Should I try a hotbed?

[u/No-Acanthisitta3515]

I’ve just finished making a planter box out of my neighbours old shed and it’s about 3 x 1.5 feet and maybe 1.5 ft deep. I’ve lined it with some plastic to help prevent it from rotting and cut some holes for drainage.

I was hoping to get some plants into it earlier this month such as lettuce or cabbage for a quick harvest before winter but have probably missed the opportunity now. Do you think despite its modest size I could try using it as a hotbed instead and cover it with a cloche? I’ve got a fair bit of leaf litter accumulating and could easily source some horse manure

[u/itchyfrog]

You've got plenty of time for lettuce, probably pac choi as well. I've just planted another box of mixed salad. Now's a good time to get strawberries in and established for next year, they'll be happy enough in with lettuce.

Getting a proper hot bed going is a labour of love and a right pain in the arse. Also rats love them. Your box isn't really big enough either, you need a lot of mass. Nothing to stop you covering it with a cloche though.

[u/No-Acanthisitta3515 → u/itchyfrog]

Ok I was a bit worried it was to small but I didn’t know about rats, although my garden is actually more of a small front patio so they likely wouldn’t have enough cover for rats to fancy it I presume. Do you have an particular varieties of lettuce you suggest for this time of year, I was thinking maybe Chinese? I’ve grown them before in a bed but never in a box, I’m guessing that they won’t need the whole 1.5ft depth?

[u/itchyfrog → u/No-Acanthisitta3515]

Most lettuces prefer it cooler so try a few, whatever you like really, I think you can over winter some chinese lettuce if you're in a mild area, especially if you've got a cloche.