Setting a VERY bad example: overwintering garden plants

[@radiotowers1159]

Thanks again, My purple sprouting broccoli’s in a raised bed is still producing a crop but while harvesting, I noticed one of the heads were covered in mealy bug…in November!. So choping your overwintering plants should reduce the passengers chance of them overwintering themselves. Next week the met office predicts frost as this High Pressure that stuck over us moves west, still the longer this mild spell goes on then the shorter the winter……hopefully.

[@bethanskitchengarden]

I really hope your plants make it after you went through all that effort Eli. Your garden still has masses of colour. It was lovely to catch up with you. Take care 😊

[@eliandkate]

Thanks you. I’m confident that most of them will make it 🤞🤞🤞

[@tinasterry5651]

Really enjoyed your video. I laughed at you 'sneakily' hacking away at the first plant, looking over your shoulder so Kate wouldn't see -so funny 😂.....keep 'em coming. Tina (Dublin, Ireland ☘️)

[@eliandkate]

Glad you enjoyed it Tina! I think we all do those sneaky bits of work without letting the other half see what we're up to :D

[@tinasterry5651]

@eliandkate Yes, like buying plants and saying "They're not new, I bought them ages ago" 😂😂😉

[@eliandkate]

@tinasterry5651 🤣🤣🤣

[@timflatus]

Thank you so much for this. Partly as it answers some of the overwintering questions I hadn't quite gotten round to asking yet. Also because that was a bit of a masterclass - this is the sort of stuff I wish I could ask my grandad who used to grow prize begonias.

[@eliandkate]

Oh begonias 😁 Treat them like dahlias…. You can store the bulbs 😁

[@tricia9559]

I found your wonderful channel on Monday of this week, I’ve binge watched as many episodes as I can, I’m not a gardener, but you have inspired me for next spring. Your truthful approach is great, your explanation of your green house was one of my favourite, anyway I’m hooked! I’m so looking forward to travelling with you guys. Best wishes one and all

[@eliandkate]

Oh excited for you to start in the spring!

[@christinebrooks6364]

Hi Eli & Kate, very interesting way to help plants survive the winter. Good luck and I hope they do. Thanks for sharing and take care 😊

[@eliandkate]

Fingers crossed!

[@denisekelley2292]

I'm right there with you breaking rules. I grew Mahagony Splendor Hibiscus from seed. They grew so well and looked so good. I cut a bunch of branches and had them in a vase on my table for about six weeks, still looking good. I noticed they started rooting, so of course I potted up four with the most roots. They will spend the winter on my table, hopefully making more roots, so I can plant them out next spring. Yay, to garden experiments.

[@eliandkate]

of course you potted them up!!!!

[@Sylvie_M]

It is so good to hear a greenhouse owner acknowledge that there are pest problems. I don't hear that often in the YT gardening world. Have you done a current video on pest management in the greenhouse?

[@eliandkate]

Not one just about the greenhouse as I see pests as a general thing now specific to one place 😁

[@samanthahoos9827]

❤I started breaking down my Greenstalks and other potted plants this week placing some to over winter in the greenhouse while others can survive outside. Rosemary, thyme, lavender strawberries, parsley loved the greenhouse last winter growing enough to harvest fresh for recipes. 😊

[@eliandkate]

I’m always tempted to start strawberries in the greenhouse to get an earlier cropping

[@samanthahoos9827]

@ Mine were dried out for 3 days, then fed, sprayed with organic BT & will be watered once a week in the greenhouse. I’m getting a second round of sweet strawberries now and yes, had strawberries earlier than everyone in my area.

[@Garden-of-weeden]

Thank you so much for calling them pelargoniums!! It’s one of the things that drives me mad when they’re called geraniums when they’re not! I hope you can pull them through the winter as they’re stunning varieties ❤ love the two mugs in the greenhouse too 😄

[@eliandkate]

you know me and my mugs :D

[@dustyflats3832]

I had potted up some things earlier. In the process of getting some catalpa trees out of flower garden a branch to a Viburnam was snapped so I chopped them into pieces to propagate and they look good so far. Some plants can be done in fall, but maybe better in spring. If the winters remain warm I may not have to start many flowers as snapdragons made it last year. Bit worried about hazelnut shrubs as leaves are starting to sprout again because it’s been too warm after cold snaps. I’m going to fill a cage full of leaves to try and shade it. The plants think it’s spring 😮. Wish the greenhouse would stay warm enough as I have pots in house and come spring we will have all the room taken up. Fun stuff, thx!

[@eliandkate]

it is - all fun - until it snows 😂😂😂

[@kimberleybarker5487]

Same here with plants that think it's spring- saying that, if its 10degrees all day and night next spring I'd be ecstatic 😂😂

[@gudi361]

I wrap my pelargoniums in paper and put them in the basement in late autumn. Then I forget all about them and throw them away in early summer... Maybe I try your under the bed method next year. Will find them earlier when spring cleaning the following year..

[@eliandkate]

Oh Gudrun I did the very same thing the first year I lifted my dahlias. I found them as a rotten mess in August after completely forgetting them

[@nickirios8647]

I have what I call a "slug jug," which is just a container with dishsoap in it where I put the slugs that I find in my garden.

