Victorian hotbeds.

Posted on 13 Apr, 2008 4 comments

With winter running into spring I’m seriously considering making a victorian hootbed for an early start to crops next year. Does anyone here have any experience with one and does it really make much difference?
I found a link -
http://www.the-gardeners-calendar.co.uk/Features/HotBeds/default.asp

Comments

Buzzbee

No experience, but funnily enough was reading a little about this today on the train in Jenny Uglow's little history of British gardening - this sounds a really interesting project. Has something or somewhere in particular inspired you?

14 Apr, 2008

Tussiemussie

Hi Buzzbee.What a hoot that was mean't to be hotbed ! The link in my blog was what inspired me, but it sounds a bit complex to do it right.Apparently it needs fresh horse manure and needs to be turned to avoid hotspots.

14 Apr, 2008

Buzzbee

Having checked the link this looks potentially very complicated, but would it include things like growing squashes on the top of your compost heap? Or cucumbers? Or have I got that completely wrong?

14 Apr, 2008

Tussiemussie

I guess a compost heap does generate some heat but not as much as fresh manure and soil under cover, as in the link,
Some pumpkin seeds sprouted early on my compost heap, I covered them with a glass bell but that last snowfall killed them off. Spring has been like a yo yo this year, now you see it now you don't!!!!!

14 Apr, 2008

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Victorian hotbeds.