Top Ten Handy Frost Protection Tips

Frost – it’s pretty, it’s bracing and it can wreak havoc on your prized plants. Here are some top tips from our Gardening Angels to keep frost off your plants and provide the ideal winter plant protection.

1. Use Mulch

Mulch is a composition of organic material such as straw, compost, bark chippings or decaying leaves that can be applied to the base of outdoor plants to retain soil moisture and protect roots from the cold for the ideal tree frost protection.

To avoid rodents taking up residence in mulch, wait until mid-November to apply, as decreasing temperatures will have already forced these pests into hibernation elsewhere.

2. Reduce Watering

Plants do not exert as much energy over winter and will retain water for longer. Outdoor plants will generally not need watering throughout the winter. With indoor plants, water less frequently to avoid overwatering and waterlogging soil, as this can lead to root rot.

If you are using an automatic watering system, reduce the volume and frequency of watering. Try to water plants in the morning so that they have time to absorb the water, as any excess water could freeze overnight.

3. Get Ripening

Don’t let frost ruin fruit and veg before they’ve had a chance to ripen! Pick anything that has yet to ripen, such as late-blooming chillies and tomatoes, before the frost hits and ripen it off the plant.

Enlist the help of a banana, apple or fully ripened tomato to assist with ripening. These release ethylene that speeds up the ripening process. Put these together in a bag or cardboard box (or a sock drawer for the traditionalists!) and check up on them every few days.

Alternatively, a ripening cover can also be used to cover your plants, allowing air and moisture to reach your plants whilst retaining heat that will speed up the ripening process.

4. Keep Leafy Veg Healthy

Leafy crops, such as salad leaves, chard, chicory and parsley, can last well into winter with the right frost protection. Cover plants with frost protection garden fleece or a cloche to keep it safe from cold and frosts. These can also be grown indoors, so consider moving your seedlings and plants to an electric heated propagator.

5. Use Frost Protection Fleece

When frost hits, it can freeze the water in plant cells and damage their cell walls. When the sun rises and defrosts the leaves, plant cell walls can completely rupture! By wrapping plants with a plant frost protection fleece, also known as horticultural fleece, you can protect them from the cold whilst still allowing light, water and air to reach them.

6. Protect Plant Roots from Freezing

Plants in pots are particularly vulnerable to frost damage as the Cold weather can be devastating for their roots. If roots freeze, they will be unable to take in any water, causing the plant to die. By wrapping plant pots in a Fleece Plant Jacket  you can protect roots from temperatures as low as -8°C.

Group potted plants together and wrap with bubble polythene or straw for additional plant frost protection. Cover them as a group with a Frost Protection Cover or even bury the containers themselves in the ground up to the rim to make the most of the natural soil temperature.

7. Harden Off any Veg for Winter Planting

When planting up vegetables over winter, such as leeks or brassicas that have been started off indoors with a heated propagator, ensure they are hardened off before planting. ‘Hardening off’ is the process of gradually acclimatising a plant to its growing environment to avoid it going into shock. As temperature decrease, this process must be carried out more gradually.

Find out more about hardening off with our Vitopod Heated Propagator here

8. Avoid Scorch Damage

Remember, it’s not just frost you need to look out for! Freezing winds quickly dry out plants and soil, causing scorch damage. Set up a windbreak using either mesh or gardening fleece to help keep trees and plants healthy. Don’t forget; plenty of mulch around their bases will also help retain soil moisture.

9. Don’t Feed Pests

Winter is a tough time for garden pests, but don’t let them ravage your plants in their quest for survival! Whilst snails will hibernate during the winter, slugs can still be found slithering around whenever the temperature is over 5°C. Organic slug pellets and Slug and Snail Shocka will repel slugs from plants by creating an abrasive barrier; so they will be forced to seek sustenance elsewhere!

10. Keep your Garden Debris Free

Keeping a garden tidy serves many purposes. Fallen debris, such as twigs, branches or dead leaves, can cause damp damage to underlying plants, so use ahandy leaf picker to move these to your compost heap. Should winds pick up, a tidy garden leaves fewer projectiles to be blown around, minimising the risk of damage to other plants.

