The ongoing project of the new greenhouse is nearly finished! This lovely big greenhouse was given to me by fellow flower grower Harriet, of The Cumberland Flower Farm. Someone had given it to her, and she found it hadn’t fitted in with her plans. So it came to me as a pile of pieces; it looked actually really daunting!
Philip thankfully was on board with the plans, and made the missing pieces, we got a new base, lots of friends and neighbours looked through their garages and shed and gave me odds and ends of glass. Philp became a dab hand at cutting glass! It’s quite an old greenhouse we think, it’s not metric, so modern bolts don’t quite fit, and the “s” clips that support a pane of glass above another pane were longer than the ones you see on modern greenhouses.
The plan was to put it up to replace the polytunnel (needed a new cover and wasn’t quite right for that space) – it gives more light and more headroom. Also, I’ve moved the smallest greenhouse to go end to end with the new greenhouse; they fit reasonably well and I’m hoping that the air flow will be loads better as I can open the doors at both ends.
So what’s going in them?
The roses that were in the polytunnel are staying in the bigger greenhouse, leaving one bed free for chrysanthemums for the autumn. The ranunculus that are currently residing on the top of the grow tent in my main greenhouse (yes, there are 3 greenhouses now!!) are heading for the small greenhouse. They’re on top of the tent for vole safely so I really hope they’re going to be ok when planted out!! It’s always a stressful time….
Following the ranunculus I’m planning a trial bed of zinnias – something I’ve never had the space undercover to grow before. I’ll also add some annual asters – they grow well for me but the rain can spoil the flowers, so this might be the answer.
The problem is going to be that I can fill every bed at least twice in my head!
Having more space in these 2 means I can grow more tomatoes and chillies in the main greenhouse beds too, that previously housed chrysanthemums.
In case you’re wondering – the flowers go for weddings, locally delivered bouquets, and pressing for use in stationery and workshops.
