The green and rolling countryside of Worcestershire, England, is home to the cider apple orchards which surround the gardens of Pear Tree Cottage. They enjoy a sunny south westerly aspect with sweeping views across to Martley Hillside, Woodbury and Abberley clock tower. The Teme Valley lies just over the hill and, not far away, is the Herefordshire border. Although our climate is temperate, our seasons are often uncertain and always a challenge to a gardener! This began in 2010 & follows the weekly ups and downs of garden work chronicling both successes and failures but, above all, demonstrates the fun enjoyed by three people who regularly garden in all weathers

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26 October 2014

Greenhouse work in the dark!


Since the new/old greenhouse tiles were laid and grouted by Chris, I've been itching to finish off by cleaning all the glass inside and giving the tiles a thorough brush over.  I had to steel myself to wait for the grout to dry first! It looked pretty dry this morning and in any case, I didn't spill water on them. It's amazing how much more light there is now the glass has been cleaned - even though I only did the inside.  It was really quite green with large areas of algae.  Having swept and brushed the tiles, I was able to lug the heavy pots back into place.  Not wanting to obscure too many tiles, some of the smaller pots have been rearranged in the main greenhouse.  Now: even before the greenhouse tiling project was thought of, it was always my intention this year to have some winter colour inside it.  Feeling doubly inspired and not having got around to growing anything from seed, it was off to buy a few Primulas and half a dozen Pansies.  This year only Violas have planted outside because I'm fed up with all the spotted fungal diseases Pansies attract and having been infected, they look so miserable.  Violas seem so much more resistant and so I potted up the Pansies for indoor pleasure only.  One's ever loving husband kindly put up more shelving and adjusted its height making more room for over wintering Geraniums and freeing up the staging for more colour.



The only trouble with all this work was the fact that the clocks changed and I was potting up in the dark!  No light over the potting bench and one just didn't want to spill compost on a freshly cleaned greenhouse floor!

2 comments:

jackman10 said...

Other things to be aware of are whether or not you have close access to water and electricity and will you be adding a composting pile or bin and maybe a rain- collecting barrel. Decide if your greenhouse will be part of a larger garden setting with an outdoor flower or vegetable garden where new young sprouts will be planted or maybe you only want to walk out the door of your house and into your greenhouse located close by. The main point here is to know where you want to build your small greenhouse prior to its arrival. Greenhouse Kits

Pear Tree Cottage Garden said...

Thanks very much for your comments. We have since upgraded to a Hartley Botanic & I absolutely LOVE it.