Tips For Timing Your Greenhouse Plantings
Your climate zone will determine when you can safely begin sowing seeds in your greenhouse. Although there are four seasons there are basically 2 growing seasons, warm and cold.
Planning ahead is important if you expect a bountiful harvest. It can be difficult to plan for months in the future when all you want to do it get started. You can be sure that taking the time to plan will pay great dividends.
On your calendar, work backwards. Count the days from the earliest to the latest you can transplant outdoors. You can then figure out within what range of days you can begin the seeds in your greenhouse. Use this as your guide to sowing your seeds. Transplanting fruits and vegetables can be difficult if the plant is too mature. Be sure your timing is geared to your climate. The shock of transplanting can damage the plant beyond repair, or at the very least stunt its ability to produce. Keeping the plant inside your greenhouse is probably not a good option as the structure will become too warm.
If you absolutely must begin early, if your spring fever is too strong, you can begin your seeds in a large pot or bin. When the time comes to move outside, take the entire pot and harden in a cold frame. You can also turn the pot itself into a cold frame by constructing a temporary frame over it and covering with plastic. When your plant is ready for the outside temperatures it should remain in it’s container. If your plant is too large transplanting it can ruin all your hard work.
Some plants can easily be kept in their pots and never transplanted. You can plant most anything in a container, but if the rooting structure is too large your pot will have to be very large. If anyone understands impatience, I do. You will probably choose to transplant most of your seedlings directly into the ground. In that case, your timing is very important. Begin sowing in your garden green house after you have detemined how many days til your transplate date.
Plants will be healthier if you harden them between the greenhouse and the outdoors. Move them to a cold frame. Once they have acclimated move them outdoors. If a cold frame isn’t an option, always move outside to the warmest spot in your garden.
You can garden year round in a greenhouse but it’s important to consider the types of plants you’ll grow during various seasons.
For instance, tomatoes. Fruits and vegetables need warm temperatures to set their fruit. It’s possible to grow warm weather plants during cool weather but the temperature must be considered. This means the addition of a heater. Tomatoes also need strong light so depending on how your greenhouse is situated, you will need the addition of artificial light.
It can be less expensive to operate patio greenhouses than stand-alone home greenhouses because only three sides will be exposed to the outside air.
Growing some fruits and vegetables during the cold weather can be quit expensive. You can choose vegetables that do well in cool climates. This can be lettuce, leeks, carrots, radishes among others. If you live in a temperate zone, you may not have to heat your greenhouse, even during the coldest months. In the very coldest climates, your winter greenhouse can be kept warm with a heater to as low at 30 degrees F as long as you choose cool weather crops.
Hot season or cold, you can use your greenhouse all year ’round.
