Crusader Crossword Winners

january 25: T Hunt, County Tyrone; january 26: John Atkinson, Preston, Lancs; january 27: A Tomkins, Aspley Guise, Milton Keynes; january 28: S Tuffin, North Baddesley, Southampton; january 29: M Naden, Bollington, Macclesfield; january 30: C Drage, Oxon; january 31: C Cooper, Dorset. Please allow 30 days for prizes to arrive

After a winter off duty, the average greenhouse is ready for a spot of spring cleaning. Get it done early, because once you start sowing, pricking out and planting you won’t have time.

Begin by cleaning the glass. Even if you did it last autumn you’ll be amazed how much green slime has appeared inside and how much atmospheric dirt has been deposited outside.

If time is tight just clean the inside because you won’t be able to get at it once it’s full of plants. Forget about the sort of polite squirty window cleaning sprays you use indoors. You need warm soapy water, a sponge and lots of elbow grease.

After washing down, take one of those rubber squeegees – the sort that looks like a windscreen wiper blade – and scrape the glass clean and dry in one go.

Next, clean the staging and set up your electric propagator if you use one. It’ll need a good wash and wipe. Then fill the base with an inch of silver sand.

A clean start is essential where you’ll be raising seeds and cuttings. Don’t risk introducing disease.

If you’ve early seeds to sow, start them now if your propagator can maintain a high enough temperature. Otherwise start them on a windowsill indoors and use your propagator for growing on young plants later in the spring. You’ll save lots of electricity that way.