The tomatoes and cucumbers are long gone and the greenhouse looks so bare compared to the summer jungle. I miss the smell that comes from the warming of the tomato leaves and of course, snacking on the fresh vegetables whilst I potter away. There is something quite lovely about a clean slate though. Over the past month or so I have been harvesting the final chillies and peppers that have clung on past those initial frosts and chilli jam is definitely on the cards for festive tables and gifts.
Cleaning my Rhino greenhouse for the coming season
A couple of weeks ago I spent a day tidying up all the pots and supports from around the greenhouse. Rather than waiting till spring to get everything shipshape, a good tidy now means less work come the new season! I took out all of my terracotta pots and gave them a good brush off, getting rid of the dried on mud. I grabbed some hot soapy water and a homegrown luffa sponge to scrub the shelving and benches. It was lovely to see them clean and sparkly after being so well used during summer. I’m such a huge fan of the colour of my greenhouse, antique ivory. It's keeping the garden bright and fresh, even through the dull winter.
I love the garden slow down in so many ways but it can be hard to feel motivated, and the garden can be somewhat abandoned. Growing over winter I find it takes lots of practice, some forward planning and of course, patience. The light levels and temperatures make it hard to get things growing but if you start seeds off in autumn, things like winter lettuce and salad leaves, spinach and kale, they can grow happily in an unheated greenhouse. It’s handy to have some horticultural fleece to hand for any really hard frosts but you can get some really hardy varieties that’ll see you picking fresh leaves during the colder months.
My early plans for 2025!
I’ll admit this year I was a little slack at preparation but the greenhouse refresh has given me a boost! I’m starting to think about next year's garden and I’m just preparing my onion and shallot sets for plating out in the new year. I start mine off in modules so they grow really healthy roots before planting out in the new year. I do the same with garlic too. It’s going to be really nice to see some green shoots coming through.
I hope you all enjoy the slower growing season and are looking forward to growing more in 2025!
Amy Shore - @chicksandveg.