tub with carrots in which I am using to help weigh down the greenhouse - should I move it back out into direct sunlight? They haven't started germinating yet Think the compost I bought from Lidl is a bit 'twiggy' compared to others I have had in the past so am now worrying that nothing will come of them

My garden is East facing, the greenhouse is facing the South so come 3pm the sun has completely gone round and it is back in the shade - are the plants going to be getting enough sunlight do you think?

Also, my tomato seedlings will need to be potted out again in a few weeks and I have no idea what to put them in - I have around 30 seedlings at the moment!! Plus a delivery of 10 free strawberry plants on the way and have no idea what to do with it all :eek:

I am now starting to panic that I have planted too much at once - is it possible to get the tomatoes and strawberrys into hanging baskets? I also

If anyone has any other hints for veg that can easily grow in a mini-greenhouse then I would love to hear your experiences. Although I won't necessarily be planting any more this year :rotfl:

robnye

try some lettuce leaves - mixed ones...... drop several seeds into some soil/compost - when about 2 inches high or smaller - separate into individual plants, either plant in a growbag of a large plant pot.

tomatoes will grow to big for hanging baskets. put 3/4 of them into a grow bag
30 seedlings is too many..... pot them up and offer them on local freecycle or local school for summer fete. (although saying that did the same as you lasat year....- this year i have got 5 growing.... i actually planted 10, but was playing the odds, so will give 3 of them away)

then about mid april, plant some more... that way when the first lot have finished you will have more on the go.

kimmi_b

Great thanks so much for your advice, will have a go at salad leaves as have just remembered that my Lakeland catalogue with free salad seeds shoudl be on the way!

chochot

Hi all, I don't have green fingers but my house plants mostly seem to survive! So I'm wondering about buying a mini greenhouse, I've seen them in Lidl, Argos and Wilkinsons - does anyone have any experience of them?

I would like to try growing lettuce, tomatoes and sweet peppers, not sure what else would be suitable or would that be its capacity?

Does the watering become tedious, not that I'm lazy or anything! If all you happy gardeners out there could give me any tips and advice that would be great....
I keep thinking of the cheaper and much tastier food.........

onetomany

i love mine had for two weeks , no not alot of watering about once a week, got toms,lettuce.pepers,chillis,sweetcorn,cucumber,water melons, straberrys, couliflour,brussels,beans,peas,carrots,runner beans,onions both spring and other, radish,courette,beetroot, herbs, thats all i can rember hope they turn out .

chochot

Wow, thats a lot of plants, I guess they are for planting on? Thanks for your reply, I'm a complete beginner so its good to know that you have had such a great crop from yours and lots of fun growing too. I just watched Gardeners World and see that the young seedlings keep having to be potted on into bigger pots as they grow...............
no short cuts then!

onetomany

just hoping they will turn out hun, we can only learn from our mistakes x

vegasvisitor

Hi

I am new to this section of moneysaving expert, and I am thinking about buying one of those frames with the plastic cover to try to grow some veggies.

Can anyone give me a rough guide to this? I'm wondering what I can plant in it, and how I would do this - ie do I need to put a grow bag on the bottom maybe, and then only pots on the higher shelves? I would hope to grow courgettes, rocket, chillies maybe strawberries. Any other suggestions welcome. If anyone has any advice please let me know.

Also, if anyone has seen any good mini greenhouses cheap anywhere let me know. I'm in Scotland, I notice a lot of people on here talk about some shops we don't have up here such as Wilkinson's. I'm have Tesco, Morrison's, Lidl, Poundstretcher, Poundland and Homebase handy. I saw some plants in Morrisson's that might do for starters... Will I have to keep the plants in the house just now? I can put the mini greenhouse up in a sheltered area, so shouldn't get frost.

Raspberry_Swirl

I have a 4-tier plastic greenhouse which I bought recently in Wilkinsons. I have seen the same thing in Argos but cost at elast £10 more.

Currently I have different salad leaves, radishes, spring onions, green beans, chillies and various herbs growing in pots. I started most of it off in seed trays and have just planted them on into their own pots.

You could have a grow-bag in the bottom, but then you'll need to take out a shelf which will reduce space for pots.

As the weather gets better i usually take the strong plants out and leave them outside so then you can start off more lettuce and other quick-growing plants.