To keep your greenhouse thriving through the winter months, it’s important to prep your setup properly before the cold hits. This will allow you to go into hibernation mode with peace of mind that your plants are safe and sound. Here are some key points to remember when staging your greenhouse for winter so you can ensure a successful spring and summer growing season.
What to grow
Potatoes are one of the most reliable crops to grow in a greenhouse. The crop is hearty, with high yields and can be stored through winter. It’s also a good idea to have some fresh potatoes on hand in the event that your power goes out. Be sure to plant them in containers as they will need to be harvested while they’re small so that they don’t become too heavy and fall over.
Winter lettuce, pak choi, spinach, kale, cabbage and broccoli are all excellent choices for cold-season production as well.
How To Clean A Greenhouse For Winter
Before you start planting for the winter period, your greenhouse will need a good clean. Start by removing all plants and pots, then vacuum the floor. Next, wash down the walls with a soapy water solution using a stiff brush. Finally, use long-handled scrubbing brushes to clean the roof and windows, making sure not to miss any hard-to-reach corners or cracks.
Insulating a Greenhouse for Winter
Insulation should also be placed around windows and doors in order to prevent heat from escaping through these openings. As with insulation, use horticultural bubble wrap to protect plants from UV rays by placing it on the inside of your greenhouse’s roof or just inside the window frames of the structure. And lastly, place tarps on the floor of your greenhouse so that you don’t need as much straw as you would otherwise. These tarps will help keep the moisture down while trapping radiant energy like a blanket, keeping your greenhouse warmer and more productive throughout winter!
Ventilation
Just because the days are shorter and colder doesn’t mean you should put your greenhouse to bed. In fact, winter is a great time to prep your greenhouses with a few simple steps. Ventilation is one of the most important things to address in preparation for cold weather. Closed vents will trap moisture inside and rot the foundation boards of your house instead of releasing it outside. It’s better to open up all vents as wide as possible during a warm morning, closing them before nightfall when temperatures drop below freezing.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are many things to think about when prepping your greenhouse for winter. But don’t worry! Just follow these winter gardening tips, and it will go more smoothly. Think about what you need to do before the change in seasons occurs and use this article as a guide as to how you can be ready.
