Winter Gardening / Vegatables and Plants

Posts

• koyukano Posts: 72

  November 2020

  paul.hallissey said:

  Hi all, new to the forum but not that new to gardening. 
  Ok this is my dilema. 
  I have a pretty boring small garden with grass, a large raised bed with a tunnel cloche over it, and two mini greenhouses I can use, not glass just the stand type with covers over them.
  As I garden mainly in the spring and summer, I would like some ideas of how I can both have colour in the winter i.e winter flowing plants, and also can i grow seeds this time of year for any winter veg?
  I only really know of Cyclomen and winter pansies , I hope you guys can give me some ideas as im not adverse to a bit of work. 
  I live in Oxford UK, so getting a bit damp and cold this time of year so bear that in mind.
  
  Regards
  Paul

  You can sow some types of onions and garlic now which will be ready for summer, I think Broad beans can also be grown now ready for next year, nothing you plant now is gonna grow much till spring starts so there's no veg that you can plant now and harvest over the next few months that I am aware of unless perhaps radishes? Someone else will be able to confirm or not. Good luck with it though. 

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• Posy Posts: 3,601

  November 2020

  Hi, Paul. The flowering plants I rely on in winter are shrubs. I'm not aware of any that will come into flower, outdoors in winter, apart from the hellebores and then bulbs such as aconites and snowdrops. I grow a number of half-hardies in containers and they flower all through in a frost free greenhouse. I don't grow veg so I can't help there.

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• Fairygirl Posts: 55,117

  November 2020

  There isn't much that can be grown at this time of year re veg. From about December, onions can certainly be sown. 
  The plastic greenhouses don't offer that much protection either so don't assume they do the same job as a proper greenhouse or even a cold frame. 
  I do the same as @Posy - shrubs and greenery, and plants which give autumn colour to lead into that. Sarcococca has winter flowers, but most winter flowering shrubs have small flowers too, although many are scented. Mahonia is also good. The niger Hellebores flower at this time of year too.
  I keep a selection of pots which I can swap around, using various grasses and evergreens of varying sizes, with bulbs to come through in late winter/spring. That's something you could consider for next year too, although you could still pot up some bulbs.  

  It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
  
  
  
  I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...

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• Loxley Posts: 5,698

  November 2020

  Some of the heathers are winter flowering, I remember seeing some wonderful images from the gardens at Harlow Carr, with Erica x darleyensis in big swathes with Cornus and white birch stems, and plenty of evergreens and ornamental grasses like Calamgrostis which stay standing over winter. Riotously colourful. Erica x darleyensis is more tolerant of limey soil than most heathers.

  "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 

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• Loxley Posts: 5,698

  November 2020

  Another nice one just seen on instagram
  

  Daphne bholua ‘Darjeeling’

  
  

  "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 

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• Fairygirl Posts: 55,117

  November 2020

  Most of the winter heathers [ ericas] are more alkaline tolerant - some actually need alkaline conditions. 
  There are loads of shrubs and plants which can give colour through winter @paul.hallissey  -  either from foliage or flowers, but it also depends on climate and conditions in your area as to what will suit, and what room you have. 
  Many of the berrying plants are good too, until the birds have them all 
  Gaultherias are good - especially the white or pink ones, as the berries get left. Birds eat reds and oranges first, then yellows. The pinks and whites are often still there until spring. 

  It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
  
  
  
  I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...

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