What do you Grow in Your Greenhouse in Winter?

Discussion in 'Greenhouse Growing' started by longk, Oct 22, 2013.

  1. longk

    longk Total Gardener

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    I'm not thinking about overwintering plants that need the "warmth" of the greenhouse to survive, but plants whose growing/blooming season is the winter (or spring).

    In mine I have Cantua buxifolia (the flowers need to form on this years growth to open in spring), various Lachenalia (small S.African bulbs which emerge in autumn and flower late winter/spring), Canarina canariensis and Ferraria crispa.
    I'm also trying Lychoris aurea in the greenhouse as it has bombed the last few years. It should grow through the winter and go dormant in late spring, but so far I've been unable to keep it growing through the winter.

    So what will you be growing this winter?
     
  2. Madahhlia

    Madahhlia Total Gardener

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    Ermm, downy mildew, I should think!
     
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    • longk

      longk Total Gardener

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      That is very defeatist!!!
       
    • Hairy Gardener

      Hairy Gardener Official Ass. (as given by Shiney)

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      I only have a blow away (although it won't :snork: ), and have never heard of the plants you have, let alone pronounce their names correctly.

      Maybe a gift around late December might encourage me to try and get adventurous..... :rolleyespink:
       
    • JWK

      JWK Gardener Staff Member

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      I usually try and keep some salad crops going over winter, but they were getting in the way/taking up too much room. This year the greenhouse is just for over-wintering tender stuff.
       
    • Madahhlia

      Madahhlia Total Gardener

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      My greenhouse needs replacing. It is a cheap wooden one and the glass has begun to slide out because the little metal stoppers have dropped off. It's also going wonky so even if I can get the glass to stay in place there will be triangular slits left at the ridge end of each pane.

      If it stops raining for long enough and I get some help I could bodge fix it. I'll have to have a go because it's the only way I can protect my salvias, brugs etc.

      Going on hols on Monday for a few days. Hope it doesn't pick that week for the first cold snap! If I get time this weekend I should do some plant sorting.

      Normally the greenhouse has got over-wintering pelargoniums in it, and they can be relied on to produce a fine display of downy mildew before pegging it. Maybe this year I'll chop the tops off if I can bear it and put them in the brick shed - if I get round to emptying it out.

      If, if, if. D'you get the picture? :gaah:
       
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      • longk

        longk Total Gardener

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        Just sneak in the odd Lachenalia or Ferraria sir - you won't regret it!


        I'm living your picture too!!:snork:
         
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        • Lolimac

          Lolimac Guest

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          I'll be just over wintering a few plants and growing a few salad leaves and herbs:blue thumb:
           
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          • shiney

            shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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            Not a great deal of help from me. We have some things that bloom in the winter but that is usually a coincidence.

            Plants just get dumped in there, or are never taken out :heehee:, and we have over a thousand of them!!!

            I've also found this growing in the greenhouse in February :)
            P1110863.JPG

            P1110861.JPG
             
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            • pete

              pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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              If I had something bigger, and a bigger wallet, I might try some of the winter flowering stuff.
              But out winters are so damp and dismal that without a dehumidifier and a min of 5C I doubt much would flourish in amongst the overwintering stuff.
              I have the conservatory, but that is mainly used for overwintering things that like a higher temperature.
               
            • Trunky

              Trunky ...who nose about gardening

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              Ditto.
              I'll be overwintering my Oleander and growing some winter salad leaves such as Mizuna, Corn Salad, Tatsoi and Arctic King lettuce.

              If there's a cold snap there'll probably be some of these too:

              [​IMG]
               
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              • longk

                longk Total Gardener

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                Don't leave me to look after them - I would be tempted to warm them up in the oven!

                On another forum, someone is trying to convince me that Oleander is UK hardy! Mine will be in the shed.
                 
              • longk

                longk Total Gardener

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                That does bother me. The bulbous plants should be ok, but the Cantua bothers me. I'm aiming for an absolute minimum of 3°c with a fan heater that I used to keep the much larger shed frost free last year.
                 
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                • pete

                  pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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                  There is a very nice large, red flowered Nerium on a housing estate not far from me, it has been growing in the front garden for at least 5 yrs, that means its survived some pretty bad winters.
                  Its totally open to all the elements and flowered the best I have seen, this summer.
                  I'm trying a white flowered one in a sheltered position this winter, it survived, with damage, outside in a pot all last winter.
                  Single flowered ones are hardier than the doubles.
                   
                • longk

                  longk Total Gardener

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                  @pete - thanks for that! I'll put it in the shed if it gets arctic then. Next spring I'll plant it out and then next winter it'll have to take its chances outdoors.
                   
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