I've inherited a Greenhouse

Hello all,

My username say's it all really. My name is Andy, I have had many interests throughout my 50+ years on this beautiful planet, and now I am about to embark on a new one.
My wife and I recently purchased a Bungalow with a reasonably large garden, which has a Greenhouse and a vegetable plot. When I was a mere pup, I watched as my recently departed Father (RIP Pops) worked his magic with all sorts of fruit and veg. However, he never encouraged me to learn, and so I went with my mates, playing football and scrumping apples!
My wife has always spent her spare time in our present garden, and all I had to do was cut the grass and lug bags of compost from the local gardening center......that was until, I turned the front and rear gardens into a giant Kitty-Litter! At least that saved me from having to cut the grass.
I have always marvelled at the beauty of plants and flowers, but left all that to the other-half. But now all that is about to change. I have needed something new to get my mediocre life going again, so I am going to use my recently acquired greenhouse an veggie plot, and grow stuff!!!!!
My initial thoughts are fruit and veg. Although I love the vibrant colours and aromas of flowers, I will leave that to the wife. So I can concentrate on the edible stuff. I also like cooking, and although my skills are nothing to write home about, I think it would be fab to cook using foodstuffs you have grown yourself.
Anywho, I have just purchased "The Fruit Expert", "The Greenhouse Expert" and "The Vegetable & Herb Expert" books to get the juices flowing. And hopefully, with the help I am sure I can acquire from you greenfingered Gods (& Godesses) I am looking forward to getting dirt under my fingernails.

 

Welcome to Gardeners Corner

 

The "Expert" series by Dr Hessayon are undoubtedly the best "reference" books you could have bought , and coupled with the knowledgeable advice on this forum you've made the two best decisions at the start of your new hobby

 

Hello and welcome.

The two are not mutually exclusive. I'm just getting into the idea of the edible ornamental garden so I'm a long way off being an expert, but here's some stuff I've picked up so far:

Common Sage, the 'boring' old herb used in stuffing, is a very showy plant. Evergreen foliage, loads of spikes of pretty flowers from midsummer til december, its very fragrant and can be used in all sorts of food and drinks (just experiment).

Nasturtium, a very easily grown flower, very pretty, and totally edible.

Rosemary, again easy to look after, very pretty, fragrant, and of course very useful in the kitchen. This is true of many herbs. Coriander is great when it goes over, and it produces clouds of tiny white flowers above stems in red, orange, yellow and green.

And a couple of new 'discoveries' for this year, strawberries are in my front flower bed and don't look out of place at all, and broad beans, I've never seen them in flower, but they are quite stunning. Oh, and nice and simple, 'rainbow' or 'bright lights' chard. I've got the latter this year. The foliage is some of the prettiest I've ever seen.

There'll be tonnes more examples, the veggy and herb books tend to show photos with the emphasis on harvesting rather than their aesthetics. Ask away, experiment away, and just enjoy it.

 

Hi, I'd start with herbs and salad leaves as they're mostly very easy and quick to get going and fresh herbs lift any dish. Try chervil, it's a super herb but quite difficult to get hold of if you don't grow it yourself. Red veined sorrel tastes great and looks good too and its cut and come again as you can take a few leaves at a time and it will just keep coming. Some of the more unusual Basils - there's a lovely purple opal one. I have a clump of golden oregano and one of marjoram that were planted almost 20 years ago and they're still going. Still with the herbs, winter savory and French tarragon (avoid the Russian variety it has no flavour) and don't forget mints for the Pimms to go with the strawberries Clueless suggested. Enjoy your garden.

 

to GC Enjoy

 

Welcome to not only a forum of good sound advice on gardening but also a very social site too. Not sure how big your greenhouse is but tomatoes are a good way to start and now you could buy two or three plants already up and growing and once put into the greenhouse will soon start showing further growth and fruit. Enjoy your new hobby! It will soon become a way of life.

 

Thanks for the warm welcome guy's. We are hoping to "complete" next week, so hopefully, by the time England start their assault on the Euro Championships, I will have access to my newly acquired greenhouse.

 

Welcome to GC Diddly.....you'll love it here.....be prepared...it's adictive:WINK1:

 

Good morning Diddly,
best wishes in your new home. The missis will love you if you can provide her with some flowers for next year's borders. Wallflowers, lupins, foxgloves and many other biennials are good to start the year before. Try and squeeze a section of the GH (greenhouse) into growing flowers for her. You are in for many treats and joys soon,
Jenny namaste