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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20 January 2017

New Greenhouse Gadget

Heatmat with thermostat
We have a new gadget in the greenhouse in the from of a heat mat.  In previous years, geraniums overwintered in the greenhouse have been troubled by mildew and mould which love the the moisture laden air. I figured that a metal greenhouse may well mean even more damp and condensation so, Chris Genever found this with the theory it would provide a drier atmosphere around the plants by providing a little bottom heat (!) He found it here: http://www.kdev.co.uk/products.php?cat=205 

Choosing which plants sit on it was tricky as I felt I was condemning the unchosen ones! The thermostatic probe has been pushed down into the compost of a pot at the back - nearest the glass and is set at halfway.

Oh, I nearly forgot to mention that the mat is sitting on some Kingspan foil backed insulation which is the perfect depth for the greenhouse staging.

Anyway, it's been up and running for a week and I should be able to do a good comparison between those left out on the gravel and the chosen few! In the meantime, I'm checking them a little more frequently in case they dry out too much.
Polystyrene insulation block
This is how it works


Heatmat in operation

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