Eager to get sowing in your greenhouse now but aren’t sure where to begin? Here’s our monthly guide from November to February.
Have you just had a brand-new greenhouse installed but it’s cold outside? Simply cannot wait until spring to get in there and become the horticultural god or goddess you always knew you could be? Well never fear!
The biggest positive for growing under glass is the opportunity to grow more throughout the year. It might not be the easiest time to start, but there are still many ways to grow in your greenhouse during the autumn and winter months.
Before we get to the sowing guide, here are some quick tips and knowledge nuggets for cold weather growing:
· Patience is Key There will be a variety of things you can sow in autumn and winter, but the vast majority will be slow growing seedlings for planting out in the spring.
· Slow and Steady Wins the Race Plants started early in a greenhouse will be grateful for added protection and will provide much stronger, happier plants when the time comes for planting out.
· Get Ahead of the Game Some hardy vegetable varieties can also be sown in the autumn for an early spring harvest.
· Choose the Right Varieties If you want things you can sow and harvest between the autumn and spring equinoxes, you’ll want fast-growing, cold-tolerant varieties.
· Keep Frost Out The biggest challenge for any greenhouse gardener in winter is keeping the frost out. You can install heaters or insulate with bubble wrap – whatever option you take, resist the chill as much as possible!
And if you have a heated greenhouse, all the better! You will have lots more options.
So, without further ado, here is our monthly guide for ideas on what flowers and vegetables you can sow and plant during the cold months. But make sure you check the plant’s requirements before you start buying seed packets en masse as some will need more attention than others, even with the aid of a greenhouse. Month by Month Sowing Suggestions from September to February
November
For Eating:
1. Microgreens – for year-round cropping
2. Broad Beans – for spring crop
3. Carrots – for early spring crop
4. Herbs – for year-round cropping
For Flowers:
1. Sweet Peas
2. Cyclamen
3. Delphinium
4. Verbascum
5. Foxglove
6. Lupin
7. Tulips
December
For Eating:
1. Broad Beans – for spring crop
2. Onions, Shallots Sets – for spring planting
3. Garlic Cloves – for spring planting
4. Winter Lettuce – for winter crop
5. Lamb’s Lettuce – for winter crop
6. Mustard Greens – for winter crop
7. Microgreens – for year-round cropping
8. Carrots – for early spring crop
9. Herbs – for year-round cropping
For Flowers:
1. Antirrhinums (Snapdragons)
2. Laurentia
3. Begonia
4. Geranium
5. Cyclamen
January
For Eating:
1. Onions, Shallots, Garlic – for spring planting
2. Microgreens – for year-round cropping
3. Broad Beans – for early summer crop
4. Lettuces – for spring crop
5. Cabbages – for early summer crop
6. Cauliflowers – for early summer crop
7. Spinach
8. Salad Onions – for spring crop
9. Onion Seeds – for spring planting
10. Carrots – for spring crop
11. Herbs – for year-round cropping
12. Chitting Potatoes – for spring planting
For Flowers:
1. Snapdragons
2. Begonia
3. Geranium
4. Dianthus
5. Lobelia
6. Sweet Peas
February
For Eating:
1. Onions, Shallots, Garlic – for spring planting
2. Microgreens – for year-round cropping
3. Onion Seeds – for spring planting
4. Carrots – for spring crop
5. Herbs – for year-round cropping
6. Chitting Potatoes – for spring planting
7. Peas – for spring planting
8. Aubergine – for summer crop
9. Brassicas – for spring planting
10. Leeks – for spring planting
For Flowers:
1. Lobelia
2. Begonia Tubers
3. Snapdragons
4. Dahlia tubers
5. Sweet Peas
6. Chrysanthemum
7. Geraniums
