Unheated - What Do I use It For?

I realise this may be a silly question.

I have a greenhouse that hasn't been used for a few years due to health problems and building works. I am planning to have it re-sited and glazed in the next couple of weeks. When I did have it active all I seemed to grow was tomatoes. I don't like the things but The Boss does.

I read and hear that you shouldn't overwinter plants in an unheated greenhouse due to the temperature fluctuations.

So what use is an unheated greenhouse? And no I am not growing chillies - I hate them too.

 

I thought you could grow spuds for Christmas this way?

Steve...

 

Early Spring I plant Chard (where the Toms will go, I plant it between where the Toms will go [so it starts off far apart] and it gets pulled out when the Toms need the space - which is about the time that the outdoor Chard is ready for its first picking].

Spring I plant Sweet Corn (dwarf F1 Super-sweet types like Swift, as well as some Mini-pop for the kids) and French beans (for an early crop). I grow these as well as the normal Summer crops of Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Peppers, Aubergines and Melons (been eating a fresh Melon a day since about the 21st of August John :gnthb

Autumn I plant Chard and French beans, some Winter Gem lettuce (not tried this variety before, but Winter lettuce is pretty Iffy IME) and tubs of Potatoes for Xmas (plant mid August).

T&M have a Winter carrot (called something like Fire Brand, but in German IIRC), but I've read mixed results about that. Was planning to try it, but forgot to order any seed Doh!

I have borders in my greenhouse (and change the "soil" every year - its half well rotted manure, and half home-compost), and that gets put on the veg patch the following year. Growing in pots may be a bit different for the Winter - the cold can more easily get to t he roots in a pot, unless it is large, than those in the ground.

 

I agree with John, steve & Kristen, an early start for most veg, plus good for early seed sowing of veg, hardy perennials and annuals.

If you can insulate with bubblewrap, you will find that you can overwinter patio plants such as pelargoniums and fuschias as long as they are kept dry. I stand the pots on polystyrene sheets to keep them off the cold floor, and even wrap the pots of iify ones in bubblewrap.

In early spring you can start of dahlias, begonia tubers and cannas in pots in a cold greenhouse so that they flower earlier.

You can 'potter' in there on a crisp, sunny, winters day and dream of summer.

 

Can i plant some dwarf french beans now in the greenhouse? They will be from seeds or is it too late?

 

Will have to save them for next year, whats the earliest i can normally plant them out in the greenhouse?It may be a heated one if i can find a cheap enough paraffin heater.

 

You are cutting it fine, but if you raise them in the greenhouse and keep them warm you might be OK.

I would chit them on moist kitchen paper in ramekins, plant into pots, then plant out, or pot on. Chitting them will save several germinating days and make up a bit of time.

 

P.S. Suttons do one called "Speedy" which is "ready to eat in 7 - 8 weeks" - that would be mid November ... might be lucky?

 

Potatoe question. Where do you get the seed potatoes from at this time of year? Do you re-cycle ones you have just lifted outdoors?

 

Thanks for the replies.

Question on potatoes. Where do you get the seed potatoes from do you recycle them from the ones just lifted?

 

I just planted some from Asda that had sprouted. Had a few in the garden earlier in the year and they came out ok so i just put some in pots ready for christmas.I might try some of the french beans in the greenhouse, im bubble wrapping it and hopefully getting a heater for in there anyway so they might just work. Do you get many beans from just one plant? 6 runner bean plants is more than enough for us for the year, would just a couple of french bean plants be the same?

 

You can use this years Potatoes, but they need to "rest" (8 weeks I think). They need to be chitted and planted by mid August, so its very tight from when you are likely to have lifted your first earlies.

I get my "Winter New Potato" seed potatoes from
http://www.jbaseedpotatoes.co.uk/autumn-and-christmas-potatoes-c11.html
although I expect you are too late?

Edit: Sorry, took a long time to compose my reply, didn't mean to repeat what others have said!