By Isle of Wight Observer
This week we’ve finally felt the first sign of winter on the horizon, with a distinctly chilly nip in the air. As much as many of us don’t really like the cold, it does help kill off many of the garden pests, so a couple of weeks of freezing temperatures sure does help.
If you have any tender plants then it’s time to protect them; either wrap them up or bring into the greenhouse. If you don’t have the ability to heat your greenhouse, then you can still help to keep the frost out by lining the inside with bubble wrap and garden fleece. This will keep out a light frost, but anything colder will need added protection. If you are able to keep your greenhouse or polytunnel heated, then you only have to keep it just above freezing to keep your plants alive. Many heaters have a frost protection setting, and will only kick in once it gets close to freezing.
Obviously heating costs are incredibly high, so one way to combat this is to turn the heating down in your home during the day, and spend the day pottering in the greenhouse in the warm!
I’m sure, like me, you are all thoroughly looking forward to the upcoming festive season, and can’t wait to put up your Christmas trees and decorations. Our Island garden centres are now full of wonderful gift ideas, so why not treat friends and family to something for their gardens?
There’s still time to get your spring bulbs in, especially tulips. If you have a greenhouse you can also pot up shallots to get them into growth before planting out in the new year. If your ground is on the heavy side, then it’s time to lift your dahlia tubers to help protect them through the winter.
They need to be kept dry and frost free, which is not as easy as it sounds. Turn the tubers upside down on the greenhouse bench, and allow to dry for a few days before storing them.