Newbie

becky1657

So I have dabbled in growing stuff at home and I have inherited my mums green fingers. I grew tomato’s and strawberries last year with my then 2 year old and loved it. She ate the tomatoes and now loves them. 
So this year I’m keen to grow more and i’m looking at investing in a greenhouse. I have just planted some seeds tomato’s, cucumber, spring onion, peas, lettuce and peppers. 

Anyway less about me, I just want to know what’s worth investing in and what isn’t? A lean to or small non walk in green house or do I go for a walk in one? I would be looking at 6x4ft one, we have a reasonable sized back garden. I have the funds for a half decent one and like to as it will last.

compost bin? Do I need one? I have room. 
any tips welcome. I think with the potential of a summer stuck at home a lot I’m looking forward to having a hobby at home. 

Thanks in advance

-taff

You don't need a bin, just an area to make a heap. Bins are just either for containment or heating it up so it rots quicker.

Don't bother with plastic greenhouses or lean to ones, they're not worth the hassle, they blow away or tear. My advice would be to get the biggest good structurally sound one you can get [ with glass preferably or polycarbonate]. You will fill it up. You can either site on earth or concrete. If earth, dig it over a bit to loosen. If concrete, like me, I have deep sided trays filled with gravel. The pots go on top of the gravel which is levelled to the just under the top edge and I put water into the trays and the plants find it themselves which saves me over or under watering anything.

Davesnave

If you are handy, there are usually redundant aluminium greenhouses  going free or cheap on places like Freegle and Gumtree. They may look simple but if you are going to dismantle one, mark all the joints with your own letter/number system using a gardening pen. Then you'll stand a good chance of fitting it together again. Don't buy an already dismantled one unless you trust the owner and your ability with puzzles!

You'll probably have to replace some glass/polycarbonate but it's much cheaper than buying new. I got a 10' x 8' locally for nothing and the only extra it needed was more rubber jointing strip.

Farway

You may find Freggles etc are suspended with the CV19, around here they are

Davesnave

Gumtree isn't though, but getting a greenhouse is more of a long term aim to be thinking about, rather than an immediate decision. They take time to build when the base is taken into account.

For now, a plastic blow-away might be the only option, and unlike my neighbour's that became airborne last week,  if it's tied and weighted down really well who knows, it might even survive to become a frost protected inner sanctum like the one on my polytunnel that houses all the wussy things!