In my vegetable garden, a winter greenhouse has become the heart of my cold season garden, providing me with homegrown vegetables and herbs from December through March. This unheated structure, which is also featured in my book, Growing Under Cover: Techniques for a More Productive, Weather-Resistant, Pest-Free Vegetable Garden, captures solar energy and shelters a wide variety of cold tolerant crops like kale, carrots, leeks, scallions, carrots, and spinach.In this article you’ll learn about the types of winter greenhouses, get my tips selecting which one is best for you, and discover my top crops to harvest in winter. Why use a winter greenhouse A greenhouse has so many uses in a vegetable garden. It allows me to extend the fall harvest, start s
How to Grow Veronicastrum
05.09.2024 - 14:58 / gardenersworld.com
Veronicastrum (Veronicastrum virginicum) is a hardy, herbaceous perennial that has been in garden cultivation for hundreds of years but has only gained popularity in the last couple of decades, thanks to a revival of naturalistic planting styles. Its vertical branching stems are excellent for architectural impact in sunny borders, and its long tapering blooms, made up of many tiny flowers, are a magnet for insects.
Veronicastrum forms neat clumps and is not invasive, with tall, slender stems emerging from lance-shaped, green leaves. The flowers of veronicastrum come in a range of colours from soft pink, lilac and white through to mauve and darker pink. Colour and interest last for many weeks in summer as the tiny flowers open gradually from the base to tip of each bloom. Height range varies according to variety – the shortest are around 1m high, with the tallest up to 1.5m.
How to grow veronicastrumPlant veronicastrum in full sun or light shade in fertile, moisture-retentive soil. Once established, plants need very little care apart from an annual mulch in late winter. Leave dead stems standing through autumn and winter until they lose their structure. Cut back to the ground before spring.
Where to grow veronicastrumSite in sun for the best flowers, although plants do still flower reasonably well in light shade. Plant in borders, in good soil. Veronicastrum looks best in groups or repeat-planted, in a mixed border or with grasses and perennials in a naturalistic-style planting scheme.
How to plant veronicastrumIdeally grow in soil that is fertile and moisture-retentive, although not wet or waterlogged ground. Improve dry soils with plenty of organic matter to retain moisture. Plant in autumn, during mild spells in
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Header image: A greenhouse filled with petunias engineered to glow continuously by the biotech start-up Light Bio. Image credit: LIGHT BIO INC.
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