[@eliandkate]

@@nickirios8647 🤣🤣🤣🤣 love that it has a name

[@JohnWood-tk1ge]

Your right it’s a weird weather year,four of my five hard neck garlic varieties have sprouted. The one that hasn’t is the one that I bought locally from a garlic grower one county north of me. The Mary Washington asparagus has all gone yellow so cut the plants of mulched the bed for winter. The purple asparagus bed I started last spring is still green and going strong. Thinking of putting in a new bed for next year for strawberries in the spring.

[@eliandkate]

Mine too All the ones in the greenstalk have sprouted already

[@JohnWood-tk1ge]

@ just came in from watering my compost pile and saw my first sprout in the local garlic.😁 It had me worried as I thought coming from this area it would be the first up because it was adapted to the area and the rest were from seed companies. That’s why I planted four varieties and elephant to rule our anything I would be doing wrong.

[@carolinebown8686]

Wonderful relaxing video .....just what I needed .... Your 'Autumn' garden still looks fabulous ...with lovely colourful flowers ❤❤❤❤ .

[@eliandkate]

Thank you so much 😊 I’m enjoying those dahlias as long as I can

[@lorainemcguire5795]

Hi eli and kate your garden is still very colourful I luv your long outdoor tray you use ❤ I've put my peligonias in a cold frame and I took your advice and mulched dahlia tubers 👍

[@eliandkate]

Hurrah!!!!🙌

[@denysehopkins6335]

Hello Eli and Kate, I saw something interesting regarding speeding up compost and wondered what your thoughts on it are. API QUICK START Freshwater and Saltwater Aquarium Nitrifying Bacteria Supposedly it speeds are the breaking down and also helps stop the brown patches on lawns caused by pets urinating. I found your channel recently and love your enthusiasm, your information and wonderful banter.😊

[@eliandkate]

It’s not something I’ve ever heard of I’m afraid, but generally I don’t see the need for buying products to “speed up/improve compost”. It’s a natural process that works well if you get your recipe right.

[@cpoco]

My front garden Dahlia's are coming back nicely... but the two in the back (the bigger showier variety, including the Cafe Au Lait) don't seem to be doing anything. It's possible they still will come back, it could just be the microclimate of the backyard is different to the front... but it's interesting given they are the same species how different they seem to be doing. I must try propagating my front "would be" hedge plants again :D I should have people coming around tomorrow to take down the big tree in my backyard... it's going to take a lot of will power to not then dig up my fruit trees and move them over to that area... I shall try and be patient and wait till autumn/winter to do that. Good luck with your plants!

[@eliandkate]

I get the same thing, even on different sides of the same garden the plants behave differently!

[@LornaRobertson-w7t]

I've managed to overwinter osteospermum in what's really a cold frame, and I live quite near you, fingers crossed for year 3 for them. The pelargoniums are in the house, that seems to work for me, but I might try your method for the ones in my parents garden

[@eliandkate]

@@LornaRobertson-w7t the greenhouse is really just a big cold frame… an expensive one but basically the same 😁

[@ritawest2535]

Drat...i live in a house with modern heat...no space under the bed frame which would too warm even if there was such a thing. 😕

[@heatherwalton9501]

Well l think rules are flexible 😂. I am experimenting with not using my greenhouse for overwintering plants this year (l am drying my washing in there instead). All the plants are on my coffee table under the covered pergola by the house so we'll see how that works. I've got some fleece to throw over if the temperature really drops.

[@eliandkate]

ha ha ha love it!!!!

[@aboutthegarden]

I really enjoyed this, I love experimenting especially to save my precious plants. I was wondering if it is a necessity to wait for the frost for lifting my dahlias, I haven’t done so yet but I’m getting impatient now but don’t want to ruin there chances for next year 😬

[@eliandkate]

😁 hmmmm necessary…. Well it’s kind of the best idea because the hard frost triggers them to go dormant, but I’ve lifted them early myself some years and they do ok 👌

[@aboutthegarden]

@ ahh right, I might try to be patient a bit longer. There’s apparently minuses coming this month. Thank you for answering ☺️

[@ourlittlevegankitchenandgarden]

My flowers are so confused - I have Osteospermum about to flower again and my bulbs are coming up already.

[@eliandkate]

Maybe winter won’t come?

[@RKMDCats]

Wondering what growing zone you’re in? I see no loss in trying cuttings if you are trimming anyway. I have some stems in water now. I have noticed root formation has really slowed. I am leaving more tender plants in the ground this year. I had begonias come back this spring so maybe some of my other plants will survive. Zone 8a southern USA.

[@eliandkate]

We’re not in a USDA zone as we’re in Scotland but the weather this year means it’s still way warmer than it should be so worth a try

[@RizeTB1]

No frost yet. Sweet! Welcome to USDA zone 8b 😂

[@TheLiznz]

We moved into our own house in summer this year, with a very tiny garden and a greenhouse. I haven’t gardened for years and never used a greenhouse house. I am trying to learn as much as I can to adapt to my situation. I hadn’t thought of over wintering anything really, most of what I have planted is in pots, so I guess I could move them into the green house with some fleece around them. I am trying hard to germinate sweet peas on a heat mat in my laundry, apparently the type I got you can plant the seeds from oct to December. So far absolutely nine have sprouted 🤬 I am in the Forest of Dean, anyone have advice?

