"Winter is on my head, but eternal Spring is in my heart"...Victor Hugo

This is the month for Keepers.

Keep your greenhouse dry & clean.

Keep it at @45degrees night time temperature.

Keep checking for insect infestation-look under the leaves.  Use a lighted magnifying glass.

Keep a lookout for snail trails and treat for them when found.

Keep dead heading flowering plants-it will keep the mess off the floor and insects will have fewer hiding places.

Keep a soft fan on for air circulation.  On really nice days you can open a vent for a few hours.  Just be sure to close it before the temperatures fall in the afternoon.

Keep your heat loving/cold sensitive plants away from the greenhouse glazing (walls) as it is cooler there than towards the center.  Place min/max thermometers everywhere in your greenhouse so can see the different climate zones.  Depending on your greenhouse placement, you may have an especially warm or cool corner during the winter months.

Keep extra insulation blankets handy and keep a lookout for those sudden temperature drops that can happen in January-February-March.  For some areas even April temperatures can be pretty volitile.  Use a bubble shield or metalic material to cover the glazing in the cold spots inside your greenhouse.

KEEP ON SOWING

You can maintain succession plantings of the cooler loving vegetables like:

• cabbage
• carrots
• cauliflower
• french green beans
• leeks
• lettuces
• leafy greens
• onions
• peas

Use a heat mat under the seedling trays to boost germination.

NOW IS THE TIME:

For:

• starting bulb forcing
• starting spring annuals
• taking cuttings of summer perrenials-use a root hormone on them
• carefully checking over stored bulbs and tubers for rot and discarding bad ones
• enjoying the winter time greenhouse experience
• keep your compost tumbler working inside the greenhouse
• use vermitea for the first fertilizer for young seedlings