If you have any tips or questions about winter frost protection, frost blankets or general garden care, feel free to call us on 0845 602 3774 or email us atinfo@greenhousesensation.co.uk. Our Gardening Angels are always happy to help and love to hear about your experience of winter growing!

Top Tips for Winter Plant Protection

With a little preparation and some frost protection essentials there’s no reason your plants can’t thrive this winter.


As shorter days & colder nights approach, take some time to prepare to protect your outdoor plants from the first frost. Try to move any smaller or potted plants to sheltered spots. A Frost Protection Jacket will also provide your plants with further protection.

Our specially designed plant frost jacket is made from extra thick material to protect against temperatures as low as -8°C, but still permeable enough by air, light and moisture to ensure healthy plant growth. The winter sun will warm the air inside the jacket, which will also retain any heat.

Protecting Larger Plants from Frost

For those of you growing fruit trees, palm trees or cordylines, Gardening Fleece, also known as a horticultural fleece, is a highly effective form of plant frost protection. Wrapping garden fleece around the crown and trunk is ideal for protecting it from the bitter winds and harsh cold whilst allowing the plant to absorb water and nutrients for healthy growth.


Without sufficient frost protection, the water inside your plants’ cells will freeze overnight, damaging the cell walls. When the sun rises in the morning, the suns warmth will quickly defrost the cells and risk rupturing the cell walls altogether. This can take its toll on your plants gradually, or the shock could rupture the cell walls instantly.

Top Frost Protection Tip!

Brick walls will help to shield your plants from the harsh winter winds and, more importantly, absorb heat during the day, releasing it overnight, providing further heating for any nearby plants; making this an ideal spot to relocate prized plants. For additional frost protection our Gardening Angels love this clever Wall mounted Greenhouse.

If possible, you should position your plants at a higher point in your garden as it will minimise damage from sinking cold air. Whilst hearty foliage will not need to be covered, should you experience any snowfall, try to keep as much snow as possible off the branches as the extra weight can cause damage over time.

Propagation During Winter

Provide seedlings with added protection from cold weather with a heated propagator, perfect for creating a frost free growing growing environment, encouraging your seedlings & young plants to flourish in a safe, temperature controlled miniature greenhouse.

If your using a Vitopod Heated Propagator, plan ahead and add add extra layers to this height adjustable propagator. Perfect for keeping mature, taller plants frost free over winter until outside temperatures begin to increase again and ideal for giving your plants extra room to grow!



If you would like to find out more about frost protection or propagation, feel free to give us a call on 0845 602 3774 or drop us an email at info@greenhousesensation.co.uk. Our Gardening Angels are always happy to help and we’d love to hear about how you get on this winter!

How to Choose a Plant Frost Protection Fleece

With winter just around the corner, it’s time to prepare for the inevitable frost. A gardening frost fleece, also known as horticultural fleece, will shelter your plants from the harsh weather, whilst still allowing air, water and light to reach the plant.

Our Gardening Angels have put together a few of their top tips to help you pick the right plant protection fleece for your trees and plants this winter.

Thickness of Fleece

Not all horticultural fleeces are created equal! Fleeces are available in various shapes and sizes, so you should always consider the thickness of your fleece.

Frost fleece thickness is measured in grams per square metre (GSM), with a higher GSM meaning a thicker fleece. The thicker the fleece, the more protection it will offer against lower temperatures. A thick frost fleece is also durable, so it will continue to be reusable for many years.

Size of Fleece

Our frost protection fleece jacket is ideal for protecting potted plants from temperatures as low as -8°C. You should first measure the size of the pot before choosing which jacket you need:

• For pots up to 40cm diameter: W70cm x H100cm frost jacket

• For pots up to 55cm diameter: W90cm x H150cm frost jacket

• For pots up to 70cm diameter: W110cm x H200cm frost jacket

A plant frost fleece blanket provides ideal protection for allotment growers, as it can be used to cover the ground and prevent frosting. Firstly, measure the space you are looking to cover. As you will just be laying the fleece down on top of the soil, it will not be taut, so always use a larger fleece than the area you are looking to cover and secure with fabric pegs.

For anyone looking to protect palms or cordylines, you will want to loosely wrap a thick frost fleece around the crown and trunk. Typically, one pack of plant frost protection fleece will provide adequate tree frost protection, however larger trees may require a second pack.


