Back again for 2009 - Cold question

[Chris Graham]

Hi everyone,

I'm back again for another growing season. Not been around much as I have been busy with my 9 month year old daughter (I cant believe she is already that old, crawling and now pulling herself up) and also I decided to brew my own beer from grain.  ;)

Plot has been dug over and things are looking good, but had a small question.

As I live in Scotland it gets very cold during the winter so I have insulated my cold greenhouse.  Problem is that it still goes below 0 degrees on some nights.

I take it I cant grow anything over the winter in this?  Would have been good to have leaf lettuce or parsley.

So hows everyone been?

[Chris Graham]

[Chris Graham]

forgot to post some pictures

[saddad]

There are several varieties of lettuce like Bronze arrow that will stand several degrees of frost, and chichory/endives which are hardier... a bit of poly cover should be enough.  :)

[jo9919]

Nice to see you back Chris  :)

Just caught up with the piccies on your blog  ;D

Yes, kids do grow up quickly, can't believe mine are 13 and 10 already.

I have the same problem as you. I don't heat my greenhouse, so I don't grow anything in it over winter as it gets too cold, but it's ok for overwintering tender plants. I do still cover them with fleece though as it gets very cold in there.

My dad has a small parafin heater in his greenhouse, and it keeps the frost off, but still doesn't raise the temperature by a great deal.

Jo.

[davee52uk]

Winter Density lettuces might grow in the greenhouse. They grew all the way through the Winter last yera for me but:

1. Live in the middle of England.

2. I started the plants off in September.

3. Winter was very mild last year

..anyway give it a try

[Mrs Ava]

And if it is going to be a really chilly night, fleece and newspaper would be a good bet.  A sheet of 2 or newspaper is what my grandad always covered his larger tender plants with during frosty spells, and I use fleece in my greenhouse now as I can no longer afford to heat it.