Topic: Greenhouse in winter

[katynewbie]

When my toms etc have done their stuff I want to try and use the house over the winter. Have thought about some salad type leafy bits, what else can i do with it?

May be heating it a little if i think it will be worthwhile, and going down the bubble wrap route.

All suggestions welcome!

[Mrs Ava]

Well, apart from overwintering my tender plants....altho with the way the Essex climate is changing, I might not bother sticking them in there, I grow salad leaves, and pot up/sow some herbs for winter use (parsley, chives, basil, mint and so on).  I also sow things like spring onions, radish and little carrots in large tubs/troughs/pots.  You could also grow French beans if you are going to keep the greenhouse frost free as they do not need pollinators so I reakon you could get a harvest there.  I also keep a couple of chilli plants on the go for winter, and I have some late sown tomato plants which I am hoping will provide fresh fruits into winter.

[MrsKP]

how late is late for sowing your toms Emma ? 

i'm definitely going to try salad leaves and now you've mentioned it, spring onions, and carrots.  i can't let all this new and protected space go to waste for 5 months !

 ;D

[saddad]

We grew a salad mix in the border.. with no heat or bubble wrap last winter and were still taking crop from it in April when we had to root it up for the new seasons crops!... Unless you really like it avoid Red Mustard as it gets really hot as the plants get older...
 ;D

[Mrs Ava]

I sowed some about a month ago Mrs, but I also took a rather nice side shoot from on of the plum toms on the plot just the other day and it should quickly root and be away.  Last year I think I picked my last tom around Christmas time.

[MrsKP]

so i'm a bit late then, even for late.

next year definitely.

 ;D

[Mrs Ava]

Have you no side shoots that you have missed Mrs?

[MrsKP]

all toms are bushes this year !  i knew no better.

 ::)

[Mrs Ava]

Well nip of a goodly side shoot and stick it in a pot - it will be rooted in a week!  ;D

[MrsKP]

will have a bash, can't hurt can it.

 ;D

[Chris Graham]

Sound a great idea, i didnt know you could do that.

[welsummerman]

just a short tip go to church and ask vicar to save all the candle stubs for you ,usually come in about 3 inch bits ,the great big ones about 6 inches thick are great . melt them down get some butchers twine  make new candle to burn in greenhouse  a couple will just be enough to keep the temp up . i made one from a lot of broken candles found in a skip outside Boye's store Grimsby, egg box full . melted wax poured into a bucket which i had put a 1/2 inch Hessian rope burned for a month or more was nice and warm

[MrsKP]

i'd read about, but not tried, putting a candle in a terracotta plant pot and then upturning another over it.

i guess you could cover the drainage hole and pour the melted wax direct into the pot ?  and i've got a church at the end of the garden !  might have to pop round.

 ;D

[davy1]

Have you ever considered growing spuds for Xmas in your greenhouse
Davy