Inside the home might be more chaotic due to the festivities but outside the December garden is taking a restful break. When there’s so much to do throughout the festivities it might seem like there is no time for the garden. However, it’s when we are busy that time out is even more important! There is so much comfort to be found in the small garden jobs that gently take us out of the chaos and into the calm, if only for a few moments.
This month brings some very exciting news from me —I’ve just started my own flower farm! It’s a dream I’ve had which has been long in the making and I simply cannot wait to get started. As it’s winter, there’s mainly only mulching and bulb planting to be done, but soon there will be an abundance of seed trays on the go and many many post it notes around the house! So now I have an incredible space to pop out to for some fresh air and nature time, even if it is cold and rainy. It’s simply a great time of year to observe.
A greenhouse is just a wonderful addition to any growing space, but for a flower farm, it really can be essential. Greenhouses allow earlier sowing, protection for tender cut flowers and will keep young plants thriving, even when frost grips the fields. We have a forecast of -8 next week so I really do need to get thinking about a Rhino on the farm.
The Rhino Greenhouse I have on my allotment is such a core part of my growing and is currently home to many tender plants.
One plant that truly benefits from December care is the hellebore. These winter flowering beauties are tough cookies but a little extra care right now will go a long way. Clear old, brown or messy foliage to prevent disease and if you’re growing from seed, keep them in the greenhouse where the conditions will mimic their natural woodland cycle.
Inside the greenhouse, you can pot up hardy annuals that were sown earlier in autumn and a small paraffin heater can help maintain temperatures for particularly vulnerable seedlings if needed, but most hardy varieties will happily sit in the cool with a little extra insulation if it gets extremely cold.
Whether you’re nurturing hellebores, planning next year’s borders, or, like me, dreaming up rows of future flowers, this is the time to reconnect with what you want from your growing year. The greenhouse is where those dreams quietly begin.