help!

[pizzamomma]

OK you did say I could ask .
Just got a greenhouse and about to put it up its 8x12 and read the books which tell which way to face the greenhousE. My garden is south facing so am going to put entrance facing west one side south back to the east and the north side approx 5ft away from the side of a shed, Is this OK? Am only going to put the green house edging itself on a base and then just a row of slabs along the middle to walk on allowing planting either side. Are growbags alright for using inside? Once the greenhouse is up and we are going to heat it but just to keep it to the minimum how much sooner can I plant the seeds to what is says on the packet.

Sorry but I really am a dunce?

Thanks in advance

[Green Aura]

Congratulations on your first greenhouse - it's almost like having a child, but obviously more productive!

Don't worry too much about alignment. I think most people probably put them in where they fit best in their garden and they seem to grow things just fine. The things I would consider when positioning are things like
1) Do you have any trees that would either be a problem or could help to give a bit of summer shade.
2) Is the site particularly windy - we lost several panes out of ours because the sudden gusts of wind would somehow suck them out. Steady winds didn't seem to cause any problem

Why not plant straight into the ground - if you're having pavers up the middle just dig the rest over and add some compost. Helps save watering so much because the plants get much deeper root systems. Don't forget an area for a potting bench, so you might need some more pavers to stand it on.

We don't heat our greenhouse. My dad used to and I was never convinced it gave him much advantage, many of his seeds sprouted quicker but got very leggy, whereas ours were slower but much sturdier. During winter months just grow quick crops. Most plants need sunlight rather than heat.

[Annpan]

Ooo, good topic... we were putting together the frame of our greenhouse today, hadn't given much thought to angle

I'll wait to see what other folks with greenhouses think about growing season...

[eccentric_emma]

We just put up a mini polytunnel, didn't think about positioning, just bunged it in the nearest available space. It's scorching in there. Amazing stuff. I might even chuck out all the plants and sunbathe in there instead.

[Odsox]

I agree with everyone else, just fit it in to suit your garden.
I have had several greenhouses and have never bothered too much about whether east-west or north-south is best.
One thing though, if you site your greenhouse as you've planned, you probably have the best of both situations.
The sunny south side bed would be good for tomatoes, especially early in the season, and the shadier north bed for cucumbers and other plants that are not so keen on direct sunshine.
I don't think I would use growbags unless there is a problem with your soil. On a bright sunny summer day (remember those) you will need to water them several times a day, border soil is much more convenient to both yourself and the plants.