Gardeners’ Question Time
Matthew Pottage
Matthew is the curator of RHS Garden Wisley, the flagship garden of the Royal Horticultural Society in Surrey.
Matt Biggs
Matt trained at Kew and has been gardening professionally for more than 30 years.
Greenwood Pippa
Pippa is one of the foremost experts on pests and diseases. She gardens using organic methods.
Q How can I use my new greenhouse for growing?
Aideen, Co. Armagh
A MATT SAYS Now is the time to get ready for sowing next spring. Work out the number of containers, hanging baskets, troughs and pots you would like, and where in the garden they are going – in sun or shade. Once that has been decided, start ordering seeds and plants to suit, from catalogues or the internet, working out your planting schemes at the same time. Shop around to compare prices.
Make sure you have enough pots, trays and modules for sowing and growing the seedlings on for the number of plants you require. Any containers you already have will need to be washed using water with added environmentally friendly disinfectant. If you need more containers, look for those made of sustainable materials such as bamboo or recycled plastic.
It is also worth looking at reviews of seed composts and work out how much seed and potting compost you will need next spring.
A You’ll find that a new greenhouse opens up many opportunities for your garden. While the bulk of seeds are best
