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Gardeners World blog

Grow & eat

Greenhouse fund

Posted by: Pippa Greenwood, 20 November 2007, 10.17AM

Pippa Greenwood I splashed out and bought myself a greenhouse, in fact the greenhouse of my dreams a few years ago. A lovely red cedar affair with a brick base and even a brick path and cold-frames off to one side. It was a total luxury and I love it. It has already served me so well, I'm still picking tomatoes from the plants in it, together with the odd yellow (meant to be yellow, not yellow and wrinkly!) sweet pepper, and at this time of year it really is great to have some of your own more tender produce to enjoy.

Within a week or so I will probably have to remove the last of the tomato plants but even then I am sure there will be a good number of green tomatoes that can be bought inside and given the freckly-banana treatment (yes that age old trick of allowing un-ripened fruits to enjoy the ethylene gas given off by the over-ripe banana really does work!)

Now I know I'm lucky to have my good-looking, super greenhouse, but the point is, that any greenhouse will help us to enjoy the luxury of tomatoes and peppers well in to November and perhaps even in to December, not to forget the fact that these and many other crops can be enjoyed earlier in the season and of course produce tons of plants for the flowery side of the garden too. So if yet another pair of slippers or soap sets really doesn't sound appealing, I would advise anyone to speak out nicely NOW and set up their own greenhouse fund, so it can then be up running by spring...

Comments

  • Paul Eke

    20 November 2007, 07.26PM

    It would be nice to have a picture of Pippa's greenhouse.

  • James Riley

    21 November 2007, 05.28PM

    Could you show a picture of your greenhouse, it would be nice to see one!

  • Dilys

    23 November 2007, 12.12PM

    Do you heat your greenhouse? And if so, when do you turn on the heating?

  • Stuart Clark

    23 November 2007, 05.46PM

    i have bought my self a small Green House for Chirstmas and wish to grow Tomatoes, Peppers and anything edible next year. i am a complete beginner has any body got any tips

  • Amanda R

    24 November 2007, 05.24PM

    How lovely to have your own greenhouse in which to lose yourself. I'm still waiting for mine. I can't wait to grow melons and peppers and other fragiles into the beginning of winter. One can dream...

  • Caroline F

    29 November 2007, 08.24PM

    I am a novice gardener have just bought my greenhouse and am totally besotted with it. It is a great place to chill out among the chillies and make plans for the veg plot next year. It has really added a new dimension to the garden and as I am in Scotland I am growing peaches and a vine under glass. everything is possible!

  • Pippa Greenwood

    04 November 2007, 11.37AM

    Providing the digital camera can be combined with some daylight and my son, there should hopefully be a picture of my greehouse with my next blog.....mind you, knowing my techo-ability you may be treated to the family holiday shots instead!

    Yes I do heat it, but it depends on precisely the weather is like and what I am growing.....could be unheated this winter but all of a sudden my son's tender plants including his germinated coconut have been moved in!!

  • Frances M

    20 December 2007, 01.44PM

    I have an ordinary small glass greenhouse which I love but your greenhouse is also the greenhouse of my dreams! I'd also love to see a picture and dream about maybe one day.

  • Cheap Greenhouse

    30 March 2008, 12.08PM

    Hi Pippa, lovely article. You have inspired me to go out into the garden and build my first greenhouse. Wish the weather would warm up a bit though. Cheers, C G

  • Julie E

    10 April 2008, 09.08PM

    When I bought my octagonal greenhouse my mum said "It won't be big enough" and she's right! I am now obsessed with what I can grow in it and last year had cucumbers, aubergines, chillis and capsicum peppers coming out of my ears (not literally)!

  • karen

    07 May 2008, 01.23PM

    We had out greenhouse put up last year so intend to use it well this year at the moment all the seeds are planted and growing, have had part of the garden rotavated to plant pumpkins, marrows and winter veg, a raised bed for lots of summer produce plus toms, chilies and peppers will let to know if all succeed.

  • Gary

    03 July 2008, 05.33PM

    Hi everyone, can anyone tell me the best way to grow peppers as i have only just started to grow fruit and veg

  • kathleen

    17 July 2008, 09.26AM

    HELP FIRSTtime growing aubergines and dont know how many flowers to leave on picture would be nice or step by step book

  • James

    16 August 2008, 04.18PM

    I enjoyed a melon from Tesco so much that I sowed some of its seeds in my greenhouse. I now have masses of leaves but no melons! Can someone give me some advice please. What must I do to get the melons?

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