Top Tips for Winter Food Growing in a Greenhouse
A hobby greenhouse grower takes growing food to a whole new level in the winter and luckily, the “work” required to succeed has been trialed, studied and reported on since the 19th century.
- Natural Day Length Matters: Food grows best when natural day length is over 10 hours long. At less than ten hours a day, plant growth is slow or static, rather than fast and active.
- Disease Management: Disease is greatly reduced when winter crops are spaced wider than summer crops.
- Airflow is Crucial: Constant airflow through use of a fan and opening of vents on sunny winter days keeps plants healthier.
- Harvesting Strategy: Plants harvested one leaf at a time take up less space than plants harvested whole (think of harvesting a parsley leaf versus a whole head of lettuce).
- Cold Tolerance Varies: Some winter crops are more cold tolerant than others. Spinach is hardier than kale and kale is hardier than arugula.
- Sugar Concentration: Sugar concentration makes leaves sweeter and more resistant to freezing, so winter crops are tastier compared to the same variety grown in summer.
- Efficient Crop Maturity: All suggested dates to maturity are just that, suggested dates. Starting crops in a nursery setting before planting in your greenhouse will give faster harvests and more efficient use of home greenhouse space.
.jpeg?width=688&height=860&name=Romaine%20lettuce%20is%20transplanted%20on%20edge%20of%20arugula%20and%20broccoli%20%20(both%20seeded%20October%2027%20directly%20into%20greenhouse).jpeg)
