Winter is around the corner, and it’s time for autumn greenhouse preparation in the UK. Preparing your greenhouse in autumn is a smart way to get it ready before the temperatures start to drop drastically, with the frost making it difficult to clear the greenhouse. The aim is to ensure that the greenhouse sustains the right environment for healthy growth throughout winter; as such, you would have to pay attention to the lighting, the insulation and the state of hygiene.
Bountiful growth in the greenhouse starts with how it is prepared for each season; it’s up to you to create the right environment for the plants to have the right amount of light, aeration and insulation. Take time to understand what your plant needs this autumn by following the Autumn Greenhouse Preparation UK guide.
This blog is what you need to know to prepare your greenhouse and what you need to get it ready.
What do you need to make sure your greenhouse is prepped?
There are a number of tools and equipment that you would need to ensure that your greenhouse is ready, such as;
- Cleaning materials(Disinfectants, long brushes, buckets, sponges and wheelbarrow)
- Repairing materials such as silicone sealant, screwdriver and pliers.
- Insulation and heating equipment like a thermometer, bubble wrap, and an electric heater
- Plastic snow rake.
A guide on how you can get started
- Thoroughly clean the greenhouse.
Before anything else, the first thing to do is to ensure that your greenhouse is clean and hygienic for the winter season. Grow room plants require hygienic environments that are free from pathogenic agents, pests and weeds. There are a number of things you can do to have a thorough autumn greenhouse preparation in UK Coventry as you deep clean;
- Clear everything out: Take time to clear out everything in the greenhouse, harvest the plants, get rid of the old wilted plants and put spent foliage on the compost heap. Ensure you move the healthy plants outside under a shade temporarily.
- Scrubbing, glazing and frames: Over time, the glass house can accumulate dirt, algae or grime, which blocks a large percentage of sunlight, which is why you would need to clean the glass or the polycarbonate panel. You can use a long brush to reach the far top areas and use eco-friendly disinfectant.
- Sanitize equipment: Equipment or tools like the seed trays or pots can be places where pathogenic agents and pests accumulate, as well as gaps and tracks in aluminum or timber frames or rusty aluminum fixings. Make sure to wash them.
- Gutter maintenance: Pay attention to the gutters and the downpipes; they should be cleaned as well to remove dirt or the accumulation of dry leaves that tend to cause blockage or rust during the winter season.
Greenhouse cleaning tip: When preparing to clean the greenhouse, buy a cleaning kit with long-stick brushes to reach top areas and buy eco-friendly greenhouse disinfectants.
- Check the Insulation and heat retention.
One of the important factors to consider when prepping the greenhouse is the insulation and heat retention. A standard greenhouse will be 2°C or 5°C warmer than outside, which is why it is important to take intentional steps to prevent frost during the winter season. You can invest in;
- Bubble wrap insulation: You can invest in a 20mm horticultural bubble wrap to line the internal walls. This strategy minimizes heat loss, and the best time to insulate is right in the winter season.
- Create a microclimate curtain: In case you have few plants in your greenhouse, you can use the microclimate curtain strategy, where you can cover half of the greenhouse to insulate a smaller part, which significantly cuts on costs.
- Seal the gaps: Take time to inspect the greenhouse, check for cracks, loose glazing clips and degraded draft seals. These can be small entrances for cold air, which can drastically disrupt the required temperatures for plant growth.
Should you get the horticultural bubble wrap or the standard wrap?
They both function effectively, but they have minor differences that should be considered when buying the best insulation for the greenhouse.
- The horticultural bubble wraps have large bubbles that trap more air, whilst the standard wraps have small bubbles.
- Standard wraps do not have the UV protection coating, which leads to quick yellowing; they become brittle and break down, whilst the horticultural bubble wrap is coated with a UV-stabilized coating and hence lasts longer.
- The horticultural wrap is made of thick material, which is tough and can withstand a number of seasons, whilst the standard wrap can easily tear due to the quality of the material.
