What are you growing

Discussion in 'Greenhouse Growing' started by Welshman, Jun 12, 2021.

  1. Welshman

    Welshman Gardener

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    What do people grow in their greenhouse?? Tomatoes?? Cucumbers?.

    Does anyone grow brassicas in there all year round for a good crop, im reading lots about people growing in pollytunnels all year round, so wondering if a greenhouse is a good option for growing them too…….it wont be glass it will be 4mm double walled pollycarbonated with windows and vents at both ends.

    Thanks
     
  2. ricky101

    ricky101 Total Gardener

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    Hi,

    Nothing to stop you doing that, but would suggest its rather a wasteful and expensive use of a proper greenhouse.

    The average greenhouse is 8x6ft so you would not get many Bassicas in there .

    Think getting one of the cheap plastic mini greenhouses , large cloche or even a small polytunnel would be a better option for them, though think outdoors is still better ..?

    Are you somewhere thats too cold to grow them well outside ?
     
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    • Welshman

      Welshman Gardener

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      Its more to keep them away from bugs and pests…..i only grow about 4 of each at time, i would like to grow new as i harvest one, the rest is betroot, lettuce, spring onions……in the side greenhouse which is 2.4mtrs long x 600 deep, i got tomatoes and cucumbers growing and in the other open bed of 2.4mtrs x 600 i got dwarf french beans and purple sprouting brocolli

      Im around 1500ft up in the welsh valleys, so we had a long winter and hardly any spring to be honest, so conditions this year was not great.
       
    • ricky101

      ricky101 Total Gardener

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      Hi,

      Would have thought keeping them in a warm /hot greenhouse they would be more prone to some pest or even bolting ?

      How about growing them outside but up against the greenhouse for general shelter and put up a protective fine mesh or fleece screen to keep the worst of the pests off , its often the butterflies and caterpillars that are to worst enemies !
       
    • JWK

      JWK Gardener Staff Member

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      I would not recommend growing brassicas in a greenhouse or polytunnel, they are tough hardy plants and would suffer in the heat. It would be better to cover your structure with butterfly netting to keep off the two main pests, pigeons and cabbage whites.

      Little will grow over winter even in a greenhouse anyway, not enough light. But as long as you can get cabbages, sprouts and kale well established they will stand over winter and you harvest as you want. Again better outdoors than in a greenhouse.
       
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      • pete

        pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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        I'm not going to comment as I just cant imagine the conditions 1500ft up in the Wales.:yikes:

        But I do think most brassicas will do ok , they actually dont like hot conditions, apart from a few of the summer croppers.
         
      • Welshman

        Welshman Gardener

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        Im not growing sprouts, cabbage or kale as they are not what i like…….why are other growers using polytunnels and greenhouse for growing brassicas then???
         
      • Welshman

        Welshman Gardener

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        Not an option, its either a greenhouse or open plot, no room for both
         
      • Welshman

        Welshman Gardener

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        I will be converting this growing area

        35C30C20-3718-41F2-B2CC-D1E913EB5F90.jpeg

        Into the greenhouse………so it will look similar to this picture below, but with polly carb roof and sides, vents each end and opening window, all will be meshed with enviromesh, so bugs won’t get in there when they are open

        C802E225-740D-42F1-8A88-BB7FE3C327AB.jpeg
         
      • pete

        pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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        Just being picky, but the brace on the door goes the wrong way.
        I hope you do your the right way:biggrin:

        If it was me I'd just go for the polycarb roof and have the mesh sides.
         
      • pete

        pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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        What brassicas will you be growing?
         
      • Welshman

        Welshman Gardener

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        Brocolli and cauliflower…..also got purple sprouting brocolli too, i know there will be a risk of bolting if it gets too hot, but with windows, vents and a fan…..i think i could keep it all cool enough that it wont happen
         
      • Welshman

        Welshman Gardener

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        That does sound like a good option too……..
         
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        • pete

          pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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          The first two are summer plants, purple sprouting rarely gets bug damage as it is ready in early spring before many bugs are around.
          Winter cauli again is ready before the bugs get going.
           
        • Welshman

          Welshman Gardener

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          Yeh but winter up here is long and cold……if i can keep the growing season going into decemberish, by using a greenhouse and then starting again in march, it would be good for me

          thats why im looking at what the best option is…..lets just say my cauli and broccoli didnt get into the ground until may and still needing cloching as we was getting frosts in mid may….it was a crazy spring
           
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