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Lean to growing
cyberfruits
Posts: 8
Hi
We are thinking of growing some salads,herbs,tomato plants and potted fruit. i was thinking that as we are in a windy area a polytunnel could cause trouble and we got a lean to with Clear Corrugated PVC Sheet as a roof and in the summer this does get very hot and bright.
Is there any reason i could not grow in the lean to instead of a polytunnel or greenhouse?Is a Corrugated PVC not as effective as a roof like eg for letting in light?We can ventilate it quit well if need be
Any help welcome
0
Posts
Not quite with you by lean to do you mean something with walls if so are they solid or glass, more information needed.
I have south facing lean to greenhouse fixed to a brick wall, the wall takes in heat even on dull days and gives back at night, it has only gone below freezing point once in over thirty years. There are plenty of vents as plants need light, air, shelter from cold winds. In that respect any sort of cover works and you can grow almost year round. Corrogated plastic is often slightly tinted reducing available light, one way is turn your pots planters trays every morning before leaving to work, OK for me retired but not easy for some people.
Gardeners experiment all the time so have a go see what you get, plenty of greens do not need heat just shelter from frost and icy winds. It also depends on where you live the North is at least two weeks behind the south in growth. Give it a go with some salad greens, a lttle warmth to start them off is all they need. Good luck
Frank.
Good advice from Frank. Salad leaves won't like full sun in summer anyway so a PVC roof will be fine for them.
Hello Obelixx, had a spell off my IPad died, it was a year old so was sent back under guarantee, they lost it? Gave back the cash with a note saying re-order the 128gb is on offer for less than we are refunding? Mouth and gift horse came to mind and here I am back.
My upmarket Apple Pro laptop for some reason will not let me sign in, still working on it though I was straight in with new pad.
Frank.
Good. Nice to have a new toy too I expect but frustrating with the Apple.
Hi
Our lean to at the moment is just a lean used for storage. It attaches to a brick wall with wooden outer walls like a shed, the PVC roof is clear with no tint and it gets the sun in spring,summer and early Autumn from around 9 till late as it is kind of south facing. my wife did try some herbs and salads from seeds in august thinking it would be ok, but they never took, just green spindly looking plants
thanks
OK, Setting seeds in August would best be done outside in one of those small plastic shelters that can be opened during the day. Plenty of light and air yet cover from heavy rain and wind, if sown two months earlier they would have been alright sown straight into a seed bed. The seedlings your wife put in would be reaching for the light if they were on a low table or shelf. With a top light you need the shelf high seedlings need potting on as soon as the first two proper leaves form, you need to watch them like babies with TLC.
My thoughts are your lean to is not suitable and probably best to invest in a one of the small growing shelters most garden centres sell, try it and see if it decides you on getting a proper green house at a later date. Growing from seed you need to be watchful, they need all round light, plenty of ventilation, minimum watering and never too much heat, read the packet I tell most people who ask.
At least your lean to could store plants that need winter cover.
Frank.