Winter projects?

[charlie]

Anyone got anything interesting on going this winter (above and beyond hiding from the cold)

[kGarden]

So much to do ...

... nearly finished planting Spring Bulbs. About 3,000 this year. I've got a site for another few thousand next year, and then I think I'm done. Although I probably ought to plant more Bluebells, I've only got a small patch of them, the woodland (Ha Ha, its just a few trees ... ) was planted with Snowdrops 5 years ago and the benefit is now reaped in late Winter.

Planted some bushes and trees, want some more. Really pissed that Dulford Nurseries (Devon) is closing, I've had good quality plants from therm (anyone recommend an alternative?). When I found out I got their stock list and placed a large order, but it was rejected because they were too busy to process it ... the Auction is going to be in Lots, which is very unlikely to be any use to me. Plus its a heck of a long drive, there and back :(

Really REALLY must get on with ordering some Inkarho Rhododendrons. So little choice in the UK that I figure I need to buy them from Germany, and for sure they'll be sold out this Autumn if I don't get my skates on ...

Want to get my Rainwater harvesting tank constructed early in the Winter, otherwise it won't have time to fill with winter-rains.

Need to get my greenhouse up too ... so long as that is done before I need to plant crops in the Spring that will be early enough.

[Chad]

Really pissed that Dulford Nurseries (Devon) is closing, I've had good quality plants from therm (anyone recommend an alternative?).

Do you known Thornhayes?

Chad.

[kGarden]

Do you known Thornhayes?

No, thanks for that, off to take a look.

... at a quick glance of their Catalogue their range is quite short - missing a fair few of the things I would like. Might be they have things no included in their catalogue perhaps.

[Chad]

Nobody keeps the extensive list that Hilliers had in their prime.

But Thornhayes is larger than most. You did check the pdf catalogue and not just the picture section?

It is a recurrent problem that the more we know the more specific our demands are! That then entails considerable 'hunting' for specific forms.

Chad.

[durnovaria]

Yes i am building a lean to poly house within a lean to poly house :D .The existing structure is about 80 feet long 22 feet wide and 15 feet to the ridge.Its basically a wide span poly tunnel butted into a wall about 8 feet off the ground.It replaces two Vinery houses that were falling down.The old potting shed is the other side of the wall.
This house is heated to keep frost out.A temp of 1c at the coolest spot is the aim.This will give 3c on the benches at the back near the wall in very cold weather.
The new lean to will be about 10 x 8 floor area,6 feet high front,7 back.My Vitapod will be in there plus as much benching as will fit and perhaps some grow lighting.
It will be used for my earliest seed sowing and cuttings taking.The main house is a metal framed poly house.The new one has been made to fit the space from wood covered with poly tunnel plastic.
I hope to finish it by mid January.

[charlie]

Be interested to see some pictures when you are done :)

[kGarden]

i am building a lean to poly house within a lean to poly house

I used to do that, although mine was flimsy and temporary ...

Started off in the early years with this, with an Incandescent bulb in the bottom for "heat" - a candle would have done I expect.



That graduated to needing more space and having a tunnel within the "conservatory structure"





I blagged the tunnel cheap-as-chips because of a manufacturing fault that meant it had no openable windows - not a requirement for my indoor tunnel job :)



I "heated" it with a Metal Halide lamp, which chucked off plenty of heat ... and spurred on the growth by extending "daylight hours" too of course

Downwards spiral of course, because I ended up with this:



which converts into this, in the Winter :)

[durnovaria]

Wow!.............That is really something :shock: .

[charlie]

After seeing some of those pictures I hesitate to post what I am up to this winter :) But as it has involved carting a couple of thousand brick pavers up from the road side it doesn't feel like the nice easy winter of no wall building I had promised myself!


Path 006 by charliepridham, on Flickr