When protecting cordylines, you can also consider tying up leaves around the crown to provide further protection from the wind. The leaves will try to fan out, forcing the fleece to create a protected air pocket around the vulnerable crown.

For any other plants, such as shrubs, hanging baskets or specimen plants, use a Plant Fleece Protection Cover. These covers feature a zip down the side and drawstring opening, allowing you to quickly and easily cover groups of plants, even if they are in borders. Begin by grouping your plants together, then check which size of cover would be most beneficial for you.

• W70cm x H95cm - Medium Maxi-Fleece Protection Cover

• W120cm x H180cm - Large Maxi-Fleece Protection Cover

Remember, always use slightly larger fleeces or jackets than you require. By leaving a gap between your plants and the frost protection, you create an air pocket that provides an extra layer of insulation for your plants.

Which plants the fleece will protect

With the right frost protection for plants, you can help any plant through the winter months.

• A frost fleece blanket is perfect for any trees, soft fruit bushes, planters, vegetable patches or ground cover.

• For potted plants, a plant frost protection jacket will provide sufficient protection from frosts.

• For smaller plants in planters, such as strawberries, consider covering with a cloche and an additional layer of frost fleece to provide ever further support.

• A Plant Fleece Protection Cover is ideal for protecting any shrubs, hanging baskets, border plants or specimen plants.

You can always consider moving your wrapped plants to a greenhouse or mini greenhouse, as these work as an additional frost protector. Smaller plants and seedlings can also be moved to a heated propagator.

If you would like to find out more about what frost protection would be best for you, feel free to give us a call on 0845 602 3774 or drop us an email at info@greenhousesensation.co.uk.. Our Gardening Angels are always happy to help and we’d love to hear about how you get on this winter!

Protect your Garden from Strong Winds and Rain

When the strong winter winds and heavy rain bear down on your garden, there are a few steps that you can take protect your plants from the elements.

1. Protect your potted plants Move your potted plants to the safety of a greenhouse or, if this is not an option, move them close to walls or fences to minimise the risk of wind damage. Corners are particularly advisable as this will protect your plants from the wind on two fronts. You can further protect any potted plants with a frost protection jacket, or by moving them to a wall mounted greenhouse which will minimise the impact of the wind.

2. Put away any potential projectiles If you have any ornaments in your garden, you may want to consider putting them away to avoid the wind lifting them up and carrying them away. You may also want to consider temporarily tying down or storing away any freestanding birdhouses.

3. Protect your bedded plants The wind can dry out the ground around your bedded plants, so make sure the plants are well hydrated before the storm hits. You can also protect any bedded plants further by firmly embedding a cloche around the plants. To prevent the cloche blowing away, you will ideally want to embed them around 2 inches in the ground.

If you have any tips or questions about facing the adverse weather,feel free to call us on 0845 602 3774 or email us at info@greenhousesensation.co.uk. Our Gardening Angels are always happy to help

Hardening Off in a Propagator

Once your plants have made it through winter, the time will come when they must leave the safety of their heated propagators and moved to their final growing place .

Before moving plants out of your heated propagator, you will need to harden them off. “Hardening off” is the process of acclimatising your plants to live outside of a heated environment, encouraging them to develop stronger, waxier leaves that can cope with natural conditions outside the propagator. This must be carried out gradually to avoid your plants going into shock.

You can start hardening off your plants when night time temperatures reach 5°C; although the higher the temperature, the easier the process will be. If hardening off at 5°C, you still need to implement some additional protection such as a frost protection fleece. A frost protection gardening fleece will keep the plant safe from any sudden drops in temperature and will allow you to plant outside sooner.


The decision for when to harden off plants should be based on the time of sowing/planting rather than the development stage of your plant. Young plants are less likely to tolerate sudden changes in temperature, so these should be left a little longer. Typically, when your plant has developed its true leaves it will be ready for hardening off.

Plants grown in warmer environments, such as an Electric Heated Propagator, will need to be hardened off more gradually, as these are used to higher temperatures.

