| Gardening in winter throws up all sorts of new | | | | however, an easy solution and that is to tie the |
| challenges no matter where you live in the world. | | | | leaves together with a small piece of twine. This |
| From the tropics to the Arctic the changes that | | | | prevents the frost from settling on the leaves |
| take place in plant physiology make it a sure bet | | | | which causes the problem in the first place. You |
| that the home gardener will need to do something | | | | need to remove the twine in the morning so that |
| different to help the plans through this difficult | | | | they can be exposed to the sun. |
| time. | | | | Have you ever heard of heaving? This is when |
| The major problem in winter is that the liquid | | | | the ground freezes with low temperatures and |
| inside the plant cells will freeze in subzero | | | | then on warming up expands again which gently |
| conditions, damaging the cell beyond repair and | | | | pushes the plant upwards out of the ground. Over |
| eventually leading to its death. On a broad scale | | | | a period of time the plant can become uprooted |
| this can kill the plant or at least stunt its growth | | | | so to speak. Easterly facing beds have this |
| significantly all render it useless. | | | | problem in a more pronounced manner as they |
| There are plenty of things you can do to protect | | | | receive the morning sun which heats the ground |
| your garden from heavy frosts. Its plant requires | | | | up too quickly for the plants to cope with resulting |
| a slightly different approach so here we will | | | | in heaving. The best tip therefore is to create a |
| discuss just a few options for you. First of all if | | | | mound around each plant so that heaving is |
| you are growing bananas a great tip is to plant | | | | minimised. |
| against a north facing wall. This will ensure | | | | During winter you can use old pots to place over |
| maximum heat can be enjoyed by the plant at all | | | | plants needing protection from cold overnight. You |
| times, especially during winter. Planting bananas on | | | | need to remove them the next morning. |
| a gentle slope can also assist with longevity. | | | | Finally you can move your potted plants into a |
| Cauliflowers and similar vegetables of the Brassica | | | | protected area overnight and this is an easy way |
| family have a very high salt content in this makes | | | | to give winter protection. As you can see there |
| them quite resistant to cold temperatures. Salt | | | | are many things you can do to make Winter |
| raises the freezing temperature of any compound. | | | | gardening as enjoyable as any other citizen of the |
| But cauliflowers do not have this protection and | | | | year, and your plants will love you for the |
| are an exception to this species. There is, | | | | attention too! |