{"id":808,"date":"2018-01-30T06:47:09","date_gmt":"2018-01-30T06:47:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gardendad.co.uk\/?p=808"},"modified":"2018-01-30T22:06:52","modified_gmt":"2018-01-30T22:06:52","slug":"growing-vegetables-in-a-greenhouse-year-round","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gardendad.co.uk\/growing-vegetables-in-a-greenhouse-year-round\/","title":{"rendered":"Tips On Growing Vegetables In A Greenhouse Year-Round"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you want to have veggies all the year-round and you’re not afraid of a bit of work, growing vegetables in a greenhouse may be just right for you. Managing a greenhouse takes quite a bit of monitoring, and you must be ready and able to provide heating during the cold months\u00a0(check my reviews of best greenhouse heaters<\/a>) and shade and ventilation during the warmer months.<\/p>\n

It’s also important to understand what plants need to thrive in nature and to replicate those conditions as closely as possible.<\/p>\n

In this article, I provide an overview of greenhouse growing along with sound advice to help you succeed. Read on to learn more.<\/p>\n

Types of Greenhouses<\/h2>\n

As you plan your greenhouse, you may be baffled by some of the terminology you come across. For example, it may seem that there are three entirely different types of greenhouse structure or that you need to set up three separate greenhouses. This is not the case, but there are three different ways to keep your greenhouse, depending upon the temperature range you are able to maintain.<\/p>\n

1. Cold greenhouse: This type of greenhouse is warmed by the sun’s rays (passive solar energy). It gets as warm as the sun will allow it during the daytime and may drop to around -2 Celsius overnight. This is a good place to over-winter your non-frost-sensitive plants.<\/p>\n

2. Cool greenhouse: This type of greenhouse is heated artificially during the winter, but it is not kept “hothouse” warm. You’ll want to maintain a temperature of about 15C during the day and 7C or above overnight. This is a good place to keep established, frost sensitive plants during the winter.<\/p>\n

3. Warm greenhouse: This is where you start new seedlings, keep your exotic plants and grow hothouse tomatoes and such. This type of greenhouse stays well heated all winter through. The temperature should not drop below 12-13C overnight and can be quite warm during the day thanks to a combination of artificial heating and passive solar energy.<\/p>\n

Heating & Ventilation Pose Challenges<\/h3>\n

When winter is over, you’ll need to protect your plants from the excessive heat that will surely build up inside your greenhouse. A greenhouse can become very hot (40+ degrees) very quickly if it is kept shut up on a bright, sunny day. This causes some plants (e.g. tomatoes) to stop growing. It can kill others.<\/p>\n

To provide good ventilation and cooling, you must have windows and\/or vents and fans to bring in fresh air and remove stale air. Provide shade with shade cloths or establish your greenhouse near deciduous trees which leaf out and provide shade during the summer months.<\/p>\n

What are the Best Veggies for Greenhouse Growing?<\/h2>\n

You can grow all your favourite veggies in a greenhouse, but some may be a bit trickier than others. Study the types of vegetables you wish to grow so that you can carefully set up the right balance of sunlight, water and warmth to produce healthy, tasty produce. If you do not provide enough light, or if you try to grow your veggies at the wrong temperature, they may end up flavorless.<\/p>\n

Some of the best choices in greenhouse veg include:<\/p>\n