Winter protection

CluelessGardener

I buy these plants year after year and it’s now getting expensive to replace them so I would like to try and keep them over winter  

Dianthus Chinensis, Geranium and Bush Fuchsia I also grow some herb’s but buy most of them in the winter thyme, rosemary (I normally leave in pots and is generally ok) tarragon, chives, chillies and parsley    

I thought it was time to start Thinking about winter protection the reason why I'm think and planning about it so early is I have four options open to me.

1. wrap pot's in bubble wrap but will this method protect my Flowers 
2. Move plants to my shed. Will they get enough light.
3. Buy a ploytunnel and locate it for just the winter on my decking. Which is in full sun most of the day ploytunnel of around 2 m x 3 m
4. I have a area in my garden where I could build a greenhouse area is 9'x5' up against a wall with only bushes on the left and to right of the area.

I could take some pictures of the area’s I have if this helps 

James

Margaret7

i take cuttings of any plants I am concerned about.Obviously I protect, but just in case I know I will have some in reserve.This reduces the amount of space needed to over winter in tunnels etc. 

Bubble wrap is good in large areas ie protecting a cold greenhouse, but for pots it can cause too much mositure and mold and fungi etc can take hold.

I also have a cold frame, doesn't need to be big, i made mine out of old planks and a double glazed door which I got out of a skip(with permission)

You can buy fleece quite cheaply to wrap pots in but they are best grouped to help protect each other if you go that way.

Polytunnels are also cheap to make with wood, plastic piping and covered in a heavy duty plastic which can also be used all year round to grow under.

I unfortunately can not afford a greenhouse, but if you can, this is the best way forward as you will get use from it all year, protection in winter, and growing in summer, ie toms, cucumbers peppers etc.and of course bringing on those cuttings ready to plant out

Hope I have helped, but you need to consider what direction your garden is facing -regarding sun and wind.Prevailing wind in England is South Westerly but with climate change I think we are all realising the wind can come from any direction at any time??!!!! Good Luck

Fairygirl

Hi James - do you mean you buy the herbs in the little pots from the supermarket? If you go to a GC, nursery or any of the big DIY outlets you can pick up herbs cheaply as they're usually sold as alpines, so a couple of pounds for a pot. Rosemary, thyme and sage are all hardy in Britain but you could keep them against a sheltered south facing wall if you're worried about them. Chives are often used in borders but you can do the same with those too. If you put the first three in  a big pot together that will help too rather than lots of little ones. Margaret's suggestion of a cold frame would probably be best for you and it doesn't have to be fancy, or even one of the litle plastic growhouses as long as you anchor it well to a wall or fence to keep it from flying off! A sheltered spot for winter is the best way. Fleece is good for winter protection but again - make sure it's well anchored! Shed's don't usually provide enough light so won't be much good for the plants you mention.Of course, a couple of windowsills would be fine for the geraniums during winter - I'm assuming you mean the half hardy pelargoniums there. 

Pennine Petal

I have my chives in a hanging basket and trust leave them to it. They always come bacwhe and we generally get snow here on the Pennines. Bush Fuchsias - need to check if they are hardy or not, the hardy ones are usually fine outside, take the others into the house and take cuttings. They root very easily.

CluelessGardener

Ok I'm going to be brave and post some images of my back garden.

Now I will warn you it's a bit of a mess this year in fact I’ve done very little in it for a year or two due to having a heart problem But I’m OK now as I have a new pacemaker fitted 7 weeks ago.

This first image is the orientation of my Garden as shown in the Iphone

 

 

This second image is the iphone in relation to my garden taken from the kitchen patio (I love sitting out on it) warm in the morning and cool from around 11.00 am depending where you sit

 

As shown in this third image I have started to make my own fencing design taken from a panel I’ve seen in a garden, three more to be made next month with a gate so I can police the dogs (I only have five) but they make a right mess of the garden esp in the winter when they just walk everywhere and cut up my lawn also they stand on plant pots and wee so most of my gardening is done with gloves on anyway there is a unused conservatory that has a running machine in it and bit and pieces however it has a pine floor so if this is used I would have to protect the floor and close a 20mm gap that runs around the top (ventilation)  also it has painted walls if I could I wouldn’t use it really as it is a conservatory.

 

 

 

Image four shows the area I would like to develop a green house as you can see I have started to clear it, also I plan to come out a extra 12”  to make the greenhouse 9’x6’

 

In this next image is if I go for a temporary polytunnel is my garden decking where I could screw it down in winter and remove it in late spring

 Image will not load ??

The next images are just of the boundaries of my garden  and my garden shed 

Image will not load I must of reached an limit so I will post them later 

 

James

CluelessGardener

Opps sorry Verdun I missed your comment how rude of me I ment pelargoniums

 

James

Fairygirl

James- I'm very impressed with your handywork on your fence - much more exciting than mine.  I like a project!  

Margaret7

Looks great James-Can you come and build me one tooooooooooo!!!!!?????? I am very envious.

Good Luck! and baby steps till you really get back your health back.

i have a physical disability and like you, i keep going and enjoy my garden.

CluelessGardener

Cool I shall start to degin it and make it out of treated pine and 6mm clear twinwall polycarbonate sheet Ebay me thinks

 

James