Here are some mistakes to avoid when handling insulation and heat retention
- Selecting poor insulation materials
Thin layered plastic does not provide efficient protection against the UK winter; you would have to invest in good quality bubble wrap and line it against the walls, and avoid adding heavy opaque insulation against the south side so that there is enough sunlight entrance during short winter days.
- Forgetting thermal mass
Another mistake to avoid is forgetting thermal mass. You can place objects like barrels or large stones so that they absorb heat during the day and release it at night when the temperatures drop. Avoid leaving the ground bare; use dark-coloured rain barrels filled with water to absorb and hold the heat.
Ignoring leaks
Temperature can be disrupted by small air leaks that can flow from the glass panes, the door runners, frame joints or roof vents. Ensure you inspect these areas and seal any leaks to ensure good insulation.
- The green greenhouse should be well ventilated.
A lack of good ventilation can cause high humidity, which eventually becomes a breeding environment for diseases and pests. Take time to improve the ventilation through these strategies;
Allow good airflow during clear days: always take advantage of the clear days; open the doors or the manual ventilators for air circulation.
Air circulation: Make sure to follow the right spacing between the overwintering pots to prevent the leaves from touching and to keep airflow clean.
- Overwintering strategy and plants
This is an essential aspect that ensures that your plants grow healthy through the winter season. You can decide whether you want your plants to be unheated or minimally heated;
Tender ornamentals: These are needed to save non-hardy plants from frost during winter; as such, you can incorporate plants like Pelargoniums or fuchsias, which are capable of surviving low temperatures.
Winter edibles: Planting winter edibles is a strategic way to sustain all year round, and they offer an early spring head start. You can always opt for winter-hardy salad leaves such as winter rocket, lamb’s lettuce, kale or spinach.
Cut down on watering: During winter, the plants are dormant and do not absorb much water; as such, there is a large amount of excess water which settles on cold compost and causes root rot. As such, it is advisable to significantly cut down on watering; you can water every 2 to 3 weeks and water when the top 25 mm of the soil is dry.
Recommended overwintering crops
Asian greens: mustard green for cool, unheated environments
Root vegetables: Carrots, beets or turnips
Hardy herbs: chives, cilantro and parsley.
Tips when choosing overwintering crops
Plant before the freeze: It’s best to plant the seeds 6 or 8 weeks before the first frost to allow the plants to develop a strong root system.
Avoid late starts: Planting the seeds late makes it difficult for the plants to survive during the winter season.
Protect and care for the plants: Ensure you apply mulch, keep the soil damp after planting in the falL. You can also use cold frames, hoop houses, and low tunnels to protect the plants from wind and freezing rain.
Your greenhouse is now set for winter
Autumn greenhouse preparation in the UK is not a hectic process, but it requires keen attention to your plant’s needs for the winter season. In order to prevent unnecessary maintenance, ensure you invest in the right equipment, materials or tools so that everything is durable and reliable and can withstand the weather.
Now is the best time to start gathering insulation equipment, gardening materials and overwintering crops from Bayton Horticulture Centre. Mr Pardeep not only provides good quality gardening materials but can also help you further in preparing for autumn greenhouse preparation. You can also have an opportunity for autumn greenhouse preparation UK questions and answers as you prepare yours.
FAQ’s
- What’s the best way to cut costs when insulating my greenhouse?
An effective strategy would be lining the interior with UV-stabilized horticultural bubble wrap. It significantly slows down heat transfer, hence preserving a good temperature for the plants.
- What are the common greenhouse pests in the winter season?
You would have to look out for aphids, spider mites or whiteflies. There are various ways to manage pests in your greenhouse, such as controlling humidity because they thrive in humid environments, using organic sprays, clearing debris and ensuring the structure is well sealed.
- What’s the best option between Polycarbonate or glass for the greenhouse?
Both Polycarbonate and glass are great options; the difference is in their insulation, budget and safety needs.
- What is the recommended temperature for the greenhouse during the winter season?
The required temperature would be 40°F to 45°F during the night to protect the plants from frost.
- Are there any common winter plant diseases I should be prepared for?
There are some common diseases in winter, such as powdery mildew, Root rot, and gray mold.
