MINI-GREENHOUSE & STRAWBERRIES
As we had a rather mild and sunny day today, I had to take advantage of it. For me, I need time to garden rather than do everything in a mad rush. I dismantled the small polytunnel that I had used all summer for my tomatoes and strawberries and put together the mini-greenhouse that I had had stored in my shed. While I would love to have a big, fancy greenhouse made of glass my garden has no space for one. However, the mini-greenhouse which I paid less than £20 for about 3 years ago is invaluable in spring and over winter. During the harshness of winter, I keep my potted herbs in there which go quite dormant mostly but which otherwise might not survive the severe low temperatures we have been getting lately. Plants in pots suffer more than those in the ground. At the moment though, I have put my perpetual flowering strawberry plants in there. Strawberries, I believe, are quite hardy so they may have to be taken out of the mini-greenhouse to make way for less robust plants in a month or so.
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I've never been quite sure whether or not those terracotta pots are frost proof or not and because I love them, love the shape of them, I protect them in winter. They also come in very useful as heavy weights to hold down the mini-greenhouse in times of strong winds. By the time the mini-greenhouse is full even a hurricane couldn't shift it. Ok, maybe a hurricane could, but not the gales we get around here. Hedging my bet, I also tie it to the fence!
You might note that there is a double cover on it. Originally it came with a clear plastic cover which tore early last year so I bought another stronger one. I use both. I also have a fleece cover which I sandwich between the two plastic ones when the frosts start. I don't take chances, do I?
I'll keep the mini-greenhouse open as long as the weather is relatively mild and there is no strong wind. I don't want to create a climate that encourages mildew and botrytis. The 'mother' strawberry is at the top and the others are all young plants taken from its runners. Note, even those are creating fruit. I repotted the young plants today as I noticed that, in the small pots I originally pegged them down into, they had already become rather potbound. I also think they might be warmer in bigger pots.
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I've never been quite sure whether or not those terracotta pots are frost proof or not and because I love them, love the shape of them, I protect them in winter. They also come in very useful as heavy weights to hold down the mini-greenhouse in times of strong winds. By the time the mini-greenhouse is full even a hurricane couldn't shift it. Ok, maybe a hurricane could, but not the gales we get around here. Hedging my bet, I also tie it to the fence!
You might note that there is a double cover on it. Originally it came with a clear plastic cover which tore early last year so I bought another stronger one. I use both. I also have a fleece cover which I sandwich between the two plastic ones when the frosts start. I don't take chances, do I?
I'll keep the mini-greenhouse open as long as the weather is relatively mild and there is no strong wind. I don't want to create a climate that encourages mildew and botrytis. The 'mother' strawberry is at the top and the others are all young plants taken from its runners. Note, even those are creating fruit. I repotted the young plants today as I noticed that, in the small pots I originally pegged them down into, they had already become rather potbound. I also think they might be warmer in bigger pots.
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| Mother strawberry and pegged down runners. |
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| Notice the snail under the leaf - the little blighter. May it R.I.P. |