Temperatures seem to have climbed to around 3C at night now. I put some pansy and poppy seedlings in there. So far so good. But it's too early to risk the calendulas, I feel, and certainly any HHAs. Centaurea should be ok...? I don't think I mentioned how big my seedlings are. Most are about 4 inches. (Although actually the pansies and poppies are the exception, but quite sturdy.)
When all is said and done, it often comes down to your exact location and what protection you can offer. Newly germinated seeds of any type won't thank you if you move them from a heated propagator or a sunny windowsill indoors to a cold GH without a bit of help - ie if the weather permits, pop them into the GH during the day and bring back indoors overnight. Unfortunately, we don't all have the space or time to do this for several days running. Again, it's location which rules what you can get away with - you may be lucky enough to have your own Micro climate which will allow you more leeway.
I have some chilli/sweet pepper/tomato plants that all have their first true leaves. They currently live on just about all the window sills in the house. I'm running out of window space and was wondering when the best time would be to put them in my unheated, lean to greenhouse, which backs onto a room that is unheated. The greenhouse faces south west (I think!), and it gets plenty of sunlight but never gets overly hot as it doesn't seem to get any direct sunlight. I must add that I live in Shetland (which means very long hours of daylight from end of April to end of August) and overlook the sea if this has any bearing on when they can go out.
I know this is a bit of a 'beginners' question, but I've uprooted from mid-Shropshire where I started gardening a couple of years ago, and now have to learn a whole new way of gardening.
As @JennyJ and @philippasmith2 both say - even hardy plants need care before putting in a greenhouse. There's a big difference between it and a house, and it's a hokey cokey sort of situation. In and out for a bit. No shaking about though
@Native58 -I don't put them in the greenhouse until around mid May here, and even then - it just depends on the weather. The light is a big advantage up here, but the heat isn't at the same level. Toms need light early on, but they need double figures in temps at night, consistently enough to thrive. Even in a greenhouse, wind can be a factor, which lowers temps considerably
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Not sure I'd chance it this early that far north. They'll need to grow on quite a bit more if they only have their 1st true leaves. As you are new to the area, have you asked around any neighbours to see firstly whether they actually grow the plants you mention and if so, when they put them outside and how successful they are. Personally, I think you may be pushing your luck with them but hopefully someone with experience of your area may be able to assist you.
My toms are at the same stage - about a couple of inches. They should grow on well enough over the next month, all being well, for going to the greenhouse, but I'd say it would be early June in Shetland. I should have clarified that I was only talking about toms in my previous post. I don't know anyone who grows chillies in a greenhouse, but I expect it's ok in some areas. Most people use a conservatory if they have one, or keep them on a windowsill, to ensure they're warm enough. Don't know about the peppers at all.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I have come back to this thread wondering similar things! I shall make sure I update my spreadsheet this year with what I do and what happens. I have had lots of peas and French beans come up over night in a heated propagator in a heated house. I guess they need to go into the unheated lean-to before the greenhouse. This means some lean-to seedlings are going to have to go into the unheated greenhouse to make room. Should they be hardened off, so to speak, in order to do this? It's tricky, though. The greenhouse is warmer than the lean to during the day so sticking them in there in the day and bringing back inside at night is not going to acclimatize them to colder night time temperatures. The larger cosmos seedlings went in there last night anyway. It was supposed to be about 8C last night where I am, but sometimes the greenhouse is colder than outside at night. I got the greenhouse in July 2021, so still learning... I didn't anticipate that there would be anything to learn
That's the problem with seed sown with extra heat - they need that heat afterwards until they can go outside permanently. Peas and beans shouldn't need extra heat to germinate though. The main problem with them is usually getting eaten by mice, which is the reason many people start them off inside - but not with extra heat. Once they've got to a reasonable size - ie a few inches, they'd be outdoors - with minimum acclimatisation, and will grow on if the conditions suit well enough. Same as with ornamental peas.
You'll now need to acclimatise yours in the house first - in a cooler room, until they have enough growth to withstand being outdoors at all - which shouldn't be too difficult now as they're hardy plants. Then out during the day and in at night for a little while, depending on your conditions and how/where you're planting them. Pots are easier than the ground if the soil's heavier and colder where you are. That way, they'll gradually get used to cooler temps, will still grow, but the plants themselves will be tougher and won't have a problem being outside permanently - probably by the middle to end of May. The amount and speed of growth can depend on variety too.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Posts
Newly germinated seeds of any type won't thank you if you move them from a heated propagator or a sunny windowsill indoors to a cold GH without a bit of help - ie if the weather permits, pop them into the GH during the day and bring back indoors overnight. Unfortunately, we don't all have the space or time to do this for several days running. Again, it's location which rules what you can get away with - you may be lucky enough to have your own Micro climate which will allow you more leeway.
I know this is a bit of a 'beginners' question, but I've uprooted from mid-Shropshire where I started gardening a couple of years ago, and now have to learn a whole new way of gardening.
Thanks
@Native58 -I don't put them in the greenhouse until around mid May here, and even then - it just depends on the weather. The light is a big advantage up here, but the heat isn't at the same level. Toms need light early on, but they need double figures in temps at night, consistently enough to thrive. Even in a greenhouse, wind can be a factor, which lowers temps considerably
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
As you are new to the area, have you asked around any neighbours to see firstly whether they actually grow the plants you mention and if so, when they put them outside and how successful they are.
Personally, I think you may be pushing your luck with them but hopefully someone with experience of your area may be able to assist you.
I should have clarified that I was only talking about toms in my previous post. I don't know anyone who grows chillies in a greenhouse, but I expect it's ok in some areas. Most people use a conservatory if they have one, or keep them on a windowsill, to ensure they're warm enough.
Don't know about the peppers at all.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I have had lots of peas and French beans come up over night in a heated propagator in a heated house. I guess they need to go into the unheated lean-to before the greenhouse. This means some lean-to seedlings are going to have to go into the unheated greenhouse to make room. Should they be hardened off, so to speak, in order to do this? It's tricky, though. The greenhouse is warmer than the lean to during the day so sticking them in there in the day and bringing back inside at night is not going to acclimatize them to colder night time temperatures.
The larger cosmos seedlings went in there last night anyway. It was supposed to be about 8C last night where I am, but sometimes the greenhouse is colder than outside at night.
I got the greenhouse in July 2021, so still learning... I didn't anticipate that there would be anything to learn
Peas and beans shouldn't need extra heat to germinate though. The main problem with them is usually getting eaten by mice, which is the reason many people start them off inside - but not with extra heat. Once they've got to a reasonable size - ie a few inches, they'd be outdoors - with minimum acclimatisation, and will grow on if the conditions suit well enough. Same as with ornamental peas.
You'll now need to acclimatise yours in the house first - in a cooler room, until they have enough growth to withstand being outdoors at all - which shouldn't be too difficult now as they're hardy plants. Then out during the day and in at night for a little while, depending on your conditions and how/where you're planting them. Pots are easier than the ground if the soil's heavier and colder where you are.
That way, they'll gradually get used to cooler temps, will still grow, but the plants themselves will be tougher and won't have a problem being outside permanently - probably by the middle to end of May. The amount and speed of growth can depend on variety too.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...