Growing fruit and veg under glass
I realise I’m entering a bit of a grey area here – growing tender edible plants is possible in many areas of the country. However, cultivating tomatoes, cucumbers, etc, out of doors, isn’t really an option for me in NE England.
We tend to have cool, dull summers influenced by the proximity to the North Sea. I have noticed a rise in temperatures since I was a child and our last few springs have been dry and gloriously sunny. Read more about growing fruit and vegetables here and waking up tender perennials here.
Also, it’s nearly always windy, which does nothing any good. I’ve always grown cordon tomatoes in my conservatory (no wicker three-piece suite for me) which, at 30ft long by 5ft wide, is an ideal environment.
Growing tender edible plants under glass
I also have a small greenhouse (8ftx4ft, the biggest I could get), which has so far smashed itself to smithereens every winter, costing me a small fortune. I’m on first-name terms with the glazier.
As well as the tomatoes, a permanent summer fixture is the cucamelon, those strange little watermelon/cucumbery things from Mexico, which my daughter loves. Snacking cucumbers are a newer addition, easy to grow and have a much better flavour than their bigger relatives.
I feel a bit guilty adding these under edibles, as my small colony of Dwarf Cavendish banana plants haven’t a cat in hell’s chance of bearing fruit. The Abyssinian Red banana is even more of a rank outsider in the cropping stakes.
Growing tender edible plants – hot stuff!
The various glass constructions have also played host to peppers, chillies, aubergines (total failure) and even a grapevine at one stage.
However, I am trying again with a Brown Turkey fig. It is supposed to be hardy in the UK and I have high hopes for it. The new one is being espalier trained in my raised bed against a black wall. This retains and absorbs heat during the day, releasing it slowly at night, so should protect against very low temperatures.
In autumn/winter and early spring, I make use of the empty greenhouse bed by growing Paris Market carrots and cut-and-come-again salad mixes.
I confess, when the greenhouse or conservatory tomatoes get too big, I do sneak some pots outside now!
Growing tender edible plants updated July 2022
