I should think so @selinasally. They are listed as half hardy annuals in some places but are actually pretty hardy in most of the uk- I think it's probably winter wet in the uk which is more of a problem. Does depend where you live though- if you're often below minus 5 it might be worth holding off for early spring. They are slow growers though so do start early!
No, it's not heated. Was just asking about a heater to keep my options open.
Often when people talk about a heated greenhouse in winter it's essentially keeping it frost free rather than 'warm'. Unless you insulate it well a heated greenhouse in winter will only get to an average 5 or 6c at most above the outside temperature - depends on where the greenhouse is situated & your heater of course. I use a tubular heater:
If I can be bothered I place bubble wrap over the vents, windows and doors but to be honest I think this doesn't actually achieve much. I'll also wash the glass - this does more good than you'd imagine.
This autumn I've sown Ammi, Lupins, Calendula, Sweet Peas & Cornflowers. I'll keep my Musa, Cannas, Brugs & Agaves in there over winter. If It gets really cold I place fleece over everything. If I lose anything 9 times out 10 it will be a Brugmansia.
I keep fuchsias, a large azalea in a pot, a Strelitzia and strawberries for early fruiting, i think there’s some freesias and calla. Its a sheltered spot and those plants are ok every year, i don’t bother with annuals then, I sow those in March/April, but will put some Aconitum seeds in there this year.
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
This year I found my cold frame was generally about 5 degrees higher than outside it. (Two thermometers deployed...!) I suppose an option might be to use a so-called mini greenhouses which have plastic 'jackets' inside the greenhouse, at the risk of occluding light. tbh I am mainly wanting to sow things because I like sowing (and growing) things, and spring is a long time off!
The problem is that it also means more work @REMF33 My growhouse/coldframes are rarely much warmer than the outside temps, so I only use them for overwintering small plants or cuttings, and the occasional sweet peas, but I normally do them in March/April because it isn't really worth it here.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Well I have already sown quite a few seeds so, we shall see. I definitely want to trial sweet peas in there. I have had issues with legginess even in the unheated, covered area down the side of my house. If they don't make it, I can always sow more in the spring.
It's none of those things with me Fairy,it's snails, slugs and mice,that prevents direct sowing. I found the autumn sown cornflowers,in the green house got powdery mildew. Better off sown in spring.Chris-P,sounds like my green houses, another one is for the bananas The one with the citrus,has a little tubular heater,that only makes it,a "cold green house" It's bubble wrapped and the plants get an extra layer on a frosty night.
If you're sowing s. peas at this time of year, and you get good growth, you need to keep pinching them out to keep them bushy I don't direct sow anything except in summer @Nanny Beach. Too wet - most seed doesn't do well at all. I sow in trays if I want to sow at this time of year, and then keep the trays somewhere reasonably sheltered. Then I just split up into clumps and plant those.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I don’t direct sow either, I never see them again. Only foxgloves self seed. I sowed hundreds of poppies last autumn and planted them out, left them to self seed next year but I’m not that hopeful. I don’t do much at all through the winter, it takes a lot of work to keep up with this garden so I enjoy the winter and try not to think about it too much.
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
I am going to try autumn sowing of sweet peas this year - I do have tons of seeds (impulsive purchases after a set of night shifts!) so I will sow half of each variety - if this fails I should have another half for spring.
I live in the north west and will be growing them in an unheated polytunnel. Im curious to see if it’s autumn sowing will live up to its hype of producing stronger plants with earlier flowering.
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If I can be bothered I place bubble wrap over the vents, windows and doors but to be honest I think this doesn't actually achieve much. I'll also wash the glass - this does more good than you'd imagine.
This autumn I've sown Ammi, Lupins, Calendula, Sweet Peas & Cornflowers.
I'll keep my Musa, Cannas, Brugs & Agaves in there over winter. If It gets really cold I place fleece over everything. If I lose anything 9 times out 10 it will be a Brugmansia.
i think there’s some freesias and calla.
Its a sheltered spot and those plants are ok every year,
i don’t bother with annuals then, I sow those in March/April, but will put some Aconitum seeds in there this year.
I suppose an option might be to use a so-called mini greenhouses which have plastic 'jackets' inside the greenhouse, at the risk of occluding light.
tbh I am mainly wanting to sow things because I like sowing (and growing) things, and spring is a long time off!
My growhouse/coldframes are rarely much warmer than the outside temps, so I only use them for overwintering small plants or cuttings, and the occasional sweet peas, but I normally do them in March/April because it isn't really worth it here.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I definitely want to trial sweet peas in there. I have had issues with legginess even in the unheated, covered area down the side of my house. If they don't make it, I can always sow more in the spring.
I don't direct sow anything except in summer @Nanny Beach. Too wet - most seed doesn't do well at all. I sow in trays if I want to sow at this time of year, and then keep the trays somewhere reasonably sheltered. Then I just split up into clumps and plant those.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Only foxgloves self seed. I sowed hundreds of poppies last autumn and planted them out, left them to self seed next year but I’m not that hopeful.
I don’t do much at all through the winter, it takes a lot of work to keep up with this garden so I enjoy the winter and try not to think about it too much.