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This video explains the important gardening jobs to complete during winter and how to keep your growing space organised and ready for the next season.
The guide covers checking structures, maintaining growing areas, cleaning tools, organising storage, protecting plants and preparing for upcoming planting. It also explains how winter maintenance prevents problems and makes spring gardening much easier.
If you want to stay productive during colder months, these simple practical tips will help you manage your garden and growing areas successfully.
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0:02
hello and welcome to gardening with Ben
0:05
your go-to podcast for all things green
0:07
and growing I'm Ben your allotment guide
0:10
and here to help you cultivate your
0:13
garden and your passion for plants
0:16
whether you're a seasoned Gardener or
0:17
just starting out this podcast is for
0:20
you each episode we'll dig into tips
0:23
tricks and techniques to make your
0:25
garden and alotment thve from planting
0:28
sewing and growing we will share all the
0:31
tips and AD advice we will also have
0:34
regular episodes talking about what we
0:36
have been up to on the Alum so sit back
0:40
grab a brew and enjoy today's
0:44
episode hey everyone and welcome back to
0:48
gardening with Ben for another brand new
0:51
episode we're keeping these podcasts
0:53
running again obviously we had a short
0:55
little break while we were moving
0:57
property but they're now back up and
0:59
running again and I hope you've all
1:00
found them interesting as obviously the
1:03
last couple of episodes we've been
1:05
talking about what you can plant in
1:07
December and also the jobs which need
1:10
doing in the fruit Garden the vegetable
1:12
garden and the flower garden well
1:16
today's podcast episode we're going to
1:17
be talking about all the jobs which need
1:19
doing in the poly tunnel the shed and
1:22
the greenhouse this is a new section
1:24
what we've started adding in and
1:25
hopefully you find it useful and
1:28
hopefully you can take off those jobs in
1:30
the polyon and Greenhouse and shed that
1:32
need doing but first we're going to
1:34
start off with a little Christmas joke
1:38
if you've not been following our
1:39
Instagram and Facebook pages and YouTube
1:42
you won't have seen the Christmas joke
1:44
that we post every single day so today's
1:46
Christmas joke is why do you never see
1:50
Christmas trees arguing why do Christmas
1:53
trees never argue because they Pine for
1:57
peace on Earth there we are that's a
2:00
cracker I hope you enjoy that one you
2:02
can share that with everybody else but
2:05
yeah we'll keep these jokes running on a
2:07
daily basis like I said you can see them
2:09
also on Instagram and YouTube and
2:12
Facebook as well and obviously Tik Tok
2:15
as well we're on every platform going
2:17
while we're trying to be but yeah
2:20
today's podcast we're going to be
2:21
talking about everything that you can do
2:23
in your shed your greenhouse and your
2:25
poly tunnel to get them all prepared
2:28
ready for next year ahe head of the
2:31
gardening season and obviously you know
2:34
that I've also got a poly tunnel I've
2:37
got a shed come Greenhouse what I made
2:39
myself it's a shed but it's got perspect
2:42
sides and perspect roof so that it lets
2:45
lots of warm as well so uh that is our
2:48
shed
2:49
Greenhouse where we start everything
2:52
off for growing in the new
2:55
year so the jobs what you doing in the
2:58
poly tunnel if you've got one and if you
3:00
are thinking about getting a poly tunnel
3:03
I have to let you know that you should
3:05
never try and go for these cheap
3:07
varities that are about £99 pound yes
3:10
you may say that's not cheap but it is a
3:13
cheap variety of poly tunnel don't try
3:17
and buy any in like the January sales or
3:19
anything like that stick to buying a
3:21
proper poly tunnel from a bigger company
3:24
like first poly tunnels Northern poly
3:26
tunnels all them sort of companies as
3:29
they are made to last the ones that are
3:32
like
3:33
£99 they you often see them like Square
3:36
mesh material type thing and they'll
3:39
just disintegrate and rip when there's a
3:41
first bit of strong wind as well so save
3:45
your money and invest in a proper one
3:48
I've had mine up about 16 years now and
3:52
yes the plastic has split after about 10
3:54
years but I'm holding it together and
3:56
we're keeping it on and it's still going
3:59
strong it will last another year I say
4:01
this every single year every year I keep
4:03
thinking going have to replace that skin
4:05
if it blows off but no we managed to
4:07
repair it and get it back on
4:10
again so the jobs which need do it in
4:12
the polyon for December this month are
4:15
you need to insulate them if you're
4:17
growing inside them to keep the
4:19
temperature stable inside the polyol
4:21
during cold December days and nights
4:24
consider adding insulation you can use
4:26
bubble wrap on the inside walls to help
4:28
retain the Heat while still allowing
4:31
light to enter ensure the bubble wrap is
