I also buy just a few plants in May. There are only the 2 of us and 2 tomato plants, 1 courgette plant, 1 chilli plant, a tray of french beans and a tray of mange tout produces all we need (of those) over the summer - including making sauces and pickles.
IMO the only real advantage to growing from seed is if you need a lot of fruit (perhaps for sale or a large family), or you want to grow varieties not readily available as plants (fortunately we have a very good nursery which sells some more unusual varieties) - or just for the fun and satisfaction of it.
We tend to go away for a lot of short breaks - so seedling care becomes a bit of a challenge. I, therefore, grow things which can look after themselves a bit.
Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
We tend to go away for a lot of short breaks - so seedling care becomes a bit of a challenge. I, therefore, grow things which can look after themselves a bit.
You’re right. It’s like looking after 100 needy little green children. 2 toddlers and a dog are enough work already.
I could manage seedling development (just) in my auto opening greenhouse in the past - but its taken me a number of years to realise its just not possible (for me) in my mini greenhouse in my new smaller garden property.
My Tomatoes are just surviving, cucumbers wilting away... extreme heat early morning and cold at night - despite heating - they just hate it!.....
So I'm figuring.... don't bother and just order plug plants for delivery later... and maybe hope that someone will develop a mini greenhouse with mini auto vents - that can cope with random gale force winds here in North Cornwall.... Never gonna happen!....
If someone would develop one @dannyson they would make a fortune as the majority of gardens are small these days and just because they are small doesn't mean they don't want to grow something. 🙂
A little off topic but I have around 70 begonia plugs in my mini green house, a couple of weeks ago when it was a bit chilly I would leave the door zipped up I would get massive condensation build up and they have gone a bit mouldy damn mini green house good for the racking though
All going well so far. As the weather has been warmer I’ve left the seedlings in the mini greenhouse for the last 2 nights. It only goes down to about 9°. I’m leaving the zips open during the day. They look like they’re growing well.
There is lots of condensation in there. I might leave the door completely open over the weekend to dry it out a bit.
I’ll get working on the design for a heated/auto vent cooling mini greenhouse and try to make my millions. Dannyson & purplerallim I’ll send you a share when I’m rich.
My wee wooden growhouse works well. I leave the ‘roof’ open a crack 24/7 or more on warmer days when I’m at work. A piece of bubble wrap over the top keeps the rain out.
Gonna add some shading of some kind for when it gets hotter to stop my seedlings frying (hopefully)
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IMO the only real advantage to growing from seed is if you need a lot of fruit (perhaps for sale or a large family), or you want to grow varieties not readily available as plants (fortunately we have a very good nursery which sells some more unusual varieties) - or just for the fun and satisfaction of it.
We tend to go away for a lot of short breaks - so seedling care becomes a bit of a challenge. I, therefore, grow things which can look after themselves a bit.
My Tomatoes are just surviving, cucumbers wilting away... extreme heat early morning and cold at night - despite heating - they just hate it!.....
So I'm figuring.... don't bother and just order plug plants for delivery later... and maybe hope that someone will develop a mini greenhouse with mini auto vents - that can cope with random gale force winds here in North Cornwall.... Never gonna happen!....
There is lots of condensation in there. I might leave the door completely open over the weekend to dry it out a bit.
I’ll get working on the design for a heated/auto vent cooling mini greenhouse and try to make my millions. Dannyson & purplerallim I’ll send you a share when I’m rich.
https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/277190606/mini-greenhouse-w-auto-vent-option?ref=shop_home_active_7
Theres also these with auto vents
http://www.hallsgreenhouses.co.uk/Halls_4ft_x_2ft_Wall_Garden_Lean_To_All_Finished_in_Green.htm
Gonna add some shading of some kind for when it gets hotter to stop my seedlings frying (hopefully)