The duration of the hardening off process can vary depending on what you are growing. However this is the typical process for hardening off in an electric heated propagator:

Stage 1: Leave the lid off your propagator during the day

Recommended Duration: 7 days

Stage 2: Leave the lid off your propagator all the time

Recommended Duration: 7 days

Stage 3: Remove plants from the propagator (ideally move to greenhouse or mini greenhouse, or outside with plant frost protection)

Recommended Duration: 7 days

Stage 4: Transplant your plants in their final planter


In addition to these steps, it is important to consider the other changes that your plant will have to adapt to and how you can prepare them for this.

- Your plants will be experiencing greater levels of direct sunlight, so try to move your plant to a sunnier spot gradually throughout this process to lessen the shock.

- Aim to plant out on an overcast day as this will minimise the risk of your plants wilting.

- If planting outdoors, protect young plants from slugs with some organic slug pellets and keep hungry pests away.

Now your plants will be ready to grow and your Vitopod Propagator will be free for sowing your springtime seedlings!

If you have any questions about hardening off, or if you’d like to share any advice from your previous experience, feel free to call us on 0845 602 3774 or email us at info@greenhousesensation.co.uk. Our Gardening Angels are always happy to help!

How to get the Best from an Electric Propagator

An electric heated propagator provides the ideal growing environment to give your seeds and cuttings the best possible head start.

If you’re using a height adjustable propagator such as our Award Winning Vitopod Propagator, you can add extra layers to create your own mini greenhouse. Perfect for keeping taller plants frost free over winter and giving seeds and cuttings extra time and space to grow.

Read our Gardening Angels top tips on how to get the best out of your heated propagator.

Optimum Temperature Settings

Ensure the best possible growth by setting your heated propagator to the right temperature for what you are growing. The temperatures required for each plant can vary depending on what seeds you are propagating, so always check the seed packets for any suggested growing temperatures.

We would recommend setting the Vitopod’s thermostatic control for 20˚C, as this will generally provide the ideal temperature for the majority of propagated plants. This way, you can, for example, grow chillies and tomatoes at the same time, without the risk of either seed being cooked.


When growing your own chilies, your seeds will benefit from temperatures between 25-30˚C for germination. Once germinated, set the temperature around 18-24˚C in the daytime and lower to 15-18˚C at night to ensure consistent growth.

Tomato growers will want to set their propagator for 22-30˚C when germinating, then adjust to 16-22˚C during the day and 14-16˚C overnight for optimum growth. Generally, most other vegetables will require temperatures around 15-20˚C.

Controlling Humidity in Your Propagator

Humidity can be a real problem in a heated propagator so watch out for a build-up of condensation which can cause young plants to rot and die off. If you see condensation running down the sides of your propagator, open the vents or remove the lid to allow excess heat to escape. If you do remove the lid, remember to replace it overnight!

Do I Need to Use Gravel or Sand?

If you’re using a Vitopod Heated Propagator to propagate your seeds and cuttings, heat is distributed evenly throughout the base of your propagator so there is no need to use sand or gravel.

Some propagators do not provide even heat across their base. This is essential when ensuring even growth in your propagator, so if you do not have a Vitopod, you may want to consider lining the base of your propagator with either gravel or sand. This will allow the heat to be spread evenly through your propagators base. If you don’t even out the heat you may find some of your seeds may germinate faster than others and your seed trays may dry out faster.

Do I Need to Use Capillary Matting?

Rather than watering from above, some gardeners prefer to place a wet capillary mat below their plants, allowing them to absorb the water from below. This can be done with the Vitopod propagator, however keep an eye out for any humidity issues and be careful not to over-water your plants.

Watering Seedlings

Young seedlings will not require a great deal of water, but you still don’t want them to dry out. Monitor moisture levels using a moisture meter and ensure your seedlings receive the right level of watering. Ideally, you should aim to keep the soil moist but should not see any surface water.

Providing Light for Your Seedlings

If seedlings don’t get the light they need, they develop long and skinny stems that are unable to support the plant’s growth. This will lead to your plants being increasingly susceptible to disease and pests whilst failing to provide a great harvest. To increase your plant’s exposure to light, move your propagator to a sunny windowsill or greenhouse.

