If you’re growing your own over the winter, then now is the time to get ready to protect your plants on those cold frosty mornings. There’s nothing worse than seeing a nice healthy crop suddenly flop with a temperature drop! Here are our top tips for keeping them safe and warm…
- Bring pots and containers under cover on cold, clear nights. If you can pop them into an empty greenhouse for the winter, that would be ideal. If you do this, don’t forget to water them from time to time!
- Get the horticultural fleece out. This is a life saver for tender plants that are growing outside. If you’ve got a bed of winter salad leaves, cabbages or any other brassicas, then pop a loose covering of horticultural fleece over the top, either draped gently over and held down at the sides and corners with pegs or rocks, or carefully constructed using a hoop to form a mini polytunnel.
- Use a cloche in place of the horticultural fleece if needs be. Alternatively, cut a clear plastic bottle in half and cover the plants with this to make them their own little green house.
- Add mulch to fruit plants and trees – a nice thick layer of mulch around the base will keep the frost away from their roots and keep the temperature a little more consistent for them.
