Pen01

Unheated/uninsulated greenhouse

For a few winters now we've bubble wrapped an aluminium GH using brown tape & a few pegs. Advice re ventilating is essential: just open the window & door during day time. Even doing that many years ago a heater still caused excessive/damaging moisture so I concluded our 6x6 GH too small, & not worth it.  I've not lost any plants over-wintering outdoors & GH as I've described.  INcidentally it would cost me a lot more to replace my plants than the price of online wrap & re-using plastic bags.  We also bought, very cheaply, horticultural fleece which is amazingly effective draped over outdoor plants, weighted down with bricks/stones.  All re-useable.

Unheated/uninsulated greenhouse

Also we cluster outdoor/perennials together near the house wall, beneath an over-hang if you've got one, & place eg a garden bench or table in front so that although the light's reduced somewhat, with fleece/bubble-wrap/plastic wound around the pot bases or around the whole group a few times, they're protected.  Also leave a little of the surface soil around the stem exposed to permit moisture evaporation but limit water intake that then freezes & potentially damages roots.  It's a compromise but each year our pot plants: hebes, roses, magnolia, jasmine, fruits, lavenders, rosemary, bay, strawbs, hydrangeas, Japanese acers, other variegated small cuttings survive.  Do use unheated green-house which we stopped heating years ago because of mould problem.  Brought cuttings of pelargoniums indoors & mature pelargoniums cut back,cheese plant, succulents, cacti, cyclamen, agave etc into unheated sun lounge.  Hope this helps.

Unheated/uninsulated greenhouse

If you've got the space eg garage, you might find buying large rolls of bubble wrap & brown tape online a lot cheaper, even allowing for eg £2+ pp, & it soon cuts down to wrap around containers & green house.  We rinse it off/leave to dry outside in Spring/after the ice/snow & fold/store it to re-use this time of year.   We also re-use compost bags & large plastic bags if necessary to cover plants.  We're squirrels & throw little away - will never understand a throw-away mentality - that's why I love gardening - endless re-cycling 

Walking onion

I meant to ask: re Egyptian onions in pots - what size pot is best? I don't want to plant them in the garden.

Walking onion

If I grow these in pots what should be the depth?

30 Foot Acer Tree

I hate grey squirrels knowing they've driven out our reds & yes they're around here though I've not seen them strip that branch I could have been at work then/when they did it  I'll google this white stuff!!

30 Foot Acer Tree

There has always been lichen on the tree but it's silvery grey & textured.  This is as if someone has taken a 2 inch paintbrush & painted about 8 inches of a branch on the inside where the outer bark seems to have come away as we see in some small & large acers.  I tried chipping it off with my nail will little success.

Broken top tomato

Encouraging - thanks.

Broken top tomato

Many thanks)

Broken top tomato

After combination of rain & a snail snapped off the growing top of my Gardeners Delight foot high tomato plant, I'm hoping to grow another tomato from the broken tops.  I'm also wondering if the side shoots (that we're normally supposed to pick off) now sprouting from the joints of the 2 remaining lower branches on the damaged plant will be able to bear flowers & fruit - does anyone know?

Broken top tomato

30 Foot Acer Tree

Rhubarb Care