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Alternative to greenhouse
Aline2
Posts: 1
in Fruit & veg
Hi,
I'm a novice urban gardener and I have a small raised bed (approx 1.5m x 2.5m) in good sunny position. I'm hoping to grow tomatoes, cucumbers and aubergines. I don't have the space for a greenhouse and I'd really appreciate any advice on what a good alternative may be. I've done some research but I don't know whether a mini lean to greenhouse, a cold frame or a cloche (or other?) would be best.
Many thanks in advance.
Aline
0
Posts
Hello Aline 2,
I am in a similar position as you are, however after extensive research, i have found a practical solution. I am growing the three plants in individual 45cm garden pot and my intention is to create a hot house similar to below. I have bought 80 liter clear bin liners (screw fix) the container will be set up in a similar way as below. It will need to be kept open for ventilation when the weather is hot but can be closed overnight.
My plastic mini greenhouse is dismantled in the garage.
Although facing east, the only place that any useful light penetrated was the top shelf. The rest of it ended up being used for storage and it was a complete eyesore.
I like seyfades idea. So long as it doesn't blow over.
Plastic never gives the same protection or insulation as glass so the little plastic growhouses are more tricky - the temperature fluctuates wildly in them. I've grown tomatoes in them, but they don't last very well. The growhouses I mean - not the tomatoes!
Cold frames are extremely useful for overwintering and hardening off, but aren't quite so good for growing anything on - they'd have to be enormous!
Cloches are only suitable for individual plants on the whole - unless it's the long ones, but they're not big enough for anything tall.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I attempted to grow aubergines a couple of years ago.
my husband made a little container out of pine canes, cling film and gardening wire...... he made a little lid on the top and it had a little pine can handle so the lid could be propped open...... we put a little temp gauge in there and it got up to the mid 90's with the lid shut and a bit cooler with it propped open so we were able to control the temperatur. It was fun to do and experiment... and they were some of the best tasting aubergines I had grown?
It wasn't very big maybe 1 ft x1ft
Depends where you are in the country. If you are down south then it is perfectly feasible to grow tomatoes and cucembers outside. Here in Scotland you can't. Take a trip to your local garden centre and ask for varieties that will perform well outside. You could always protect the young plants by putting up a windbreak netting round them for a few weeks.