Help needed: refurbishing old greenhouse

Hi guys,First post / completely new to this!

There's an old greenhouse in my back garden and although the glass is all fine and there's no rust to the frame etc it's been left to go a bit wild over the last few years (we bought the house Nov 2015) and I think it hadn't been touched for a few years prior.

Long term I think it'all eventually be removed but while it's here for the next few years at least I thought i'd make some use of it.

Today I made an attempt to clear and clean it out and discovered not only a huge ants nest which i'be removed and will aim to treat to further prevent this week but also whatever this is in the enclosed picture. Does anyone have any idea of what this is and advice on general maintenance of the greenhouse?

Once it's completely clean i'd like to start growing some fruit / veg in time for the summer so any tips on good things to grow for a novice would be appreciated! Many thanks!

Jack

 

Welcome to the forum !!!

You will enjoy the longer season you get with a greenhouse.

I'm sure someone here will be able to help you identify your plant.

 

Welcome to GC Jack. @Zigs might be able to help you with this.

 

Thanks guys!
It was more the balls of what kind of look like jelly I was meaning rather than the moss. Would it be frog spawn?
Sorry the photo upload isn't great!
Borrowed a power washer yesterday so going to blitz the whole greenhouse in the next few days

Jack

 

Was that formation sat in water ? - it looks like what marine aquarists know as Bubble Algae though never seen any reference to a land based version.
Wondered what its all growing on, is it a sandy type of rock ? could be some old marine rock left in there if the previous owner had a tank ?
Valonia ventricosa - Wikipedia

Might not be wise to burst them as the marine ones carry their spores inside the bubbles.

Assume your greenhouse floor is just soil or is it all concrete etc ?

As you do not know what condition the soil is in, think I would be tempted to grow things only in pots or growbags where you know the compost is good and healthy.

 

Thanks for the reply!
The photo was taken with the formation on a shovel after i'd shovelled it up. The base of the greenhouse is concrete and there wasn't a lot of soil around to be honest, it seemed to have just grown on the concrete!
I'll definitely either grow in pots or grow bags anyway! Thank you very much for the help guys

 

Will post one tomorrow

 

Okay guys, here's a picture of the whole greenhouse (now cleaned)

 

It's looking good Jack.

 

Looks nice and clean now !

Cannot make it out, but does it have a ventilator in the roof ? really essential imho.
You can buy retrofit ones, ideally with an automatic opener; you can always use /transfer it to another ghouse if you upgrade.

Thought its only a 6x4 ft you can still gow a lot in there.

On the side opposite the shelves, you could have a grow bag or 3 big pots/tub to grow tomatoes.
The shelves could be used for early Strawberries in pots or growbags, in the garden centres now. Plus pots of peppers if those are your things, pots of herbs like basil, the list goes on ... !