Winter is the time of the year where a lot want to batten down then hatches, sit by the fire and read a good book. Whilst this is ok for most as gardeners we often find ourselves disheartened as we miss the garden and agitated by the want for spring. Don't worry! There are still loads to get done at this time of year, in preparation for the year ahead; some jobs inside in the warm but some jobs still outside. So wrap up warm and get outside.
What to grow direct into the ground
Fruit
Although it doesn't feel like there's much to plant right now, you can definitely get new fruit trees, grape vines and bushes in! Make sure the ground isn't frozen when you do this though.
Greens
You can try some mizuna and mustard greens to give you some greens in the colder months. Make sure to plant them close to shelter to reduce the effects of winds.
Garlic
Garlic can be planted before the shortest day, so in some areas you still have time.
What to grow in the greenhouse
You can still be harvesting winter salads, even in a cold greenhouse, they will grow much slower than summer lettuces and greens but they are still great. Pick off any yellowing or mouldy leaves, keep the soil moist and use fleece where possible; you could be eating salad leaves right up until spring.
Remember to clean off any algae build up on your greenhouse or polytunnel to allow more light in.
Harvest
If planted earlier in the year you will be harvesting the following crops in December.
What jobs needs doing
Use or remove
All the autumn varieties of vegetables, fruit and flowers that you've been growing in recent months will all be starting to bolt as we move into winter, such as leeks and salad leaves. If you haven't eaten them by now then the best thing to do is use up what you can and remove what you can't, unless you're seed saving of course! For salad leaves the bolted flowers with strengthen the plant, so eat the smaller leaves before removing the plant. For leeks the core of the leek will become hard when bolted, best for the compost pile; but the outer layers are still edible!
Hedge rows / Trees / Bushes
Hedge rows, trees and bushes are brilliant for creating borders and protecting against the harsh winter winds. However, with light levels and nutrients low at this time of year it is always wise to trim back the dead leaves and give them a heathy prune. Not only will your plants thank you for the hair cut it will also let more light in and reduce the amount of nutrients they're taking from other nearby crops that might still be growing. Remember: Avoid pruning anything in the cold or frost weather!
Make sure you also check for tree rooting, as their roots can travel far and cause problems with nearby crops. If found just slice through them, it will not affect the tree.
Any fallen leaves should be either left for wildlife, used for mulching your raised beds and “putting them to sleep” or being stored in a mesh bin to be turned into leaf mould for addition to the compost bins. Leaves are valuable! Just don’t take them all they’re valuable to the wildlife also.
Prepare for the coming year
Now is the time to start planning your spring garden, preparing beds and buying seeds. If you like to work with a calendar or a garden planner then get planning - what do you need to purchase, can you get any seeds on sale, how much do you plan on planting and where; all useful questions to ask yourself right now. Depending on what you're planting and where will depend on how you prepare your beds. Adding manure now to give it enough time to rot down is a good idea, but bare in mind what you're planting in each area to ensure that you provide the correct nutrients.
Water sources
Don't forget about your water sources at this time of year. You could do with protecting taps and pipe fittings to ensure that water does not freeze inside, if it does they can break due to expansion and cause a lot of trouble when you come to water again in the spring.
The biggest challenges
Harsh winds
Make sure all smaller crops such as new fruit trees are staked or tied down, so they don't rock and loosen in the soil.
Check all supports and ties, if they've rotten or broken then replace.
Low light
Artificial light can be used in greenhouses for longer growing seasons, but as a rule low light will decrease plant growth so if you have anything planted and it's not doing a lot don't panic! Some crops such as broad beans and garlic are meant to be slow growing until spring, you planted them to get a head start so let them be.
Freezing temperatures
Regular checks of your crop for water pockets around the base of the stems and roots, these can freeze so should be raked over / filled.
Make sure to lift any root veg still left in the ground when it starts to freeze or they will become unusable do to freezing and thawing.
If you're planted brassicas, shard, carrots, potatoes, herbs or salad leaves in your greenhouse of polytunnel then use a fleece cloth the keep them warm and protected in the cold weather.
Leaf spot
Leaf spot is still a problem in December, albeit one of the nicest problems to have when it comes to crop. Simply remove the affected areas and new leaves will often be unaffected. Typical plants that leaf spot affects are beets and brassicas.
Rotting crop
Make sure you check your stored fruit and veg regularly, as rot in stored crop can be devastating. If you check regularly you can remove anything that has softened or started to rot, to reduce the risk of it spreading.
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Winter reusable plant covers |
1 comment
Useful tips.