Autumn and winter in an unheated greenhouse

[GreenhouseNovice]

Hello,

I am trying to expand my woeful greenhouse use this autumn and into the winter. This year it was pretty much just used for starting some broccoli in the spring and a chilli plant. It is unheated.

What can I plant to grow and harvest, or later (in spring) transfer outside into the veg patch. For the things to plant/transfer outside later on what should be grown in the greenhouse bed and what should be in a pot?

Some previous threads have mentioned onion and garlic, am I right to assume they would be finished growing outside? (As the user name suggests I am a total novice).

Looking forward to reading any responses,

Many thanks,

Grant

[Cadalot]

If you're quick you will just get away with sowing Winter White Lisbon or White Winter Bunching spring Onions I'm growing some in cut down flower buckets see Alans Allotment: SF60 Onions or normally I grow them in vending machine cups standing in 15 modules in trays Alans Allotment: Germination 6 Days After Sowing

[Bren In Pots]

First I'll say hello and welcome to the vine Grant

I grow winter lettuce either Arctic king or 'all your round' in my GH plus Chard does ok in there.

[Snoop Puss]

You might get better advice if you tell us where you are. You can add this information to your profile. It will give people an idea of how likely you are to suffer from frost, for example.

Me, I'd be considering winter lettuce. There's nothing like a freshly picked, sweet lettuce in January to provide relief from all the winter greens and root veg.

[GreenhouseNovice]

Thanks for the suggestions. Will certainly do the lettuce and maybe onions. (Are they best from seed of set at this time of year).

[Cadalot]

GreenhouseNovice Take a look at this post, re overwintering some unusual onions Alans Allotment: Top, Topset, Top Setting, Air, Tree or Egyptian Walking Onions from last year

[Snadger]

Dwarf broad beans and garlic in large pots. Each can be booted out of the greenhouse when you need it for summat else. I'v e also grown spring cabbage in pots indoors over winter.

[veggiechicken]

Hello Grant and welcome
I've just sown some mixed salad leaves and some oriental veg - like mizuna and tatsoi. Also some kale and broccoli raab to pick as young leaves. these will all stay in the GH.
Broad beans and overwintering peas can be started now, for planting outside later. You could also sow early summer cauliflowers like Snowball.

[bario1]

I'm going to germinate some calendula and cornflower seeds in the house and then put them out in the greenhouse to overwinter.

[Snoop Puss]

I think it's a bit late for starting overwintering onions from seed. But if you go with sets, I imagine they'll be better off left in place rather than transplanted outside in the spring.

That said, lots of people start off their shallots and the like for spring planting around Christmas and New Year. Bit early for me, but that might be possible for you depending on where you are.

[Cadalot]

I've also grown spring cabbage in pots indoors over winter.

Now that's interesting can you provide a little more info re variety etc. I would not mind doing that myself the wife loves spring greens.

[veggiechicken]

I have permanent spring cabbages in the GH - think they were Hispi. They're 4 years old now

Two plants at the back.

[Scarlet]

I grow Durham early in the GH. I have lots of pigeons around here so it saves netting I start them off end of August in seed cells and plant up when the border is emptied of toms. Usually harvest from late Feb. Bit late to start from seed but you may get some plants in the GC.

[ESBkevin]

Hello and welcome Grant.

There is a guy in the USA called Patrick Dolan who has a you tube chanel the 'one yard revolution' with some excellent content. He recently published his 6 winter veg options that he mainly grows under cover in an unheated polytunnel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6l0WW5Dq6YY

He gives a no nonsense approach and tells you what he does and what he has stopped doing to get most of the fruit and veg grown from a small domestic garden. Bear in mind some foods talked about are not native to the UK, but beet leaf spinach etc. is.

[Jungle Jane]

Ive grown Evesham special Brussels sprouts in a plastic greenhouse overwinter (sow this month) & then plant them out in the spring,they grow nicely without cabbage whites everywhere. You see a good size difference when you go from 3" to 5" pot around December/January.