Growing Fruit And Veg In A Cold Greenhouse

Growing vegetables in a cold greenhouse – particularly those vegetables traditionally grown in warmer climes such as peppers, chilli, tomatoes, melons and cucumbers is really easy. The extension of the growing season caused by the additional shelter from the cold greenhouse permits you to fully grow and ripen your fruit and vegetables. They are so much tastier than store bought varieties because you use them fresh, you know exactly what chemicals have – and have not- been used on them and you are helping the environment by not using air miles to aquire them. Especially if you practice organic greenhouse gardening techniques.

A heated greenhouse is great, but costs a great deal to fuel and also requires specialised ventilation systems to ensure a free flow of air and to ensure it does not everheat. A well situated cold greenhouse can provide a lot of sheler and aditional heat in early spring, allowing you to sow seed earlier and get your crops growing earlier. The shelter, and late summer sun will also extend the season into the early autumn. Whats more, if you double (or even triple) insulate it during the winter you should be able to overwinter plants which are marginally frost tender. You will get much more enjoyment from your greenhouse gardening

What to Grow in a cool Greenhouse

I have already mentioned the traditional crops grown during the summer in the cool greenhouse. However you can also use the cool greenhouse to produce high quality inexpensive fruit. Most fruit occupies little space in the greenhouse if grown against the wall or the roof. Some, however, like grape vines may exclude light during summer. This should not be a problem, since during summer you are often shading the greenhouse to keep it cooler.

Because of the additional early heat created in the cold greenhouse it is possible to get a number of very early quick catch crops such as radish and lettuce. The cold greenhouse is also good for raising plants from seed, for planting out later. However, bear in mind that there is no point in raising seeds too early since the light levels and heat in the ground outside will make it impossible to plant them out to early. The result will be vulnerable soft leggy plants that will be slow to establish.

Many of the herbs are from mediteranean countries, and these will thrive in the cool greenhouse.If these are grown in large pots, they can be placed near the kitchen door, for easy harvesting during the summer, and then kept growing overwinter in the cold greenhouse. giving you fresh herbs through the winter.

Many outdoor vegetables can be given an early start by raising small plants from seed in the greenhouse, and then planting out when large enough, and the weather is suitable. Leeks and Sweetcorn should both be grown in 3″ pots until their girth is the size of a pencil, then plant them out. They will grow much more strongly and you will have no holes in your beds.

Many flowering and foliage plants can be raised from seed in the cool greenhouse. Both bedding plants and indoor plants can be inexpensively produced this way. Store bought plants will cost you perhaps 100 times more. It is worth having a cold greenhouse just for this reason.

Owning and using a cold greenhouse is so satisfying that once you have tried one, you will never want to be without it.