Forum home Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Fitting tomato and cucumber plants in a mini greenhouse

I am new to vegetable gardening and sewed too many tomato plants this year in a new mini greenhouse that I bought. I have two tomato plants and a cucumber plant in 25cm pots, and that's all I can fit in. I am just wondering whether I am wasting my time trying to fit three in if it's not healthy for the plants and whether just one or two would be better. I am in Glasgow area so don't think they will do well outside ( though I have put some tomato plants outside just to try as I had loads).



Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I grow 4 toms in a small greenhouse. I can manage those no problem ,although it's important to check them regularly and have good ventilation through the day when it's warm. Any more than that would be impossible. Mine is about 4 foot wide by about 2 feet deep. I usually grow them in pots, but I moved it this year, so it now has a border to plant into, which gives me a bit more height for them. It looks as if you have a similar little growhouse to mine.  :)

    Growing outside is pretty much useless here - you get the odd year where they would be ok, but the weather isn't ideal, and often isn't warm enough, although you may get away with it in a sheltered town garden.  All you can do is have them up against a wall and sheltered as well as you can, but there isn't much you can do when the weather turns, as it always does, just when you're hoping they'll be ok. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    Course fairy knows more than me about growing in Scotland,but really, tomatoes and cucumbers shouldn't be grown in the same green house, because they have different requirements. Although I'm on the mildest area of the SE, UK,I always grow my cucumbers in a green house,I can keep them away from pests,they have chicken wire to climb up,saves trying to stop them getting damaged in rain and wind. Tomatoes are just outside in pots
  • Fairygirl said:
    I grow 4 toms in a small greenhouse. I can manage those no problem ,although it's important to check them regularly and have good ventilation through the day when it's warm. Any more than that would be impossible. Mine is about 4 foot wide by about 2 feet deep. I usually grow them in pots, but I moved it this year, so it now has a border to plant into, which gives me a bit more height for them. It looks as if you have a similar little growhouse to mine.  :)

    Growing outside is pretty much useless here - you get the odd year where they would be ok, but the weather isn't ideal, and often isn't warm enough, although you may get away with it in a sheltered town garden.  All you can do is have them up against a wall and sheltered as well as you can, but there isn't much you can do when the weather turns, as it always does, just when you're hoping they'll be ok. 
    Thanks. So best just to keep as is?
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    If you have too many to fit inside, you don't really have any other option  :)
    Some people rig up a basic shelter with plastic, for rough weather, but that depends on your DIY capability and whether you can be bothered   ;)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Fairygirl said:
    If you have too many to fit inside, you don't really have any other option  :)
    Some people rig up a basic shelter with plastic, for rough weather, but that depends on your DIY capability and whether you can be bothered   ;)

    I mean are the 3 that are in the greenhouse overcrowded?

  • Fairygirl said:
    If you have too many to fit inside, you don't really have any other option  :)
    Some people rig up a basic shelter with plastic, for rough weather, but that depends on your DIY capability and whether you can be bothered   ;)
    I mean are the 3 that are in the greenhouse overcrowded?
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Sorry -  I thought you were meaning the other ones you have outdoors. I think they should be fine since you have the cucumber there as well, unless your growhouse is much smaller than mine? If it is, probably a couple would be enough. 
    You'll just have to play it by ear and see how it goes as they get bigger. They look quite small just now though, so they'll need bigger pots soon. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • purplerallimpurplerallim Posts: 5,287
    The cucumber will need it more than the tomatoes,  so put the cucumber at the back in the warmest spot
Sign In or Register to comment.