Greenhouse Vegetable Gardening - Sturdi-Built Greenhouses (2024)

FAQs

Do vegetables grow well in greenhouses? ›

A greenhouse is suitable for growing vegetables in a number of ways: Starting off hardy vegetable plants earlier than outdoors. Getting earlier harvests of tender plants such as French beans. Growing tender crops such as aubergines, cucumbers, peppers and chillies and tomatoes through the summer months.

You'll need lumber, hardware and covering materials for a greenhouse made out of wood. Rental trucks are available to help you transport your tools and supplies. Consider your climate before you choose the materials for your greenhouse. Wood is a good choice for a warm, dry climate.

Greenhouses with a single aisle down the center are typically 8, 10 or 12 feet wide. 10 ft. widths offer the most efficient utilization of bench space because you can put 3 ft. wide benches on both sides and have a 3-4 ft, wide aisle with room for plant to overgrow the benches.

Onions. Onions are ideal vegetables to grow in a greenhouse for a number of reasons. They require little attention and care and can be grown year-round in the warmer climate of a greenhouse. Onions require minimal space, making them easy to fit into small greenhouses or those with limited growing areas.

What's the Ideal Greenhouse Temperature for Plants? Obviously, the answer to that question depends on the plants you're growing, but the general wisdom is that the perfect temperature for healthy plants is about 80.6 °F during the day and around 70 °F at night.

Good ventilation is critical in maintaining an optimal growing environment and improves the overall efficiency of a greenhouse. It is essential for both good temperature and humidity management.

Multiwall Polycarbonate

This is a more recent choice for greenhouses, and it is rapidly growing in popularity as it is lightweight and long-lasting. It doesn't let in as much light as glass, but it diffuses the light and blocks harmful UV rays, which is much better for the plants.

Portable Walk-in Greenhouse

There's barely any assembly required — just pop the metal stand out, lay the plastic covering over top, and stake the covering down to prevent it from blowing off. From there, you can add shelving if you'd like, or you can simply pop the greenhouse over your garden bed.

By far the most practical and durable foundation for any greenhouse is a solid concrete base. A good option for large greenhouses and can be set above ground level quite easily.

Concrete. Concrete is a popular choice for greenhouse flooring because it is durable and easy to clean.

How many windows should a greenhouse have? ›

Ideally a greenhouse should have windows and vents that equate to at least one third of the roof area.

Finally, greenhouses are walled-off ecosystems; introduce a pest or disease, and it can spread fast. Additionally, you'll need to introduce pollinators yourself if you want to pollinate your plants, and you may need to introduce other insects to prey on pests.

Keeping greenhouse plants at the right temperature is critical to their success. Some plants, such as tomatoes, won't set fruit if it's very hot, while others are so heat sensitive that even temperatures above about 85^oF (29^oC) will cause them damage.

For effective ventilation:

Open all doors and vents on sunny days. These can be left open at night if the temperature remains high. It is sometimes necessary to temporarily remove panes from glasshouses to assist ventilation in heat waves. Fit automatic vent openers to ensure roof vents open even when you are not ...

Warmth and humidity promote plant growth. Plants need moisture, warmth and light to grow. A greenhouse stabilises the growing environment by buffering the ambient temperature and protecting the plants from extreme cold.

Crops and Seasonality

In late spring, summer, and early fall you will likely be watering your greenhouse garden every day or at least every other day. In late fall, winter, and early spring when temperatures are more mild you will likely be watering much less frequently about once a week.

Many types of leafy, green vegetables can thrive in a winter greenhouse. Do you crave fresh salads during the winter months? Many varieties of lettuce are sensitive to freezing but some types, such as endive and radicchio, are rugged enough to tolerate the cold.

The sun's powerful rays can penetrate glass and other manmade materials, which can be harmful to the plants in your greenhouse. Without ventilation, shade or any other cooling methods, the plants will overheat, damaging their leaves and fruits while drying out the soil.