Undercover operations

Ruth looks at greenhouses and their smaller alternatives

- Ruth

WHEN it comes to gardening, one of the best things we ever did was invest in a greenhouse. We were lucky enough to have the space and money and although it is a basic, 6x8ft (1.8x2.4m) model, we would not be without it and regularly lament the fact that we didn’t get a bigger one!

We use it all year round. For the past few months it has been hosting a legion of overwintering tender plants, a lemon tree and some strawberries, which will hopefully crop earlier than those that have remained in raised beds outside.

We’ve also been harvesting salads sown every few weeks through the winter months in last summer’s rejuvenated grow bags.

Over the next few months, we can add seedlings and cuttings to its list of residents, then come summer when most things have moved out, tomatoes and cucumbers will be jostling for space around the sides.