Late Winter Greenhouse Jobs

The last days of winter are busy under cover, as Ruth reveals

- Ruth

This winter has felt like the longest, greyest and soggiest in living memory, and when the garden has been too wet to contemplate, the greenhouse has provided an excellent refuge.

For the past few months, it has been packed with plants jostling for space, including a lemon tree, an olive tree, winter salads growing in last summer’s grow bags, plus lots of cuttings and tender plants lifted and brought in out of the cold.

By visiting regularly I have managed to keep most of the plants healthy, and hopefully, they will be ready to start the move outside when the weather warms up.

There have been one or two casualties (in this case, old pelargoniums) that I’ve consigned to the compost heap. There’s no point being sentimental, because once the surviving plants start putting on new growth they will provide new material for propagation.

Most of the plants will be dormant in winter, so won’t be able to bounce back from attacks by pests or diseases by putting on healthy new growth. Don’t be fooled by winter weather – problems will be just as prevalent as in summer.