Ideas for an Unheated Greenhouse
Alan Clark2 in Liverpool
Posts: 2,042
in Plants
I grow many cacti and other succulents in my greenhouse but I would like to grow some non-succulent perennials.
The greenhouse gets several hours of full sun in the middle of the day, but not early or late in the day. Temperatures have never gone quite down to freezing in the last three winters, but sometimes go slightly below freezing, so the plants need to be hardy or nearly hardy.
They should take up no more than about 30cm of bench space, and have attractive flowers over a long season.
Any suggestions?
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Posts
Streptocarpus? They are OK down to just above freezing, I think, They won't like being in full sun but if your GH has a shady side, they might be worth a try?
Carnivorous plants? There are a number that are pretty hardy. And they are useful for reducing numbers of flies.
How about some of the more unusual varieties of pelargonium? They certainly fulfil the long flowering requirement and as long as you keep them dry over winter can stand a bit of frost (although the tops will obviously die off.)
I don't think streptocarpus would be happy as there is no shady area, but I have some carnivorous plants which I have been growing outside, and I could move some of them into the greenhouse so that I can better appreciate them.
I like pelargoniums, so I will give them a try!
If I had a greenhouse, I would try Punica Granatum Var. Nana. The Dwarf Pomegranate. Only growing up to 3 feet, if grown in a large pot, you can move it outside in the summer months and move it into the greenhouse in the cooler months. Lovely deep orange flowers and then fruits into the early autumn time onwards.
Chillis?
Although they don't flower for that long, it is nice to have some pots of little bulbs - dwarf crocus, Iris reticulata, the small Fritillaries etc, so that you can enjoy them close at hand and when the weather is vile! They can go outside after flowering.
Abutilon 'Bella' is easy from seed and gives manageable plants that make a good show for a long time. Fuschias will flower well into the autumn too and both will survive the odd frost if kept on the dry side in winter.