Boxes to grow winter salads in poly tunnel

[chris]

I’m getting ready to grow some salad and greens in boxes like in your video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FXgNI9_ZHw

I read in your book that you line the trays or boxes with newspaper but it looks like you also use cardboard – have you found either one more effective?

Getting my starts going this week for transplant in later September.

[charles]

Chris, I now prefer paper, reckon it takes less goodness from the compost. Two sheets is enough, then as they decompose the plants’ root structure holds the compost in place

[Hawfinch]

I’ve just rewatched the video, and one thing I don’t quite understand, why do you grow the lettuces et al. in boxes and not in the soil? Wouldn’t they be better protected against frosts there? Otherwise very interesting to see what one can grow during the cold months.

One thing that always intrigues me is that coriander grows in cold weather, as I originally know it from Southwestern China, or that it is a main ingredient in Thai cooking, where the climate is so much hotter than ours.

[chris]

Thanks Charles – paper it is.

Hawfinch – yeah it is interesting that cilantro is a cold weather veg – I have issues germinating it in the summer when I want a ton of it for salsa. That being said I just put in 2 beds of cilantro and its germinating fine now that the nights are cooler.

[charles]

Yes so coriander seeds in summer and waits for cooler nights to get going.
Hawfinch, the video is to encourage those who don’t have spare ground, also the boxes make use of empty greenhouse staging, and are convenient for nipping out to pick a few leaves.

[Author]

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