So, what about the winter? You’ve got a greenhouse functioning, growing organic, fresh produce right in your backyard. But what about when things get too cold? What about keeping your house warm, and your water stores unfrozen? There’s lots of things to consider when it comes to preparing for hard winters.
- Plant your winter seeds in late summer. This gives them time to mature before the temperatures drop. Seedlings and young plants are especially sensitive to freezing temperatures. Make sure you know how quickly each kind of produce you plant matures.
- Choose hardy produce that thrives in a cool environment. Lettuce, arugula, spinach, kale, and mustard greens all do well in cooler temperatures. So do cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, turnips, brussel sprouts, etc. Onions and root vegetables do well in warmer soil, even when temperatures drop above the surface.
- Avoid small, raised containers, if possible, when planting in the winter. Large beds with greater amounts of soil will take longer to freeze than small containers will.
- Soil dries out slower in the wintertime due to cooler temperatures and higher humidity. Keep this in mind while watering your plants.
- While in the summertime, you’ll be concerned with some level of overheating and will want to offer partial shade for your greenhouse. In the wintertime, you’ll want to maximize the amount of sunlight your greenhouse gets at any moment -- aim for 6 hours of direct sunlight in the winter, if possible.
- Utilize thermal batteries, or geothermal heating like a heat pump or heat sink, to help keep your greenhouse warm. Thermal batteries are often made by filling 50-gallon drums with water, and then painting them black in order to absorb the most thermal energy.
- Use dual-coverage, or double-walls in order to fully insulate your greenhouse. Alternatively, use cold frames or covers inside your greenhouse for a similar effect.
What about your home? If the power goes out, do you have a back-up power supply? This can be a generator, or solar panels. Alternatively, without power, how will you keep you and your family warm? There are wood-burning stoves, and kerosene heaters available. Light sources, like candles or fireplaces, can also give off precious heat when the temperatures drop. Keep blankets on hand, and try to cover anywhere where heat may escape, e.g., window and door frames. Keep portable battery banks on hand that can power any mobile devices, phones, tablets, etc. A portable camping stove may be a great idea, especially if your normal stove is electric. These can be great for cooking, boiling or heating water, etc. Alternatively, a normal grill will help, if you have enough propane tanks on hand.
