Growing plants and veggies in your greenhouse can be a very satisfying hobby. But this is a hobby that requires knowledge and skill. The learning curve in this domain can be quite steep because many factors affect the success of yield and their growth rate. If you are new to greenhouse growing and still learning your way through the various techniques, the following tips may help to get everything right from your first season:
1. Light and ventilation sources
Summer and spring are two seasons when the plants will get a lot of natural light, but if you decide to grow in late winter or during autumn, you need to arrange for supplementary lighting. The greenhouses direct the artificial light to the plants during the daytime. You can also use LED grow lights if you want the plants to receive extended periods of light. Depending on the size of your greenhouse, you can choose from the wide range of fluorescent lights or LED grow light strips.
Apart from paying attention to the lighting, you should also ensure that the plants receive enough cool air. Summers can be quite suffocating inside the greenhouse if you don’t keep the vents open. You can get a customized greenhouse built where you can specify the precise points for the vents. Always ensure that there are vents along the sides of the greenhouse and a few vents on the top. This allows the hot air to escape from the top while cooler air enters the unit from the sides.
2. Seasonal starting seeds
Greenhouses give your plants an extended growing season. So, if you sow the seeds during spring or early summer, there are high chances that you will have vegetables all year round. Planning the growing schedule is essential. You should always stock up seeds to produce a good yield. Additionally, you should also invest in a suitable organic fertilizer, sterile soil, containers, and a heat source. The heat source will prevent the seeds from freezing in winter.
3. Heating
The winter is the best time to learn how to maintain your greenhouse. Since you are new to greenhouse growing, you need to install an electric heater to balance out the temperature inside the greenhouse. Depending on the size of the greenhouse, you can either install a 120-volt heater or a 240-volt heater. Make sure that a reliable thermostat controls the heater. Increase the temperature of the heater as the outside temperature dips.
4. Watering the plants
You shouldn’t fix a set schedule to water the plants. Many newbie gardeners think that watering the plants twice or thrice a day is ideal. That is not the right approach. You should water the plants according to their demands, the temperature conditions, humidity, and their growth stage. Plants at a very young age require more water compared to when they are older. Also, they will need more water in summer than in winter. You can use a moisture meter to understand if the plants need water or not.
Greenhouse growing can be a fascinating hobby, especially if you are ready to learn new things. These four expert tips should go a long way as you learn the intricacies of greenhouse gardening.
