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Where to start
hi everyone
I have been given a small growhouse for Christmas, can't wait to start using it but - where and what to start with? Thought of starting plants for my hanging baskets but do I start with seeds or plug plants? When should I start planting anything to keep in it?
really grateful for any suggestions
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Hi Standen , Its a little bit early for sowing most seeds, and most plug plants will not be delivered until March at least I would of thought.
I sow a lot of bedding plants for pots / baskets Mid/late February like petunias - snapdragons - busy lizzie - lobelia. Marigolds - bidens - mimulus in march
You could sow some geraniums ( pelargoniums ) and verbena now but you will need heat like a propagator or a warm windowsill.
I buy begonias as plug plants or a pot which need pricking out. And I buy fuchsia plants as well.
Hello Standen! be patient and don't get carried away. If you site your growhouse in a sheltered south facing position you can get started late Feb. early March if you live in the South or mid-late March in the North. Remember, if you plant three weeks late your plants will catch up, if you plant three weeks early you may be wasting your efforts and seeds, err on the safe side. Growing from seed is much cheaper than buying plug plants but means more work and devotion, sowing, pricking out, potting on, are all necessary jobs. When you get going don't forget to ventilate the growhouse on sunny Spring days but remember to close at night when temperatures can really drop off. Above all, enjoy your growhouse and good luck.
Sounds exciting Standen1. I agree with all of the above. It's a matter of personal choice whether you go with seeds or plugs. It depends a bit on how much time you have. Is your growhouse a fixed structure or is it one of these plastic covered type things? If the latter, beware of windy weather as they are very prone to blowing away or falling.
Hi everyone, thanks for your fast responses - it seems I need to be patient for a while longer. Thanks for the tips, think I will probably try plug plants first then try seeds next year when I may have a little more time. In the meanwhile I will have to be content looking through magazines / catalogues to decide what to order.
Marygold - thanks for the wind warning, I have a wooden grow house so hopefully that won't blow away! - although I have had to fix a catch to the door as the magnet didn't hold it in the wind.