As the winter weather takes hold, gardening doesn’t have to stop, says the team from British Garden Centres. Your greenhouse can still be a haven for existing and new plants.

Greenhouses can be a thriving oasis all year round by providing warmth and protection from the unpredictable UK weather. Discover the possibilities of winter gardening and what you can grow in your greenhouse with the following advice from British Garden Centres.

Get your greenhouse winter-ready

Your greenhouse needs a thorough cleaning after the summer activity before planting for winter. Removing dirt, algae, and mould will allow more light to reach your plants, which is crucial during the shorter winter days.

Start by removing all plants already in your greenhouse and then sweep or vacuum the floor and surfaces to remove debris. Disinfect the structure using a garden-specific disinfectant or household cleaner, and hot water. Clean each glass panel with a glass cleaner to allow for much-needed light during the winter months.

To keep your plants, warm during winter, consider insulating your greenhouse. Horticultural bubble wrap is an excellent choice for maintaining a stable temperature and protecting your plants from frost when the temperature drops outside of the greenhouse.

Choosing winter plants for your greenhouse

When selecting plants for your winter greenhouse, consider their temperature tolerance, light requirements, and growth rate. The experts at British Garden Centres recommend sowing leafy greens like lettuce, spinach, and kale which all thrive in cooler temperatures and can be harvested throughout the winter. Root vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, and beets can also be successfully grown in a greenhouse, with light and warmth, ready to plant outside in the spring when the weather and soil warm up.

Herbs like parsley, thyme, sage, rosemary, and chives are excellent choices for winter greenhouse growing too. These hardy plants can withstand colder temperatures and provide a continuous supply of fresh herbs for your winter-warming dishes.

Taking care of your greenhouse over winter

To create the ideal growing conditions for your winter plants, keep your greenhouse at a minimum temperature of 5°C (41°F) if you can. Supplemental heating, such as electric heaters or paraffin heaters, can help maintain optimal temperatures during cold spells.

Garden maintenance doesn’t stop over the winter months so make sure your plants get as much natural light as possible by cleaning the greenhouse glass regularly. Consider using LED grow lights, to extend the day length and encourage plant growth in the darker and shorter UK days. To control humidity levels, we advise that you ventilate your greenhouse on mild days by opening panes or doors and using dehumidifiers if needed.

Water your plants regularly, but avoid overwatering, as this can lead to root rot and won’t get your newly sown plants off to a great start so check the moisture level with your finger.

How to sow your seeds in your greenhouse

Sow your winter seeds in trays or directly into pots filled with good-quality seed compost, available from your local British Garden Centres store. Transplant seedlings into larger pots or directly into the flower bed when they are large enough to handle and the weather has warmed up. We recommend using a layer of mulch to conserve moisture and suppress weed growth.

Julian Palphramand, Head of Plants at British Garden Centres said: “By following our simple steps, you can transform your greenhouse into a thriving winter garden. From crisp, fresh salads to fragrant herbs, the possibilities are endless. Our knowledgeable team can help in-store over the next few weeks to embrace the winter season and make use of your greenhouse all year round."

British Garden Centres (BGC) is the UK’s largest family-owned garden centre group with 65 centres around the country. The group is owned and led by The Stubbs family, who also own and operate Woodthorpe Leisure Park in Lincolnshire.BGC was launched in 1987 with the opening of Woodthorpe Garden Centre by brothers Charles and Robert Stubbs. Since 2018 it has expanded rapidly with the acquisition of 50 garden centres allowing it to grow from its heartland to the business it is now with 65 garden centres spread from Carmarthen to Ramsgate, Wimborne to East Durham.

The group has a team of 2,700 colleagues working across the garden centres, restaurants, growing nurseries, distribution centres, Woodthorpe Leisure Park, and Woody’s Restaurant & Bar.

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