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Using my mini plastic greenhouse

GreenHeart84GreenHeart84 Posts: 12
in Plants
Hi everyone! I’m an amateur gardener and new to growing from seed. I am currently growing from seed indoors on a windowsill over a radiator. This year I bought a plastic greenhouse, similar to that in the image. I’m not sure how I am meant to be using my greenhouse, especially seeing as it’s a cheap unheated plastic one. 

My question is when do I transfer my seedlings over to the mini greenhouse? Can I transfer them as soon as they germinate, or do I need to wait until after the last frost? Or something else? 

Any information as to how I should be using my greenhouse is greatly appreciated! 

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Posts

  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    It's really a how long is a piece of string really. It won't give a huge amount of protection,but better than nothing. If it's portable put it in a sunny sheltered spot,get a cheap outdoor thermometer,put it in there, see how much different than outside. You can add fleece, bubble wrap,stand pots on polystyrene.you can't move seedlings even into a green house for a long time. Where are you situated?
  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    Make sure it is thoroughly secured. They don't get called 'blowaways' for nothing!
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    Yeah,sorry I didn't add that,that was what I meant by sheltered!
  • didywdidyw Posts: 3,573
    I have something similar.  I use it for seedlings that have been hardened off a bit by being outside during the day then into the greenhouse to make room for the next batch of seedlings that are on the windowsills.  By the time they are ready for the greenhouse the first lot should be OK outside in a sheltered position all the time.  But, as Buttercup Days and Nanny Beach say - make sure it secured.  I have bricks on mine and the bottom is filled with netting, rolled up cardboard and fleece which adds more protection. I unzip it during the day and zip up again at night.  It is in a very sheltered position though - with its back to a wall and between the kitchen and an outhouse, facing south.
    Gardening in East Suffolk on dry sandy soil.
  • JacquimcmahonJacquimcmahon Posts: 1,039
    I have used these for years, fine for hardening off, or rain protection etc. like everyone says put something heavy in the bottom over the metal frame, otherwise you could wake up to seedlings everywhere.

    once the nights warm up a bit they are great for starting bi annuals for next year.
    Marne la vallée, basically just outside Paris 🇫🇷, but definitely Scottish at heart.
  • GreenHeart84GreenHeart84 Posts: 12
    Thanks so much everyone! Yes mine is in a sheltered spot against the wall, pretty secure with bricks in the bottom. So to confirm, should I be putting any of the seedlings below in there yet or do I still need to wait? And if so, when do I need to wait until? Last frost? Or later? 

  • JacquimcmahonJacquimcmahon Posts: 1,039
    What perfect little seedlings. I would keep them indoors a bit longer as your greenhouse will not give a lot of protection at night if they are still cold. Definitely not before you are really sure that all frost is over.
    Marne la vallée, basically just outside Paris 🇫🇷, but definitely Scottish at heart.
  • didywdidyw Posts: 3,573
    Were they sown in seed compost?  If so, they might need potting on into something with some nutrients in it.  That's what I did with mine, then had them outside during the day until they had a few more leaves and then into the zip-up.  Yours look a bit too tiny to transfer to the greenhouse just yet.  But they do look nice!
    Gardening in East Suffolk on dry sandy soil.
  • GreenHeart84GreenHeart84 Posts: 12
    @Jacquimcmahon @didyw thanks so much for the advice. Thanks for the feedback re the seedlings, I wasn't sure if they were growing the right way or not! The cerinthe major look quite strong and happy, but the Salvia have been around that size for over a week and don't seem to be doing much. 


  • BigladBiglad Posts: 3,265
    As well as weighing it down (bags of sand), I've got some rope tethering mine to the fence. Even with weight in it, it toppled forwards last year so I've got it strapped in now ;) 

    I haven't found mine massively useful yet (in terms of new seedlings moving from a warm indoor windowsill). They still get too cold o/night in the 'blowaway' at the moment. Experiments so far have proved fatal :o . I reckon it will start to fill up by the end of this month though. 
    East Lancs
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