Sow
Sow small batches of hardy winter lettuce only where light and temperature allow. Most summer crops can wait.
Grow
Check overwintering plants weekly. Keep compost just moist for dormant plants, and remove fallen leaves before mould spreads.
Harvest
Pick a few outer leaves from established winter salads; leave the centre to keep growing. Expect slow regrowth.
Jobs this month
Wash empty pots and seed trays. Clean reachable glazing on a mild day, inspect seals and check your minimum thermometer.
Make your own growing notes
Record what you sowed, your overnight minimum temperature and how the plants responded. Check the compost below the surface before watering: the same calendar date can bring very different conditions from one year to the next. Use the seed packet’s variety-specific guidance alongside this monthly plan.
For tender crops, distinguish the warmth needed for germination from the conditions needed after seedlings emerge. For winter leaves, choose varieties intended for the season and allow for slower growth as daylight falls.
Further reading: RHS greenhouse vegetable growing.
What’s happening in your greenhouse?
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