Selfsufficientish.com

Hi guys,

I guess this question/s would be aimed more at Nev and other Aussie members as far as climate goes, but others opinions would also be greatly appreciated!

I'm still at my parents' house (can't afford to buy yet, and it's too darn expensive to even consider renting a house here!), but I was considering buying a portable greenhouse (3.5m x 2m x 2m) to set up in the yard... then building shelves inside and doing my container garden from in there....

My questions are:

1. Is a greenhouse worthwhile?

2. Will it be useful in the Qld weather (Brissy) and is it in general a useful 'tool'?

3. Is there anything else I should consider that would be 'better' than buying a greenhouse?

4. Is caring for plants in a greenhouse going to go WAY over my head, and I'll end up wasting my money and killing everything (remember that I'm a shocker and still trying to turn my black thumb into a green one - and now I'm over 12 months out of practice!!!)??

Hope you guys can help!

G'Day GG!

It depends what you want to use the greenouse for.......

Here in Sydney I use one for propagation during winter and to get an EARLY start for tomatoes. In Bris it may not be necessary, are you in a frost free area?

You can use the greenhouse for other things such as curing timber or pasturising compost during summer, but during the non winter months it would not be of much use to you. In summer days down here I cant get inside - too hot!

A bush/shade house may be of more use to you. It is the same structure but covered by propagation grade sarlon (Shadecloth) and would help you propagate seedlings etc all year round.

What you could do is invest in one of those $30 green "cupboard" (as opposed to greenhouse - much smaller )from bunnings and use that during winter (if you need to) but make the major investment a shade house.

Hope this helps

Nev

You're a wealth of knowledge and much help, as always Nev!!!

It sounds like the shadecloth structure is the way to go, with the little 'greenhouse'. I had seen those, but wondered if it were worth it. Then again, with my black thumb - at least I'd only be wasting $30! LOL

I am looking at purchasing stuff in about a month's time, so right now i want to get my plans well and truly underway.

I think my past 'failures' also occurred because I was trying to go too big too soon...... I think I need to just start small and work up from there....

Anyone have any clues on what the EASIEST foods to grow are? I figure if I start from there and taste success, I'll get better with time!

Definitely getting the strawberry plants again! I loved those!