February 2012
February 2012
Dear Fellow Gardeners,
Well February has arrived – with its freezing temperatures – and now the gardening work can really begin. At this time of the year, our attention turns to the greenhouses and tunnels, which have to be brought up to scratch by spring. What with the gales and Joy’s accident with the car, we have a fair bit of repairing to do, mostly taping the tears in our polytunnel plastic and replacing the broken panes in our greenhouse. Then we have to wash off the algae and finish clearing out the bits and pieces left over from last year….you get the picture. And the reward for the work? We get to sow some seeds.
… well close, but not quite as bad an accident as Michael likes to proclaim!
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February jobs
Now is the time to sow your chillies, tomatoes and aubergines
For other jobs to do in February click here.
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Protected cropping
Greenhouses and polytunnels are ideal for summer vegetables such as tomatoes, aubergines, cucumbers and peppers. Too often, however, gardeners overlook their usefulness for growing winter and spring crops such as the oriental brassicas, lettuce, peas and carrots, and we at Sea Spring Seeds intend to rectify the situation.
We love our tunnels and greenhouses and couldn’t get by without them. Hopefully, many of you will have a polytunnel or greenhouse, or if now, are considering the pros and cons of erecting a structure in your garden right now. So we decided to make this the main subject for this month’s newsletter.
• General overview of protected cropping:
Protected cropping refers to a gardening technique that uses specialised structures, such as cloches, greenhouses and polytunnels, to trap the sun’s warmth and shield growing plants from the wind. The microclimate they create gives more flexibility to when and what crops a gardener can grow. For more click here.
• Which – Greenhouse or polytunnel?
Both have their advantages and disadvantages, all of which must be weighed up before a decision can be made. For example:
The plastic of a polytunnel is safer than the glass in a greenhouse, and is an important consideration if you have children. You could, however, substitute the glass with polycarbonate sheets, though light transmission will be reduced.
Polytunnels are cheaper to buy for the amount of area they cover. Likewise, they are easier to put up and don’t require a level site as a greenhouse does. But don’t think polytunnels are perfect. Plastic wears out and needs replacing every 6 or 7 years. In contrast, unless it gets broken, glass can last virtually forever. There is also a greater loss of heat through plastic than glass, which means tunnels cannot be efficiently heated for the early propagation of plants.
Which is better, a greenhouse or polytunnel, each one has positive and negative features.
• Instructions for putting up a polytunnel.
Putting up a polytunnel can be a bit daunting, but it is simply a step-by-step process. We have just posted a 70-photograph picture essay on our website showing how to erect and clad a polytunnel. Click here.
Putting plastic sheet on a polytunnel.
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Social media
OK so we have done it; we have gone head first into social media. Building on our venture of a weekly blog (click
chillies, tomatoes and aubergines
For other jobs to do in February click here.
________________
Protected cropping
Greenhouses and polytunnels are ideal for summer vegetables such as tomatoes, aubergines, cucumbers and peppers. Too often, however, gardeners overlook their usefulness for growing winter and spring crops such as the oriental brassicas, lettuce, peas and carrots, and we at Sea Spring Seeds intend to rectify the situation.
We love our tunnels and greenhouses and couldn’t get by without them. Hopefully, many of you will have a polytunnel or greenhouse, or if now, are considering the pros and cons of erecting a structure in your garden right now. So we decided to make this the main subject for this month’s newsletter.
• General overview of protected cropping:
Protected cropping refers to a gardening technique that uses specialised structures, such as cloches, greenhouses and polytunnels, to trap the sun’s warmth and shield growing plants from the wind. The microclimate they create gives more flexibility to when and what crops a gardener can grow. For more click here.
• Which – Greenhouse or polytunnel?
Both have their advantages and disadvantages, all of which must be weighed up before a decision can be made. For example:
The plastic of a polytunnel is safer than the glass in a greenhouse, and is an important consideration if you have children. You could, however, substitute the glass with polycarbonate sheets, though light transmission will be reduced.
Polytunnels are cheaper to buy for the amount of area they cover. Likewise, they are easier to put up and don’t require a level site as a greenhouse does. But don’t think polytunnels are perfect. Plastic wears out and needs replacing every 6 or 7 years. In contrast, unless it gets broken, glass can last virtually forever. There is also a greater loss of heat through plastic than glass, which means tunnels cannot be efficiently heated for the early propagation of plants.
Which is better, a greenhouse or polytunnel, each one has positive and negative features.
• Instructions for putting up a polytunnel.
Putting up a polytunnel can be a bit daunting, but it is simply a step-by-step process. We have just posted a 70-photograph picture essay on our website showing how to erect and clad a polytunnel. Click here.
Putting plastic sheet on a polytunnel.
_________________________________
Social media
OK so we have done it; we have gone head first into social media. Building on our venture of a weekly blog (click here); we are now doing:
• Twitter (@seaspringseeds)
• Facebook (www.facebook.com/seaspringseeds AND for all you chilli heads: http:/www.facebook.com/pages/Home-of-the-Dorset-Naga/190921644339274?ref=tn_tnmn
Our signature photo for facebook
Please follow, like, share or whatever it is that we are supposed to do. We promise we will keep all entries interesting and not swamp your inbox!
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Chilli growing courses
There are now just a few places left on Sunday19th February for the “What’s hot, what’s not” growing courses. These courses are good value, and for just £20 and a morning of your time, you will learn the ins and outs of pepper growing. We guarantee chilli and sweet pepper growing success, even if you don’t have a greenhouse or tunnel. Click here for more information.
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Competition
Our "Guess how many chillies on the Dorset Naga plant" completion closes at the end of February. So if you haven’t made a guess do it now (click here) or you may forget. It is free to enter and the winner will receive £15 of seed.
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Portesham United
Proud sponsors of Portesham United Football Club What can we say, except they are doing better (click here for full details), and are now fourth in their league. Michael watched their last game and here are a few of the photos. Go Possums!
Almost a goal (but not quite); and Max Croxson, Portesham United's striker
Good gardening and best wishes,
Michael and Joy Michaud
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www.seaspringseeds.co.uk
For Growing Vegetables
">here); we are now doing:
• Twitter (@seaspringseeds)
• Facebook (www.facebook.com/seaspringseeds AND for all you chilli heads: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Home-of-the-Dorset-Naga/190921644339274?ref=tn_tnmn
Our signature photo for facebook
Please follow, like, share or whatever it is that we are supposed to do. We promise we will keep all entries interesting and not swamp your inbox!
_________________________________
Chilli growing courses
There are now just a few places left on Sunday19th February for the “What’s hot, what’s not” growing courses. These courses are good value, and for just £20 and a morning of your time, you will learn the ins and outs of pepper growing. We guarantee chilli and sweet pepper growing success, even if you don’t have a greenhouse or tunnel. Click here for more information.
_________________________________
Competition
Our "Guess how many chillies on the Dorset Naga plant" completion closes at the end of February. So if you haven’t made a guess do it now (click here) or you may forget. It is free to enter and the winner will receive £15 of seed.
_________________________________
Portesham United
Proud sponsors of Portesham United Football Club What can we say, except they are doing better (click here for full details), and are now fourth in their league. Michael watched their last game and here are a few of the photos. Go Possums!
Almost a goal (but not quite); and Max Croxson, Portesham United's striker
Good gardening and best wishes,
Michael and Joy Michaud
------------------
www.seaspringseeds.co.uk
For Growing Vegetables
Mr VegHead