4:33
secured and covers the most vulnerable
4:35
areas such as around the doors and the
4:37
edges where cold drafts might
4:41
enter ventilate on milder days yes we do
4:45
get some mild days in
4:47
December proper ventilation is crucial
4:50
even in winter when the weather is mild
4:52
open the doors or ventilation flaps to
4:55
allow fresh air to circulate this
4:57
reduces humidity and helps prevent Fung
4:59
diseases such as mold or milu which can
5:02
develop in stagnant air be sure to close
5:06
the vents before temperatures drop in
5:08
the evening to retain warmth inside the
5:10
PO poly tunel if you're using Heating in
5:13
your poly tunel such as electric heaters
5:15
or gas heaters or paraffin heaters check
5:18
that they're working properly and safely
5:20
ensure that the heater is
5:22
thermostatically controlled to maintain
5:24
constant temperatures inside the polyur
5:27
you can also add water containers to
5:29
absorb the heat during the day and
5:31
release it at night to keep temperatures
5:34
more stable now I don't have heated in
5:36
my
5:37
polymol obviously I'm not there all the
5:39
time so I don't really want to keep it
5:41
down uh heat is on in there so I do have
5:45
water Botts in there what are filled
5:48
with water throughout the winter so that
5:50
any heat that comes into the poly tunnel
5:52
it'll warm the water up and it'll absorb
5:54
it and let it out at
5:57
night Harvest any winter crops if you're
6:00
growing winter vegetables in your polyol
6:02
like kale spinach winter lettuce or
6:04
leaks December is a great time to
6:06
harvest them these crops thrive in
6:08
cooler temperatures of a polyol and
6:10
require regular harvesting encouraging
6:13
further growth make sure you check your
6:15
prop crops regularly to pick them as
6:18
they reach
6:20
maturity so hardy annuals and winter
6:23
vegetables December is the ideal time to
6:26
sew Hardy annuals such as sweet pee
6:29
cunda corn flowers in the poly tunel you
6:31
can also plant fast growing winter
6:33
salads and greens like Rockies Lambs
6:36
lettuce and mustard greens which will
6:38
grow well in the protection of the poly
6:41
tunnel use tray or modules to start
6:43
seeds and place them in a well lit part
6:46
of the tunnel for optimal
6:49
growth weed control even though
6:52
weed growth slows down in the winter
6:56
wheat can still appear in the poly
6:57
tunnel regularly inspect the soil and
7:00
beds remove any weeds that Sprout up to
7:03
prevent them from competing with the
7:05
your crops and nutrients and space
7:07
removing Weeds now will also reduce the
7:10
problem of weed seeds spreading in the
7:12
spring now I've got black membrane down
7:14
on my flooring in my poly tunnel CU I
7:16
don't actually grow in the ground in the
7:18
poly tunnel but weat still do manage to
7:20
pop up and around everywhere especially
7:23
the band
7:24
weed inspect and repair the polyol
7:27
structure now this is what I was just
7:28
talking about check the entire polyol
7:31
structure for any signs of damage look
7:33
for Tears or holes in the poine cover
7:36
and repair them using special polyol
7:38
tape ensure the framework doors
7:41
ventilation systems are in good working
7:43
system tighten any loose fittings
7:45
keeping the structure in good shape
7:47
ensures it remains effective at
7:49
protecting your plants throughout the
7:52
winter monitor for pests while growth
7:55
slows down in Winter pests like Aid
7:58
slugs and red spider
8:01
excuse me red spider Ms can thrive in
8:04
the warmer environment of of the poly
8:06
tunnel inspect the plants regularly for
8:08
any signs of pest infections and treat
8:11
them with organic pest control methods
8:14
such as NE oil or incal soap if needed
8:18
remove any affected leaves or plants to
8:20
prevent pests from
8:23
spreading plan for next year December is
8:27
the perfect time to reflect on past
8:29
season and plan for the year ahead take
8:32
notes on what crops work well and what
8:34
didn't and start planning your crop
8:37
rotations and garden layout for the
8:39
spring begin ordering seeds and supplies
8:42
early so you ready to sew and plant when
8:44
the warmer months arrive will soon be
8:47
starting to sew them seeds I'm so
8:49
excited I love sewing seeds that's the
8:52
best part of the year I do absolutely
8:54
love doing
8:55
that so next up we're going to talk
8:58
about what needs to be done done in the
9:00
shed deep clean your shed now this is
9:03
what I do every single year I I I
9:06
literally strip it back and tidy it all
9:08
back and everything Begin by giving your
9:10
shed a fur clean remove any clutter or
9:13
pant pots and tools that have been
9:15
sitting idle sweep the floor to remove
9:17
dirt cobwebs and plant depress and wipe
9:20
down any structures a clean shed not
9:23
only looks better but it reduces the
9:25
chance of pests at home inside over the
9:28
winter months
9:29
now I use disinfectant and everything
9:31
and I spray everything down just to give
9:33
it that extra protection and make it
9:36
nice and clean for the next year
9:39
organize and declutter December is a
9:42
