8 Winter Greenhouse Tips
Winter is coming; and for many people, the prospect of having a greenhouse during the cold months is an exciting one. It’s a great time to explore those plants and vegetables that don’t mind a little cold weather. So, if you’re looking to break out your green thumb this winter, keep reading for some tips on how to make your greenhouse a success.
1. Prepare the Greenhouse Before Winter
The worst time to be setting up your greenhouse is when winter has already hit. Start a month or more before and cover all of the major bases. Make sure your structure is sturdy, and the glass or plastic panels are clean and fit correctly. If you’re using plastic wrap, inspect it for holes and tears.
2. Pick Winter Crops
With special growing lights and a lot of power and money, you can grow just about anything in the winter. However, for a more practical approach, choose plants that naturally do well during winter months when it’s colder, and there’s less sun, such as leafy greens and root plants.
3. Have Abundant Light
You’ll have less light in the winter than during those bright summer days. However, you can position your greenhouse in such a way that it’s able to soak up the southern sun on the horizon. To help supplement the light (which is up to six hours less each day than in the summer), you can install compact fluorescents, or even high powered grow lights.
4. Keep it Warm
Winter crops can take a good dose of cold; however, the colder they are, the slower they’ll grow. Affordable heater systems are available and work well if your setup is not too big, or you could try natural heating methods.
5. Keep it Sealed
You’ll want to have your greenhouse as sealed to the outside as possible. Not only will this help keep the cold out and the heat in, but it will also help keep pests from taking up residence with your plants.
6. Control the Humidity
Your greenhouse will get humid in the winter thanks to general wet conditions and the heat inside the greenhouse. Too much humidity can result in mold and powdery mildew, both of which can destroy your plants. Proper ventilation and dehumidifiers work wonders in keeping things towards the dry side.
7. Have a Harvest Plan
The reward for your months of preparation and hard work will finally pay off when it’s harvest time. You’ll want to put just as much care and thought into collecting your bounty as went into the greenhouse. Knowing how to recognize when it’s harvest time for each of your plants is an excellent place to start.
8. Keep it Going for Spring Crops
When springtime comes knocking, you don’t have to retire your winter greenhouse until next year. In fact, it could be quite useful in helping the summer and fall crops get a foothold as the weather gets warmer. Starters and seedlings are always at risk of freezing or being washed or blown away thanks to some late spring storm or freeze. A greenhouse can prevent this from happening and help ensure your crops’ existence into the summer.
Gardening in the winter has its challenges. That being said, it’s a great time to grow a variety of different vegetables and plants; and you get to enjoy your winter watching the earth produce life.