Making and using hotbeds

[MyWifesBrassicas]

You can grow salad leaves in the GH through winter. I'm picking lettuce and other stuff at the moment.
No heat, no light, just sow and grow.

I'll give it a go.

[veggiechicken]

Have a look at this thread - especially the photos from last January. It will give you an idea of how productive a GH can be in winter.

https://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gr...8-a_95514.html

[MyWifesBrassicas]

some great information there, maybe thats it. nobody does it because its a load of hassle.
Growing indoors is not a great option, seems to cause much conflict.

Here is an old thread from a grape who done Jacks course https://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gr...rse_83953.html

Another grape makes her beds using the no dig method https://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gr...rse_83953.html

hotbeds are a lot of hassle for just out of season salad leaves. I made several hot beds in tonne bags and they worked well but they really need to be part of your growing practice IMO. Can you not suffice with microveg indoors? or pea shoots?

great threads, if i can get my hands on enough manure, i'm going to give them a go Jack firsts style

[MyWifesBrassicas]

some great information there, maybe thats it. nobody does it because its a load of hassle.
Growing indoors is not a great option, seems to cause much conflict.

Have a look at this thread - especially the photos from last January. It will give you an idea of how productive a GH can be in winter.

https://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gr...8-a_95514.html

thats really productive, fantastic stuff

[SarrissUK]

Warmth is good for getting seed going, light not needed at that stage.
Charles Dowding had a hotbed in what looks like a square made of pallets, which he seemed to use a month or two earlier in the spring than the seeds normally would be sown, and he seemed to have great success. In fact, I seem to remember trays of plug plants that had half been on the hotbed, and half away from the heat, and those that had had the heat were twice the size.
Definitely worth an experiment if you have the space in a greenhouse! I might give that a go too in a couple of months' time when I get the chance to go get a whole load of horse manure.
Once the hotbed has served its purpose, it can all go on the compost heap.
So yeah, why not!
Keep us updated!

[MyWifesBrassicas]

Warmth is good for getting seed going, light not needed at that stage.
Charles Dowding had a hotbed in what looks like a square made of pallets, which he seemed to use a month or two earlier in the spring than the seeds normally would be sown, and he seemed to have great success. In fact, I seem to remember trays of plug plants that had half been on the hotbed, and half away from the heat, and those that had had the heat were twice the size.
Definitely worth an experiment if you have the space in a greenhouse! I might give that a go too in a couple of months' time when I get the chance to go get a whole load of horse manure.
Once the hotbed has served its purpose, it can all go on the compost heap.
So yeah, why not!
Keep us updated!

I'm going to start it early Jan, will keep you posted

[mcdood]

I recently watched the victorian kitchen garden where Harry Dodson made a hot bed in a cold frame using fresh manure with a layer of soil over the top. Found this old thread referencing it, there's a link to a gardeners world version too.
https://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gr...bed_47558.html

[MyWifesBrassicas]

I recently watched the victorian kitchen garden where Harry Dodson made a hot bed in a cold frame using fresh manure with a layer of soil over the top. Found this old thread referencing it, there's a link to a gardeners world version too.
https://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gr...bed_47558.html

Nice one, thank you very much, very helpful