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Winter horticulture

Last post 05-11-2011 4:53 PM by Janet Child. 6 replies.

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  • 30/10/2011 04:09 PM
    • Janet Child
    • Sherburn In Elmet, Leeds
    • 29 Oct 2011
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    I am a teacher of adults with behavioural and learning difficulties.I currently teach horticulture to entry level 2 learners working for a C&G diploma in Skills for Working Life. We have an allotment, poly tunnel and 2 greenhouses. Whilst we seem to be successful with fair weather gardening, we need to develop our understanding of what to do when the weather is not so good.  We've done all the obvious things: taken soft wood cuttings, planted winter containers, gathered leaves for leaf mold, planted onions and garlic and sown indoor herbs.  Does anyone have any more ideas? Can we get a head start on next years seeds or would this be counter productive?  I'd be very grateful for any advice you could give. Thanks Janet              

  • 01/11/2011 03:21 PM
    In reply to
    • Julie
    • London
    • 28 Apr 2009
    • 410
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    forcing bulbs for indoors? there are still prepared hyacinths in the garden centres, putting them in forcing vases (or pots) for Christmas/January is great, esp when you have that fantastic scent indoors 

  • 01/11/2011 03:37 PM
    In reply to
    • Alison Findlay
    • Walsham Le Willows Suffolk
    • 15 May 2008
    • 47
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    What about hard wood cuttings and living willow structures?  Insect hotels both small and large? tool maintenance and safe tool use? fruit tree planting, pruning and care. Planning what they would like to grow? The RHS Campaign for School Gardening website is full of ideas - there is a special SEN resource area with useful sequencing cards and a choosing planning actvitity: http://apps.rhs.org.uk/schoolgardening/teachershome/resources/specialeducationalneeds/choosingcrops/default.aspa
  • 01/11/2011 07:48 PM
    In reply to
    • Janet Child
    • Sherburn In Elmet, Leeds
    • 29 Oct 2011
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    Julie

    Thanks for this idea. We have planted a range of bulbs outside but I hadn't considered indoor bulbs which will make great Christmas presents to raise funds for more plants, especially as we have a Christmas Fair and Celebration Evening coming up soon.
  • 01/11/2011 07:55 PM
    In reply to
    • Janet Child
    • Sherburn In Elmet, Leeds
    • 29 Oct 2011
    • 4
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    Alison

    Thanks for these great ideas. We will be adding a pear tree and a sweet cherry tree to our fruit area next week. I particularly like the idea of a living willow structure. I have noticed a fellow allotment older has done something akin to this with soft fruit so, I think I will explore this idea further with my learners. We have a particularly vulnerable area by our fruit trees (all our plums were taken in Sept) this might be the answer to keep intruders out perhaps with some interwoven brambles.
  • 03/11/2011 05:07 PM
    In reply to
    • Susiq
    • Northumberland
    • 16 Feb 2008
    • 3,125
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    Janet, well done on all your hard and productive work not to mention the help you are giving to your studentsSmile

    The only seeds I can think of (off the top of my head) that you can still sow now (under cover) are sweet peas, but I'm sure there must be loads more. Hopefully, others will come along with even more good advice for you.

    Good luck for the coming season.
  • 05/11/2011 04:53 PM
    In reply to
    • Janet Child
    • Sherburn In Elmet, Leeds
    • 29 Oct 2011
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    Thanks Susiq

    I think a trip to the local garden center might help. We can buy some sweet peas and investigate the other seed packets at the same time. Horticulture and functional skills rolled into one.

    Janet