Containers For Greenhouses

And finally..

Water the pot really well, drenching it to settle all the compost around the roots. With some plants — such as alpines and cacti — you can add a mulch, for example grit or gravel chippings, for decoration and to stop weeds from growing on the surface. The mulch will also reduce water evaporation and prevents the surface compacting, which makes watering difficult.

Hardening off and planting out
If seedlings and cuttings are to go out into the garden, they need to be hardened off beforehand. Planting them straight out into the garden without some gentle acclimatization will give them a shock that sets them back, and may even kill them. You've spent weeks or even months getting them this far, so it isn't worth taking shortcuts at this stage. Young plants bought from under-cover displays at the garden centre should also be hardened off before planting out.

Take your time
Young plants raised in the protected environment of a greenhouse or poly tunnel will be delicate. All their shoots and leaves are soft and tender, and need to be toughened up gradually in order to survive outside. Start hardening off about two or three weeks before you want to plant out. Pay attention to the weather, not the date, and don't try to harden off in cold, wet or blustery weather — months of work can be destroyed overnight by impatience at this stage.

If you have a cold frame, stand trays and pots of plants in it. Open the lid on walnn, balmy days and keep it closed on cold, wet ones and at night. If you don't have a cold frame, you'll need to establish a daily routine of taking trays and pots in and out of the greenhouse. After a couple of weeks, leave them out on fine nights, covered with horticultural fleece.

Planting out
Choose a warm day to plant out. If you're planting tender vegetables or bedding plants, this must be after the last frost. Again, don't hurry — a few more days in the pot won't do as much damage as a frost at this point.
Even fairly tough plants like sweet peas need gradual acclimatization if they have been raised in the greenhouse. It is never worth hurrying hardening off.

Plant problems and remedies
Unfortunately, while you're carefully nurturing your plants inside your greenhouse or poly tunnel, there are many pests and diseases waiting for the opportunity to make the most of a free lunch. In fact, many of them are already present in the soil or among plants you bring in from elsewhere, so even if you raise your plants perfectly, you may experience problems. The best thing to do is to be vigilant and take action the moment that you spot anything going awry.

 You can visit this flower guide for more information about this article.