574 Winter Is Coming: Are Your Plants Ready To Survive?

The Veg Grower Podcast

As the days grow shorter and temperatures begin to drop, gardeners everywhere are gearing up for the winter months. In a recent episode of the Veg Grower Podcast, host Richard shares his extensive knowledge and personal experiences on how to prepare your garden for winter. From greenhouse maintenance to the benefits of green manures, Richard provides a wealth of practical advice to help you protect your plants and ensure a bountiful harvest come spring. Additionally, Chef Scott joins the episode to share a mouth-watering recipe for roast elephant garlic and potato soup, perfect for the season.

Greenhouse Maintenance: Maximizing Light and Heat

Cleaning and Organizing

Richard begins by emphasizing the importance of maintaining a clean and organized greenhouse. This is crucial for maximizing light penetration, which is essential for the growth of plants during the darker winter months.

• Cleaning Glass and Plastic Panels: Ensure that all panels are free from dirt and debris to allow maximum sunlight to reach your plants.
• Organizing Plants: Position plants that require more light on the southern side of the greenhouse. Richard mentions that his tomatoes are thriving on this side, while the northern side, which receives less light, is reserved for plants that have finished their growing season.

Enhancing Heat Retention

Richard has made several modifications to improve heat retention in his greenhouse, which is particularly important as temperatures drop.

• Adding Gravel: On the northern side of the greenhouse, Richard has added gravel to improve drainage and create a thermal bank. The gravel retains heat during the day and releases it at night, helping to keep the greenhouse warmer.
• Moving Tender Plants Indoors: Richard has moved several tender plants, such as his peach tree, grapevine, citrus tree, and various peppers, into the greenhouse earlier than usual due to the sudden drop in temperature.

Considering Additional Heating

Richard expresses concern about the lack of heating in his plastic greenhouse, which is more susceptible to temperature fluctuations. He is considering adding heat to a new potting shed he plans to build, which could provide a more stable environment for his tender plants.

Vegetable Beds: Mulching and Monitoring

Mulching for Insulation

Richard discusses the importance of mulching perennial beds to insulate plants and protect them from the cold.

• Using Straw: He has mulched his rhubarb and dahlia beds with straw, which provides an effective barrier against frost.
• Dealing with Spent Plants: Richard acknowledges the challenges of dealing with spent plants, such as tomatoes affected by blight, but is pleased to see that some courgettes are still producing.

Monitoring Temperatures

Richard emphasizes the need to closely monitor temperatures and be prepared to take action if they drop significantly.

• Horticultural Fleece: He has horticultural fleece ready to protect his plants if temperatures drop below minus five degrees Celsius. This is particularly important for younger plants like spring cabbages and cauliflowers, which are more vulnerable to cold.

Allotment Preparations: Harvesting and Planting

Harvesting Root Vegetables

Richard shares his experiences at the allotment, where he has been busy preparing for winter.

• Main Crop Potatoes: He has harvested his main crop potatoes and is pleased with the yield, particularly from the King Edward variety, which typically struggles in his soil.
• Removing Root Vegetables: Richard stresses the importance of removing root vegetables before the ground freezes to prevent damage.

Planting Brassicas and Using Nets

Richard plans to plant more brassicas in the now-empty potato beds and discusses his approach to protecting these plants.

• Using Nets: Although he dislikes using nets to protect his plants from birds, he acknowledges their necessity as winter approaches.
• Fleece for Extra Protection: Richard is prepared to use fleece if temperatures drop significantly, as this could pose a risk to his plants.

The Benefits of Green Manures

Improving Soil Health

Richard is a strong advocate for using green manures to improve soil health and suppress weed growth.

• Sowing Green Manures: He explains the process of broadcasting seeds, raking the soil, and watering the beds to encourage germination.
• Cutting Down Green Manures: Richard typically allows the green manures to grow for a month before cutting them down, either leaving the foliage to decompose on the soil or composting it for later use.

Specific Green Manures

Richard shares his enthusiasm for specific green manures and their benefits.

• Mix for Potato Crops: This includes radishes and mustards, which add nitrogen to the soil, reduce weed competition, and even fumigate the soil to eliminate pests and diseases.
• Field Beans: Another excellent green manure option, field beans fix nitrogen in the soil and are started in root trainers at home before being transplanted into the garden.

Managing Weeds

Using Cardboard

Richard mentions using cardboard to suppress weed growth in certain beds, which he finds effective.

Sowing White Clover

He also shares his experience with sowing white clover, another legume that adds nitrogen to the soil and helps smother weeds. Although he faced challenges with the clover germination, Richard remains committed to nurturing his garden and adapting his strategies as needed.

Recipe of the Week: Roast Elephant Garlic and Potato Soup

In a delightful segment, Chef Scott joins Richard to present the recipe of the week. This time, Scott shares a delicious recipe for roast elephant garlic and potato soup, accompanied by roast elephant garlic bruschetta.

Scott highlights the unique flavour profile of elephant garlic, which adds a distinct taste to the dish. This recipe not only showcases the versatility of homegrown ingredients but also encourages listeners to experiment with their own harvests in the kitchen.

The recipe in full can be found here.

Conclusion

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This week Richard has received some questions including a question asking what pot he used for his edible pond. The link for this pot can be found here.

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