[@eliandkate]

Be patient…. If conditions aren’t completely perfect, you can wait way longer. Just keep them moist and warm 😁

[@dizzybee7386]

I can't seem to keep the damp levels down in my green house at this time of year, it's causing havoc with my rooted cuttings and tender plants i.e. mould and damping off. Having the roof-window open doesn't help either because it just maintains the status quo. I bought an electric heater but I'm worried about the bill and risk of fire. Do you have any ideas on keeping the humidity down? I live in an area where fog and damp is high this time of year and wondered if there's some sort of material or hack to help. I've made sure to introduce plenty of perlite into the soil mixes for drainage, but the damp just lingers. Really interested in finding our how your experiments go for spring btw, enjoyed the video. Love Steph x P.S. - it's one of those palram polyethyene panel greenhouses. I've storm-proofed it quite heavily.

[@eliandkate]

You’ll kick yourself when I say this, it’s one of those obvious ones that’s only obvious when someone mentions it but If you are getting moulds and fungus then you are overwatering and the soil isn’t getting the chance to dry out. I’d say this is especially important at this time of year, there is so much humidity in the air, it’s cold so plants aren’t taking up much water and if they are small or even cuttings and seedlings then they don’t have the root systems yet to cope. I very very rarely water anything at this time of year.

[@dizzybee7386]

@@eliandkate Thanks for getting back Eli and for your advice. I haven't watered anything in weeks...oh wait a minute, just a couple of white sage plants from below at the saucer thingy 😬 Now that I think about it, existing moisture in the other finished plants could be creeping out and perpetuating the issue. I'll try getting rid of them. I was holding out to try and maximise a crop of pepperoncini. Thanks again!

[@sheliaheverin8822]

Oh my, we've had frost when we weren't expecting and I lost all of my tomatoes, basil and peppers.......😭

[@eliandkate]

boo! 😍😍😍

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

Love the idea to try to overwinter them, especially the Bidens, which you know are unlikely to be the same again from saved seed. I hope it works. Very interested to follow along

[@eliandkate]

So what you going to overwinter then?

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

@ my spare tyre? 😂

[@eliandkate]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

@@eliandkate unfortunately I can’t do up my coat, so I may need to go from a chunky full wet tyre to racing slicks soon, or I’m going to be cold 😂

[@eliandkate]

@TheFarmyardGarden I’m back to chunky winter tyres. 🤣

[@Taytertot-zp4kr]

Hello! I was chatting in the discord but figured it may be easier to ask here - Do you have any recommendations for starter greenhouses? I have been watching a lot of your videos about items and tools I will need (which are fantastic, you and Kate are so adorable 😭) To give context, I live in a townhouse with a silly HOA, but I do have a nice deck (8ftx10ft). I really like the walk in one's but unsure if that will work for the space I have. It is also worth noting I am a beginner with gardening and just trying to get my footing. Thank you in advance for your help!

[@eliandkate]

Did you post your question for the community? I didn’t see it 😳 To be honest, I can’t really recommend a brand as I’ve only had 2 greenhouses so have nothing to compare. I always say, think about what you’ll actually do in there, how you’ll use it. And then decide if that is worth buying something a bit more expensive or if you’d rather buy something cheap just to test things out. Polycarbonate tends to be cheaper than the equivalent in glass but I’d say avoid those polythene things. I did a video talking about the things to think about kzbin.info/www/bejne/qH3FoZugmNWJeNUsi=540aZJ113ZMFTjVT

[@Taytertot-zp4kr]

@eliandkate i was the goober that had posted in the wrong channel, but I wanted to ask you specifically so I came here 😄 but I can put it in the other channel, but I appreciate your response! I'll give that a watch ❤️

[@eliandkate]

@Taytertot-zp4kr yeah tater I realised 🥰 I just meant have you asked the community cause I bet they’ll have recommendations 🥰🥰🥰🥰

[@Taytertot-zp4kr]

@eliandkate doh 🙈, sorry - I think i need more caffeine to wake my brain up 😅

[@eliandkate]

@Taytertot-zp4kr 🤣🤣🤣 I ALWAYS say yay to more caffeine

[@GardenerScott]

You rule breaker you. Or from another perspective... you're making some wise decisions. Making the effort to save tender plants can save a lot of effort in the following year.

[@eliandkate]

I feel like a rebel!

[@jeanhelliwell8160]

I pot my getaniums up snd bring into my unheated porch from autumn. They vonyinue to bloom all hhe way through, eith little to no care, ive had the same ones now for 6 years, i aldo take cuttings dpring xnd autumn. I gift them

[@eliandkate]

And that’s a lovely welcome home too, a porch full of colour

[@jeanhelliwell8160]

@eliandkate it certainly is. They look amazing.

[@edita_uk676]

I would bring the potted pelargoniums into the house, or just leave them in the greenhouse.