Learn How to Grow Vegetables in a Greenhouse With These Helpful Tips!

Summary

In this video, Corrine shares practical tips for greenhouse gardening in cold climates, focusing on extending the growing season. She covers how to use rainwater for irrigation, manage seedlings with minimal heat, and control greenhouse temperatures in both cold and hot months. Tips for encouraging pollination, maintaining soil health, and strategically placing the greenhouse are also shared. Corrine emphasizes the benefits of a greenhouse for producing a variety of crops year-round, while also suggesting alternatives like hoop houses for those with limited space. This video offers valuable insights for anyone looking to grow more efficiently in colder environments.

Takeaways

• 😀 Greenhouses can extend your growing season by approximately 6 weeks on both ends, allowing earlier planting and later harvests.
• 🌱 Using rainwater to water plants is highly beneficial as it nourishes the soil better than hard well water.
• 🌞 Seedlings can benefit from being moved from indoor lights to natural sunlight in the greenhouse, even if it's still chilly outside.
• ❄️ Protect seedlings from cold temperatures by using frost cloth and supplemental heating, such as heat mats or chicken water heaters.
• 💡 Minimizing electricity use in the greenhouse is ideal, so design strategies to rely on natural heating and insulation when possible.
• 🌬️ Proper ventilation is crucial in a greenhouse, especially during the hot summer months, to prevent overheating and keep temperatures manageable.
• 🐝 To ensure pollination, grow flowers near the greenhouse to attract pollinators and open windows and doors to let them inside.
• 🛑 Keep pests and diseases in check by amending the soil regularly with compost and other nutrients to maintain plant health.
• 🚶‍♀️ Consider the greenhouse's placement near your garden and home for easy access, reducing the effort needed to maintain it throughout the year.
• 🌿 Greenhouses can be transitioned between different crops, such as hot crops in summer and cool-season greens in the fall, optimizing year-round production.
• 💡 Even without a full greenhouse, hoop houses or frost cloth can provide valuable protection and extended growing seasons for smaller-scale setups.

Q & A

What is the primary benefit of using a greenhouse for growing plants in colder climates?

The main benefit of using a greenhouse in colder climates is the ability to extend the growing season by about six weeks on both ends—starting earlier in the spring and continuing later into the fall. This allows for the cultivation of a wider variety of crops and longer harvest periods.

How does the speaker collect water for the greenhouse in early spring?

In early spring, the speaker collects snow from outside the greenhouse, fills five-gallon buckets, and allows it to melt inside. This snowmelt water is then used to irrigate the plants, providing natural, beneficial water for the soil.

Why is rainwater preferred over well water for irrigating plants in the greenhouse?

Rainwater is preferred because it is softer and more beneficial to the soil and plants. In contrast, well water is hard and can negatively affect the plants if used regularly.

What methods does the speaker use to protect seedlings from cold temperatures in the greenhouse?

To protect seedlings from cold temperatures, the speaker uses frost cloth for insulation and places heat mats or chicken water heaters under the plants. This creates a greenhouse within the greenhouse, providing extra warmth on chilly nights.

What is the importance of ventilation in a greenhouse during hot weather?

Proper ventilation is crucial to prevent the greenhouse from becoming too hot, especially during summer. The speaker recommends opening windows and doors and using shade cloth to keep temperatures manageable in small greenhouses.

How does the speaker encourage pollination in the greenhouse?

To encourage pollination, the speaker grows flowers outside the greenhouse to attract pollinators. They then open the greenhouse windows and doors to allow these pollinators inside. Alternatively, they use self-pollinating plants or hand-pollinate when necessary.

What are some strategies for managing pests and diseases in the greenhouse?

The speaker suggests maintaining healthy soil by amending it with compost, manure, and other nutrients each year. This ensures that plants stay healthy and are less susceptible to diseases. Regular checks for pests are also important.

Why is it recommended to place the greenhouse near both the garden and the house?

Placing the greenhouse close to the garden makes it easier to transfer seedlings into the garden. Being close to the house is also convenient, especially during the early and late seasons when the greenhouse is used frequently, and there may be snow on the ground.

What crops does the speaker plan to grow in the greenhouse as the weather warms up?

As the weather warms, the speaker plans to transition the greenhouse to growing hot crops such as peppers, eggplant, and melons. Some of the remaining greens will continue to grow as an understory to maintain soil moisture.

What are the alternative options for those who don't have a greenhouse or prefer not to use one?

For those without a greenhouse, alternatives like hoop houses and frost cloth can be used to extend the growing season. These methods can still provide a good yield and are less intensive than a full greenhouse setup.