Greenhouse gardening is a great way to grow your favorite plants all year round. With a greenhouse you can grow fresh food even in the cold winter months and give your plants a head start in the spring. A greenhouse also protects your plants from insects and bad weather, so you have fewer problems and more fun gardening.
Before you start gardening in a greenhouse, there are a few things you should learn. You can’t just plant a few seeds and hope for the best. Controlling the temperature, watering the plants and keeping the air moving are all essential to successful growing in a greenhouse. In this article, we will discuss how to start greenhouse gardening with some essential tips.
1. Choose the right greenhouse
When you decide to start greenhouse gardening, choosing the right greenhouse is your first step. The size, material and type of greenhouse you choose should match what you want to grow, how much space you have and your budget. Think about whether you plan to fill it with pots and trays or whether you want to place it on the side garden beds that need more space.
There are different types of greenhouses to choose from, as well as size. There are free-standing greenhouses, which stand alone and can be placed in different places in your garden.
Then there are attached greenhouses, which are built so that they share a wall with your home or another building.
2. Create the right environment
Creating the ideal environment in your greenhouse is the key to growing healthy plants. This includes managing temperature, humidity, ventilation and lighting to create the best natural conditions.
Temperature regulation is probably the most important factor when growing in a greenhouse. During the day, the greenhouse can become too hot, which may cause your plants to die. The key is to find a way to block the sun at certain times of the season and even during the day. At night or during the colder months, the temperature inside can become too low. In these cases, you may need a heater to keep your plants warm.
Humidity and ventilation are also important. Plants need the right moisture levels in the air to thrive, but too much humidity can lead to mold and disease. Opening windows or using fans can help keep the air moving and prevent it from becoming too humid.
3. Have a planting plan
To reap the full benefits of greenhouse horticulture, advance planning is required.
Different plants thrive at different times of the year, so it’s a good idea to plan your greenhouse garden so that there is always something growing. You can start with cool-season vegetables such as lettuce and spinach in early spring and move to warm-season crops such as tomatoes and peppers in the summer.
Starting seeds is another important aspect. Consider when to put certain plants, such as tomatoes, in the ground and at what stage of their maturity. This way you can count backwards to determine the right time to start the seeds.
