Garden innovations - growing under glass

If you have a greenhouse, or even a simple stacking propagator, you have a technology that will allow you to twist the seasons, fool your plants and massively improve your chances of success with seeds.

To begin with, a glasshouse, greenhouse or conservatory is ideal for starting seeds. Make sure that you turn the seedlings regularly to encourage even growth and prevent leggy seedlings - if you have a greenhouse, you can use shading to stop them growing too spindly and even set up a fan on a low setting because the constant movement over the heads of the seedlings makes them develop sturdier stems. You can do this yourself too; by brushing your hands very gently over them each time you pass, so as to just bend them gently. Water carefully and regularly to maintain moist but not wet soil because lack of air circulation and over-watering can lead to damping off, which is when the seeds collapse and die.

Tender vegetables like lettuce can be sown under cover in trays or pots so that they can be transplanted into the vegetable garden once the weather warms and the risk of frost is past. Runner beans and courgettes, marrows, cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce, celery and leeks are amongst the many plants that you can start early this way, as are petunias, snapdragons, cosmos and many other flowers.

Perhaps the best reason for a greenhouse is to grow exotics. If you like to grow your own grapes, you can do so, in the UK, in most greenhouses, if you pick the right variety. Black Hamburgh has been grown in the UK since Henry VIII moved to Hampton Court! It produces large, blue-black berries and really requires a warm greenhouse although vines will sometimes also flourish in a cool house if it gets a lot of natural sun. Or those who like amber grapes could try the variety Muscat of Alexandria. Glass protection and warmth (10 -13C) are advisable. Alternatively, the variety Thompson's Seedless produces green dessert grapes and can be grown successfully in a cold greenhouse.

Garden innovation greenhouse photograph by jspatchwork, used under a creative commons attribution licence.