Top Tips For Greenhouse Growing Success

~ More people than ever are adding a greenhouse to their properties and growing their own fruits and vegetables. And that’s no surprise — there is, after all, much to love about gardening in a greenhouse. They offer more flexibility and growing options than outdoor vegetable patches, they’re relatively easy to get underway, and they make tending to your garden all the more enjoyable when the weather is less than favorable. 

Still, as with all things, you’ll need to know a few things to help increase your chances of success. No one wants to put months’ worth of work in only to get no results. 

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Choose the Right Location

One of the benefits of having a greenhouse is that you can avoid many of the problems that come from growing vegetables outside (weather conditions/bugs and irrigation). However, that doesn’t mean that your greenhouse is completely immune to the external world. For that reason, it’s important to choose the right location for your greenhouse.

Temperature Control and Ventilation

Having the right temperature and ventilation is key to helping your plants grow. Regardless of where you live, there’ll be fluctuations in the temperature, and what your plants really want is a stable environment wherever possible. There are plenty of tools you can use to create a perfect climate for your greenhouse vegetables. A heater will keep your greenhouse suitably warm during the colder months while having the right greenhouse fan will help to prevent the space from becoming too warm or humid during summer. Reducing the humidity in your greenhouse will also help to make it less appealing to pests and insects, further protecting your vegetables. 

Grow a Variety of Vegetables 

It’s good to be ambitious when you’re operating a greenhouse. Once you’ve gotten the basics underway, you’ll be in a position to expand and add more exotic vegetables. However, in the early days, it’s best to start with the basics. While it’s good to be enthusiastic, it also pays to be realistic. By starting with plants that are easy to grow, you’ll be allowing yourself to get into the swing of growing vegetables in a relatively risk-free way. Lettuce and basil, for instance, are both easy to grow. From there, you can expand to pepper plants, tomatoes, and cucumbers. Eventually, you’ll be confident enough to tackle those more challenging plants, such as cauliflower, onions, carrots, and sweet corn. 

Avoid Overcrowding

One of the key errors that new greenhouse operators make is overcrowding. You can see why — people want to plant as much as possible to ensure they get a higher yield. However, remember that those seeds are just the beginning of the vegetable’s journey. They’ll grow and expand, and if you’ve planted too many seeds, then everything will begin to feel a little crowded in there. And that doesn’t just make it more work to care for your plants, but it’ll also impact their growth — there’s only so much they can grow if there’s limited space. The goal is to give all your plants enough space and light they need to thrive, so it’s best to err on the side of caution. 

Keep it Clean and Secure

It’s easy for a greenhouse to become a little messy and chaotic. As such, it’s recommended to take the time to organize the space after every time you’ve been there. Those little five-minute clean-up operations will save you a lot of headaches further down the line. It’s also key to ensure your greenhouse is always fully sealed before you leave for the day — it’ll prevent pests, slugs, rodents, and other unwelcome guests from finding their way to the fruits of your labor. 

Conclusion

Starting a greenhouse can be highly rewarding, enjoyable, and tasty. Let me know if you ever thought about establishing your own growing heaven and what are the plans for the future.

Have a very green day,

Luda@plantsandbeyond.com