So you’re officially a greenhouse owner. Regardless of its size or shape, whether you’re the shepherd of a few simple cold frames or a large, steel and fiberglass building, congratulations! A greenhouse is one of the best ways to grow healthy, happy veggies and fruits right in your own backyard. This is excellent for sustainability, your own health, and the good of your community around you. So what’s next? How do you choose what to grow in your new greenhouse; and how will you organize your day to day to help your plants thrive?
Firstly, define your conditions. What’s the ambient temperature in your greenhouse in the daytime versus the middle of the night? What about in the peak of summer versus the dead of winter? Thanks to your greenhouse, your growing season can be greatly extended, allowing multiple harvests during the year rather than just one. Consider how warm or cold your greenhouse is, it may be possible to plant some seedlings in a heated greenhouse before the last frost thaws. Your greenhouse can also protect cold-weather veggies from frost or freezing, allowing for harvests throughout the winter.
Where are you located? Different parts of the world will have varying levels of humidity, average sunlight, ambient temperatures, etc. Keep this in mind while choosing the best produce for your greenhouse.
Create a Daily Chore List!
- First thing in the morning is the best time to water your plants. This is when evaporation is at its lowest, and your crops will be able to absorb the majority of the moisture. Check the soil to see how much water is retained within, not every plant needs to be watered every single day! Others may need multiple watering periods each day.
- Examine your plants for pests or disease. Inspect leaves carefully, look for discoloration, bugs, dryness, etc. Catching diseases early is the best way to keep them under control
- Check your temperature, is your greenhouse staying warm enough during the nighttime? Is it staying cool enough in the heat of the day?
- Check your other sensors or meters. Is the greenhouse the ideal humidity, and are the plants getting the right amount of light and moisture?
- Examine your containers, equipment, and the greenhouse itself for damage or necessary repairs, maintenance, etc.
- Clean up excess moisture, debris, dead plant material, etc. This is good for plant health, and decreases the risk of pest infestations
