Christmas Gardening – November Greenhouse Activities

If you haven’t already done it, this is the right time of year to give the outside of your greenhouse a good wash. This is because dust, dirt and algae will all tend to accumulate on the glazing, reducing the amount of light getting through to the plants inside and this means winter growth will be prevented. You should use a hose and a stiff brush, slowly spraying and brushing every glazing panel in turn. Choose a warm day to complete the job and make sure it’s not expected to freeze that night as water in the joints and apertures can freeze and expand and break the glass or make the joints open up.

Insulate your greenhouse, preferably using bubble polythene. Choose grades made especially for greenhouses, as these contain UV stabilisers which prevent them from breaking down in daylight and pin the polythene to wooden-framed greenhouses. For aluminium greenhouses you can buy special plastic clips that twist into place in the frame. You might want to use sheets of white polystyrene to line the glazing under the staging itself as this reflects extra light back into the greenhouse.

From this point on, you need to examine the plants being over-wintered under glass every week. Check they are healthy and pick off discoloured leaves and dead flowers, or you run the risk of encouraging diseases. They will need watering more plants more sparingly as conditions become cooler and you need to ensure there is good air circulation around and through their foliage, to prevent fungal diseases.

Finish planting up bowls of spring-flowering bulbs, including crocuses, narcissi, dwarf irises and tulips - place them in a cool area, covered against heavy rain, to develop.

Christmas gardening greenhouse plants photograph by newenglandange, used under a creative commons attribution licence