NEEPS

pete_inthehills · Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2009 9:12 am Post subject: Winter Gardening

My polytunnel always gets very wet and mouldy during the winter so I never bother growing anything in it. In fact this year, I've opened it up to the chickens for them to use. Hopefully, they'll dig it over and eat any bugs and seeds ready for next year.

But I don't want to stop growing. I quite fancy trying somethings in the house, in the conservatory and on window sills.

Anyone got any good ideas?

pete
inthehills
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Diana · Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2009 9:19 am Post subject:

Chilli plants can be taken indoors to overwinter (they're actually perennial I believe, but die overwinter here if left in unheated conditions).

Herbs of course work well indoors.

Overwintering onions and garlic and be planted outside now, or in modules in a PT or greenhouse ready for planting out early next year.

Greens can be grown overwinter - think microplants here. Sow come cabbage, kale, chard etc and harvest when very young.

And of course, you can sprout seeds. This is probably my favourite, as it gives quick returns - a couple of days to a week.

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wildgarlic · Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2009 10:23 am Post subject:

chillis have survived well at my old place - some over 3 years now (or is it 4?)

Like the sprouting seeds idea - good healthy stuff, and quick! Healthy fast food.
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Forget-me-Not · Neepster Joined: 25 Jan 2008 Posts: 1031 Location: Insch

Wow didn't know that about chillies, means mine won't be composted. I want to start herbs off in the kitchen and the garlic, onions.

About a forthinght ago, I emptied my first ever compost bin on some of the beds. So chuffed with it!!! Very much helped by guinea and chook poo and invaluable, hapy chooks, digging over. We planned to put a poly in there and to use the chooks but unless I can get a second hand one in the new year, will have to wait a year.

Beth
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peppercat · Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 11:00 am Post subject:

I didn't know you could overwinter chillies either - how about sweet (bell) peppers as mine still very small and green in greenhouse.
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Diana · Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 11:07 am Post subject:

Not sure, but it's certainly worth trying - if they're too small to eat anyway.

I should point out though, that overwintering doesn't usually produce additional fruits - it does however mean you have a nice mature plant that can start producing as soon as spring arrives rather than spending all that time growing before it can start producing.
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Maria · Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 2:44 pm Post subject:

Have one pepper plant in the front room now. It seems to be doing ok. Still has 4 teeny peppers on it...that i keep hoping will get a little bigger before i take them.

Had spinach and parsley in the poly last winter...and some rosemary ect in pots. I had hopes of doing much more this winter...but so far i've been as wet as the weather when it comes to gardening at home.

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