Keeping Your Propagator Clean

At the start and end of the sowing season ensure you have cleaned your Vitopod Electric Propagator, seed trays and pots before adding any new plants. By using a biodegradable soap, you can keep everything neat and tidy whilst helping to prevent the spread of any plant diseases.



There are many different ways you can utilise the Vitopod Electric Propagator, so if you have any questions about setting up the propagator or any tips from your experience, feel free to call us on 0845 602 3774 or email us at info@greenhousesensation.co.uk. Our Gardening Angels are always happy to help and love hearing your propagation success stories!

Overwintering in a Heated Propagator

Protect your favourite plants from frosts this winter and overwinter healthy plants and cuttings in a heated propagator.

What is Overwintering?

Overwintering is the process of providing a safe environment for your plants, ensuring they survive over winter. A heated propagator, such as the Vitopod Heated Propagator, provides the heat and protection your plant needs to survive.

With large vents for humidity control, you can place the Vitopod Propagator inside your greenhouse, its clear sides and lid allowing your plants to take full benefit from the available light. By adding extra layers to the Vitopod, you can accommodate for taller plants.

Why Overwinter my Plants

Overwintering gives plants will get a head start when the daylight increases in February and start growing your favourite fruit and vegetables earlier.

You can expect an earlier harvest of bumper crops from any overwintered plants as the start leads to an extended growing season. Plus, by protecting your fragile plants from the elements, overwintering could be considered as additional plant frost protection.

What to Overwinter

Overwintering is perfect for tomato and chilli growers, so prepare your plants for the move to a heated propagator. For more information on overwintering chillies, read our guide by clicking here.

Ornamental plants, such as fuchsias or geraniums, can also be overwintered. This is a great cost-cutting measure as you can keep your beautiful flowers going for replanting in the spring. This is an ideal way to protect your ornamental plants from frosts, ready for taking cuttings for the next season.

Our Gardening Angels like to use a Hydropod cuttings propagator for increased cuttings success rates. The Hydropod reduces the risk of damping-off, drying-out and fungal infections and helps to speed up growth.

When to Start Overwintering

You can typically start overwintering when night time temperatures drop significantly, which is normally around the end of October.

Prepare your Plants for Overwintering

If you are an allotment grower, you will notice the ground is starting to frost over. By using a frost protection fleece to cover any rooted plants, you can keep them protected until they move to the propagator.

Before moving your plants to the propagator, trim back branches to around 10cm and harvest as much as you can. Chillies and tomatoes can be ripened off plant if necessary. By removing branches, foliage and fruit, your plant will require less energy to keep going and will be more likely to survive the winter.

If you are overwintering any plants grown in planters, carefully dig them out and repot them. Try to remove any loose compost and repot with fresh compost. You could also consider trimming back the roots on your plants and moving to smaller pots as this allows the plant to reserve and focus its energy.

Caring for Overwintered Plants

Once your plants have been moved to the electric propagator, you can begin supporting them over winter. A good source of light is essential for a plant’s survival, so ensure your propagator is positioned appropriately; consider placing the propagator within your greenhouse.

As temperatures decrease, plants retain water for longer. Over watering will encourage damp and mould to develop around the plant. Check the plant every few days and only water if the surrounding compost is dry.

Maintain a constant temperature between 5°C and 12°C to keep plants alive and frost free. If the temperature surpasses 12°C, plants start to grow, which you won’t want to happen until spring. With the Vitopod Propagator, we recommend opening the vents fully over winter to allow airflow around your plants, helping to prevent bacterial and viral disease build up.

When to Replant your Plants

When the temperature begins to surpass 12°C consistently, typically around March or April, turn up the temperature in your Vitopod to encourage growth. When outdoor temperatures rise, your plants will be ready to move from the safety of your heated propagator and into their new planters. When you do move to new planters, it is very important your plants are not hit by the frost, so consider using some Frost Fleece to protect your plant in the early stages.

Who to Talk to About Winter Propagation

If you would like to know more about propagating over the winter months or what you can grow with your propagator, feel free to call us on 0845 602 3774 or email us at info@greenhousesensation.co.uk. Our Gardening Angels are always happy to help and love hearing your propagation success stories!

If you want to learn more about ripening tomatoes off plant, click here for our handy guide!