great time to declutter your shed and
9:43
organize your tools equipment and
9:45
supplies sort through old pots broken
9:48
tools unused gardening items and decide
9:50
what you want to keep repair or
9:53
discard now I
9:55
always that's why I always like to get
9:57
my allotment sorted as fast as possible
10:00
after the summer the big tidy up and
10:02
clear all the beds and everything
10:04
because then I can concentrate on doing
10:06
all the shed work all the poly tunnel
10:08
work and tidying it up and getting it
10:10
all ready for the March sewing
10:14
time inspect and repair the structure a
10:17
bit like your poly tunnel check around
10:19
see if you any repairs need doing check
10:21
for felt check for leaks in the roof
10:24
cracks in the walls or gaps around the
10:26
doors now I my my shed come creen
10:30
house leaks everywhere but it Waters the
10:33
plants while it's
10:35
leaking organize your seeds go through
10:38
your collection of seeds and check the
10:39
expiration date discard any old expired
10:42
seeds or organize the ones you want to
10:44
keep store them in a cool dry place
10:47
inside seal containers or seed storage
10:50
boxes to protect from moisture and pests
10:52
especially squirrels make a list of
10:55
seeds you need to order in the up and
10:57
coming plant season start planning your
11:00
garden in for next
11:04
year okay so is there any other things
11:07
that need doing in the shed set up bird
11:10
feeders and nesting boxes now this is
11:12
not particularly in the shed but
11:14
obviously you in your shed filling your
11:15
bird feeders up and sorting your nesting
11:17
boxes out if you store bird feeders or
11:20
nesting boxes in your shed December is a
11:22
perfect time to clean and set them up in
11:24
your garden clean out bird feeders fill
11:27
and fill them with fresh seeds or fat
11:30
balls and position them in sheltered
11:31
areas providing food and shelter for
11:34
Birds during the winter months
11:36
encourages natural Pest Control when the
11:39
growing season
11:40
returns prepare for early spring
11:43
planting I can't wait start thinking
11:46
ahead to the spring planting season
11:49
prepare seed trays pots propagators so
11:51
the clean and ready for sewing early
11:53
crops like tomatoes chilies and sweet
11:57
peas consider setting up a designated
12:00
area in your shed for early seed
12:02
starting make sure you have the tools
12:04
and supplies you need in place and need
12:06
to start writing on my seed list down of
12:08
what I need to start planting pretty
12:10
soon because we're going to get started
12:13
and I'm thinking about actually starting
12:15
all
12:18
my all my onion seeds as well we're
12:21
going to start sewing some onion seeds
12:23
this month so hopefully we get some
12:25
fantastic onions growing next month so
12:28
that is all the jobs which need doing in
12:31
the shed and the polyol we haven't
12:34
actually got anything any jobs for the
12:35
greenhouse but the greenhouse is
12:38
basically the same as the shed in the
12:40
poly tunnel make sure like everything's
12:43
disinfected cleaned Down clean down all
12:45
the glass clean down any surfaces tidy
12:48
up and make sure there's no cracks in
12:51
the glasses and also make sure there's
12:54
enough Clips holding in the glass sheets
12:56
because during the winter months you
12:58
obviously get a lot of wind and storms
13:01
which can
13:03
actually damage the structure and once
13:06
it starts to bend or anything like that
13:08
that is when you could possibly lose
13:10
your Greenhouse so make sure everything
13:12
is secured and fastened down so that is
13:16
all the jobs which need doing in
13:18
December if you didn't listen to
13:19
yesterday's episode yesterday's episode
13:22
we were talking about all the jobs which
13:23
you need doing in the fruit Garden the
13:25
vegetable garden and the flower garden
13:27
so make sure you go back and listen to
13:28
that episode if you do enjoy these
13:31
episodes please please please do share
13:33
them out to friends and family or into
13:35
Facebook groups and stuff like that for
13:37
people to listen to the more people that
13:39
listen to them and the bigger reach that
13:41
we get out to the better and yeah I hope
13:45
that you all all enjoy them so we'll be
13:48
back with an episode tomorrow for you
13:50
all to enjoy so remember keep smiling
13:53
keep shining and keep gardening with B
13:56
everyone
14:00
thank you for joining me on this episode
14:02
of gardening with Ben I hope you have
14:05
found some useful tips and inspiration
14:07
for your own gardening and allotment
14:10
Journey if you have enjoyed today's
14:12
episode please make sure to follow And
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subscribe to the podcast so you never
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14:20
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14:21
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14:41
gardening and until next time remember
14:44
keep smiling keep shining and keep
14:47
gardening with Ben
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