Sunderland Echo

Keeping greenhouse­s bright and also warm

- By TOM PATTINSON

Our gardens were the one constant that shone like a guiding light in the past year, and thankfully they’re still here at the beginning of 2021. So, let’s resolve to grasp the opportunit­ies they offer and grow those delicious veggies, have a mini herb garden, plant the longpromis­ed fruit bearers and sow for colour throughout the borders. If this column can offer any ideas or guidance along the way, then I’ll be happy!

A friend has clearly been thinking of the pleasure gleaned from his precious plot and of the additions he can make to enhance future experience­s.

This is what we could all be doing, bearing in mind how our gardens came to the rescue in the year of need.

George is big on growing vegetables, show onions especially, and likes to have the seed saved from a large, well-shaped strain to hand early.

However, he’s in the same position as those of us who have an unheated or partially heated greenhouse. In the throes of winter, seedlings and young plants need modest warmth and good light conditions to encourage sturdy developmen­t.

Lining the greenhouse with an insulating material helps, but can reduce light intensity.

The addition of a mobile heat source; oil, gas, coal, is the route taken by many because it will create a reasonable growing environmen­t.

Then there is electricit­y, which presents more options with controlled warmth and lights.

So, he’s determined to improve matters by creating a growing box with a soil-warming cable that provides the warmth to bring on his onions.

Once it’s up and running he will no doubt discover the potential for general propagatio­n and greater enjoyment.

One luxury in my otherwise cold greenhouse is a one metre square propagatin­g box. It is connected via an armoured undergroun­d cable running from the garage, and was installed by a qualified electricia­n.

It has become a necessary concession to cost over time, but repays a hundred-fold by way of raising our own plants, with the first seeds sown in February.

A combinatio­n of overnight fleece blanket covering and early afternoon closing of greenhouse vents, helps us perform a balancing act that sees fledgling plants on their way.

 ??  ?? Rhubarb forced.
Rhubarb forced.

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