What do you Grow in Your Greenhouse in Winter?

The temperatures here don't fall as low as they do on the mainland during winter so I don't heat or insulate my greenhouse. If we do get a cold snap I'll cover the few plants in there with a home-made bubble wrap cloche temporarily.

This year I'm over wintering some young Fuschias, Clematis and Weigela all grown from cuttings. I've also just potted some Cyclamen corms, they will stay in there to see if they 'perform' or not. Oh, and I'll probably have some young Cistus in there too at a later point to keep the winter chill off, they are only just past the cutting stage.

 

Usually a crop of Swiss Chard / Leaf Beet for the Spring. Other than that rows of potted on cuttings sheltering before being planted out next spring, and any other cell-grown plants that I have bought cheap and am growing on for a year before planting out.

 

I overwinter fuchsias, dahlias etc and always have a few large pots of freesias for spring flowers.
Nigel

 

The shed stays above freezing as it is lagged with old duvets, pillows, carpets and lord knows what else off of Freegle!
In a year or two I'll leave it to take its chances outdoors though. Got Cantua and a Brug through the winter outdoors last winter, although neither bloomed this year.

 

I am chilling several container grown olive trees in the greenhouse for as long as I can. At some point it will be necessary to move them, and the lights, to the basement, as our winters are severe. It may appear that I am using a lot of power, however, the lights are LED grow lights and the total wattage you see in use is only 74 watts. The cost to operate them is literally pennies per day.

 

Just checked my GH temperatures this morning...hit a high of 28 degrees yesterday and a low of 3 overnight....

 

Must admit, all I grow overwinter in my unheated greenhouse this year are some primulas along with a few Auriculas which I'll pot up for house plant display.

And some 160 Red/Gold Aqualegias that I've grown from seed from my own garden plants.


Here's a couple of the parents, and I know the seedlings won't breed true, but just look what I might get again.

 

That is extreme!? I'm keeping my door open most days in an effort to keep it fairly even.

 

I opened the door for best part of the day today longk

 

@Lolimac - I have the winter bloomers to consider, and I want to keep it as aired as possible for all the seedlings too.
I have a Crotalaria in bud in there which is not complaining funnily enough, but it is a balancing act. There's also a Clerodendrum ugandense budding up nicely in there too.

 

@longk ....It certainly is a balancing act....that sun has still got some heat in it even now and the odd bits and bobs i've got on my heated bench that i'm trying to keep frost free and put to sleep are tempting fate by trying to wake up.... i need to be on the ball and get the doors open and the lids off the propagators