Winter Tomatoes
I am reaching the very end of the tomato crop that I grew in the glasshouse and polytunnel this summer, the last few that I picked green when the weather started to turn cold, and then left to ripen in a paper bag in a draw. I have checked them whenever I have remembered and […]
Gone fishing
One of the biggest trends in indoor gardening nowadays is hydroponics—growing plants indoors, usually under lights, with their roots in water that is enriched with fertilizer. This technique (fine-tuned in the last decades of the 20th century for the discreet production of marijuana) is now developing into a small but significant sector of agriculture. If […]
Victorian Manor looking wonderful in the snow #hartleybotanic #greenhouse #glasshouse #victorian #victoriangreenhouse #victorianglasshouse #garden #gardenphotography #snow
Winter Scents
In the bleak midwinter our sense of smell is accentuated in the cold. The winter light is clear and bright and the sounds and smells of the winter garden are a delight. Linger longer in the winter garden and greenhouse and let your senses become ignited by the spicy scents of all manner of botanicals, […]
Mandevilla Care
Mandevilla is a genus of flowering vines with showy, trumpet-shaped blossoms in various vibrant colors, making them highly popular for patios and decks. In cold climates, however, they must be brought indoors for winter. Fortunately, a greenhouse is an ideal winter haven for Mandevillas as long as the temperature there stays above 50˚F. Before bringing […]
Market farces
With just two years left until the 2020 target for all gardening to be peat-free, it’s now obvious that ‘the market’ should never have been trusted to lead the way. Let’s hit pause on pantomime season, and jog our memories. This is from Richard Benyon, the then Natural Environment Minister, in December 2010: ‘The horticultural […]
Movers and Shakers
At the back end of the year the plants that draw my eye at Spring Cottage, more than any other, are the grasses because low winter sunlight shows them off really well once most of the garden has faded. Some form beaded, gossamer veils and others are like strong punctation marks. Others swirl and curl, […]
Big Surprises in Small Packages
Small yet highly effective tools can be the perfect gift for the holidays. When garden space is tight—like inside a greenhouse—this collection of scaled-down products will be appreciated. Or, put these miniature offerings on your own wish list if someone needs a hint about your preferences. Cobrahead Mini Weeder – Folks who use the regular […]
Charming, cheerful and inexpensive
Suitable for the less attentive greenhouse gardener and amongst the toughest houseplants you can find are the many members of the Commelinaceae family mostly hailing from South America. Indeed you may once already have grown the trailing Wandering Jew as this is one of those rugged plants entrusted to children. However that is but one […]
Bespoke Glasshouse with an offset porch #hartleybotanic #greenhouse #glasshouse #victorian #victoriangreenhouse #victorianglasshouse #garden #gardenphotography #bespoke #custommade #bespokegreenhouse #hartley
Things to do in winter
Open greenhouse vents for as long as possible on mild sunny days over winter, shutting them before temperatures drop early in the afternoon. A combination of high temperatures and low light makes leaves and stems soft, spindly and prone to grey mould which spreads rapidly in cool, damp conditions. Though good air circulation is vital, […]