PRACTICAL NOTE · WINTER PREPARATION
Preparing greenhouse
beds for winter.
The winter bed does not need a grand ceremony. It needs a sensible inspection, clean edges, suitable growing medium and a record of what is actually present.
Begin with a tidy inspection
Walk the bed before reaching for a tool. Look at moisture, temperature, new growth and any damaged foliage. Photograph anything you need help identifying. Clear spent crops and isolate suspect diseased material while you check the appropriate disposal advice.
Work around crops that are still growing
Clear empty sections first, leaving established crops and their roots undisturbed. Remove weeds from the edges, tidy labels and keep the path clear so winter checks are quick. Photograph the bed before and after the work so next season’s comparison has a useful starting point.
- Note the crops and varieties you can identify.
- Remove spent material and obvious debris responsibly.
- Check drainage and avoid compacting the growing medium.
- Top up or improve the medium only when the bed and crop require it.
- Label the next sowing clearly.
Prepare for the first cold nights
An unheated greenhouse can still become very cold. Keep the advice conditional: check the forecast, the greenhouse temperature and the crop’s instructions. Ventilation remains important on suitable days, even when the season is turning.
“Check the conditions first. The calendar can wait.”
Leave a useful record
Write down the date, the crop, the job and the result. That is enough for a real diary. Percy’s job is to make the next action clearer, not to turn a routine inspection into a heroic account of horticultural conquest.
Further reading: RHS greenhouse growing guidance. Actual conditions and variety instructions take priority over this general checklist.