Utilising greenhouse through the winter.

[Snadger]

Two years ago I grew garlic in my tomato beds in the greenhouse through the winter with some success. Last year i grew spring cabbage which also did well. This year I have a ball headed spring cabbage which I intend growing indoors. Because I have plenty of winter space indoors I've just been and bough some 'The Sutton' dwarf Broad Bean seed along with Winter density lettuce.(half price sale, I also bought vegetable spagetti for next year!)

I have two questions really, has anyone grown the Sutton indoors in winter with success and are there any other interesting crops that would benefit from winter cover?

[Jay-ell]

VC had a similar thread about what to grow in the winter

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ies_86001.html

[Scarlet]

I've grown garlic & giant garlic in my GH, great success I also grow Durham early and kale. I' tried Aquadulce Claudia in the GH once (so not a dwarf variety) I had a great crop but the plants got very leggy and I had to support them, I was constantly tying them up with bits of string and canes so the dwarf variety may be a better choice.

[Alison]

I always have spring cabbage, calabrese and caulis in my tunnel over winter. Also often some dwarf peas and broad beans. Don't bother with over wintering types and get crops ,ugh earlier than outside. Have also done well with spinach, direct down in autumn.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Last year I left 4 strawberry runners in the GH no express purpose just give a better chance to come through to spring.

I was delighted when I found a flower, lifted them on to the top shelf for light and had my earliest Strawbs ever.

[skeggijon]

I put quite a few strawberry plants in the polytunnel last year in hanging baskets in the hope of an early crop and like pots, I had great success.
In the beds I planted PSB, pointed cabbage and Tom Thumb peas

[Potstubsdustbins]

^^^^^^^^^^^^ For me it were an accident won't be this year though I have done extra runners on SWMBOs orders

[bario1]

Pak choi and parsley both do well undercover in winter.

[Snadger]

I've grown garlic & giant garlic in my GH, great success I also grow Durham early and kale. I' tried Aquadulce Claudia in the GH once (so not a dwarf variety) I had a great crop but the plants got very leggy and I had to support them, I was constantly tying them up with bits of string and canes so the dwarf variety may be a better choice.

That's why I went for the Sutton broadie as I imagine Aquadulce would just get stupidly leggy!

[Alison]

That's why I went for the Sutton broadie as I imagine Aquadulce would just get stupidly leggy!

I've done crimson flowered and they've not got leggy at all although have been a bit taller than outside

[marchogaeth]

Sutton broad beans do really well for me - even this last season when they looked so bad I thought I was going to end up using them as green manure! I just love how the bees suss them out as early flowers and pile into the tunnel on wet days. Lots of pics and ideas here http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...nel_65672.html I'm not the only one posting - plenty of over winter pics. Kibuki calebrese does brilliantly for me. Flowers of Spring - excellent spring cabbage. I'll be planting mange toute peas and French beans in modules in the next few weeks ready to plant in the borders for cropping before Christmas. Things like swiss chard do well. Strawberries, as John said, excellent. Can be worth sticking a few parsnips in for baby ones, carrots can do well as can turnips but these are more risky - this year I didn't get a crop of any of the latter - I think they went in too late and then Spring was just too cold. Every thing grows much more slowly than you even think it will and I couldn't do anything without thorough fleecing.