There’s a gradual take over happening in the October greenhouse as new crops of tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, courgette, cucumber dwarf beans + basil are planted out amongst finishing winter salads, bok choy, spinach + celery.
Companion plants to draw predatory wasps, hoverflies and bees, are important in the greenhouse for bug control and pollination. Find as many opportunities to supply nectar, as you can. Something near the door is a grand plan, both outside and in.
I rely on these guys to keep the soil active, beat out weeds and moderate soil temperature in this hot space. When they get too bossy I simply break them off and pile them on the soil as mulch. Chop and drop mulching is a quick easy job that beats weeding any day.
As I need to, I create spaces to plant into, by chopping back the living mulch and using it as mulch. As the crops grow and fill the space I chop back more and more until come January the jungle is mostly tomatoes, marigolds, peppers, eggplants, basil and cucumbers instead.
Topping up your mulch regularly with fresh material is a simple but hearty way to look after your greenhouse soil. How efficient (and we could say resilient) to use the stuff that grew there to do this job. Full circle.
Take care, not to over water during cold snaps. In cold weather, plants don’t evaporate, so dont need the hydration, and summer crops like tomatoes and cucumbers would rather be a little dry around their toes when the weather cools, than wet.
The right amount of water, delivered at the right time makes a huge difference to plant health. Here’s all my top watering tips.
Get used to feeling your soil first to decide whether or not you need to water. There really is no shortcut or device as good as your own assessment.