Salad leaves in unheated greenhouse

[Chris11]

Rocket seems hardy and has survived the winter in a cold green house.
I've never sown it this late, but I wouldn't be surprised if you could still get it started.

[Potstubsdustbins]

#15 If you mean the kale I am not sure. I have potted mine up into 6" pots with fresh compost and moved them under cover but it ain't made no difference yet.

Looks like I may have to scrounge or even purchase my spring greens this year.

[Ryleh]

I picked up some salad type seeds at 19p a packet so think I'll try a sowing now anyway in the polytunnel.

I figure the worst case is that I lose some or all of my 19p investment and I think I can live with that

[Bal]

#15 If you mean the kale I am not sure. I have potted mine up into 6" pots with fresh compost and moved them under cover but it ain't made no difference yet.

Looks like I may have to scrounge or even purchase my spring greens this year.

I sowed my kale way back it's in the garden now having survived the caterpillars. Ready to pick.. Did I plant it too early.

[Penellype]

I think the problem with things not growing is more to do with light than temperature. While some places have had sunshine in the last few days, we have been shrouded in fog with 95%+ humidity and seriously little daylight (my 4kw solar panels generated a total of 0.8kwh over the whole of yesterday). I'm having a botrytis problem even outdoors, let alone under glass.

You can get lettuces that are suitable for low light conditions - the one I have grown is Winter Gem, which is a small cos variety similar to Little Gem. You could also try some of the brassicas - mizuna did well for me outdoors last winter and things like pak choi and mustard greens should grow ok over winter.

[Jimmy]

Thanks for all the advise. I think I will try some Misticanza. I have a small heating pad, will start them off on that.
Jimmy

[Jungle Jane]

I sowed my kale way back it's in the garden now having survived the caterpillars. Ready to pick.. Did I plant it too early.

You can sow some every month to stagger the production of plants if you want to? So if you sowed your seeds in march,you could sow some more in June? I'm going to plan a seed sowing list with dates soon,when I've got all my seeds. I've managed staggering the production of potatoes,peas,rocket,runner beans but that's all so far.

[Jungle Jane]

Thanks for all the advise. I think I will try some Misticanza. I have a small heating pad, will start them off on that.
Jimmy

But then when you take them away from the heat & the outside temperatures so cold it might not be good for the plant? You can sow direct outside,I did & used cold compost from my potato grow bag. I think it makes the shoot more hardy. When sowing,I water the compost in the tray & then put the seeds in thinly (so you can separate them easier when they're bigger) then I usually sieve some compost on top so it's a thin layer on top then press it down nicely,don't put any more water in after that. Then the seeds stay put.

[Jimmy]

Any stores sell Franchi seeds ?

[Thelma Sanders]

My local Wyevale sells some of the range, not sure if the Misticanza was among them, though. I usually order direct.

[Marb67]

So if there isn't much light ( our garden gets no sun during winter months) isn't there anything that can grow that doesn't need sun ? I have even thought about having my small SAD daylight pad I use on a timer for an hour or so a day. I don't think they use much electric.

[Jungle Jane]

There are some varieties of lettuce that can grow through the winter & I've found some sweet oak leaf rocket that can sow October - March indoors,it's just finding the varieties & there's lots of ideas on this thread.

[Penellype]

I'm growing something called Mitsuba Mashimori, also known as Chinese parsley, which can be used in salads, soups etc. I've not tasted it yet (the plants currently have only 2 true leaves so far) but the growing instructions say to sow in spring or autumn in modules in cold frame or on windowsill then transplant to final position when they have 2-3 leaves. Happy in a moist shady position under trees or against a north facing wall. Cold tolerant to -10C.

[veggiechicken]

How about pea shoots? I've grown them from dried peas in the supermarket!

[Marb67]

Here is an update of my sad tale of woe. A pathetic rate of growth despite a mild winter