My frost free plan

[tumbling tom]

Going to need some advice here from you experienced undercover experts.

I have decided that next year I am going to need to stat and pot my seedlings on a bit sooner as this year a lot of my stuff has been playing catch up.

I currently have at my disposal a walk in blow away type GH with a mesh plastic cover that I can easily fit four four tier mini blowaways in.

What I was wondering is if I was to put some bubble wrap around the inside of the gh and a fleece cover over the shelves as well as the original plastic cover they came with would this be enough to protect the plants against frost. They wouldn't be going in there till the start of March but all the same it can still get quite cold that time of year.

[Alison]

I planted out my first earlies in the polytunnel at the start of March having been prechitted at home first. I covered them with some old sacking until they came through and although they got some very minor frost burn on the edges of the leaves I was able to start digging them up to eat by early to mid May and mighty fine they were to. Did something similar last year but was a bit later on account of not having the tunnel ready early enough . I'd say to give it a go but be aware that you might lose them so have others outdoors as back up.

[tumbling tom]

Thanks Alison. I am going for the belt and braces approach but you can never be certain.

I did forget to ask will it be alright to keep them totally covered or will they need to breath so to speak?

[rustylady]

What type of seedlings are you talking about Tom?

[tumbling tom]

probably peppers, chillis, aubs and a few flowers like geranium and petunia.

They will all have been germinated inside first.

[Sanjo]

The earlier you start, and the more layers you put on, the less light will get to your seedlings. Perhaps something to bear in mind?

[Alison]

For some reason I read that it was for starting potatoes early, no idea why cos it clearly isn't - must be tired . Anyway, I'd not be inclined to put anything like peppers etc out there until into May but I know others who risk it. As mentioned above, the more you protect the less light gets in and the plants can also suffer from lack of air.

[rustylady]

I don't start my tomatoes, chillies etc until March. I germinate them indoors (5 seeds per 3 and a half inch pot) in a heated propagator on the kitchen windowsill. Once germinated they get moved to the windowsill proper and eventually get pricked out into individual pots (again on the windowsill). By the time I need more room it is usually OK to move them into the unheated greenhouse.

[Snadger]

I tried to grow Christmas tatties in a cold frame by surrounding them with straw and putting a small paraffin heater in as well.............the frost still got em. My peppers succumbed during the winter even though they had similar treatment.
It mighty be a bit milder in Berkshire though so don't let me put yopu off!

[tumbling tom]

Ok guys new plan! Had a while to think about this so here is the plan.

The greehouse is 6x4 and as I stated I can quite easily fit four bloaways in there as staging. What I was going to do now was instead of bubble wrapping the whole thing I am going to just put fleecing on the shelves but have two 60watt tube heaters in there.

Worked out they should cost no more than about £6 to use. Anyone done this or got any advice?