Greenhouse Gardening in Winter – the Best Vegetables for Winter Gardens!

{“@context”:”https://schema.org”,”@type”:”FAQPage”,”@id”:”https://www.outdoorhappens.com/greenhouse-gardening-in-winter/”,”mainEntity”:[{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”Do Greenhouses Keep Plants Warm in Winter? “,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”Greenhouses are great for protecting plants from the worst of the winter weather. They will keep snow, hail, icy rain, and chilly winds at bay, giving you an advantageous little microclimate.However, a greenhouse will still have a low air temperature. On a sunny day, it could get quite warm! But, overnight, the temperature will plummet.So, unless you have additional heating and frost protection measures in place, your tender plants will still feel the cold in a greenhouse in the winter!”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”What Can I Grow in an Unheated Greenhouse in Winter? “,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”You can grow pretty much anything in an unheated greenhouse in winter, as long as it is frost tolerant. The greenhouse will protect fruits, vegetables, and plants from the worst winter weather, but they must withstand cold air temperatures. “}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”Can You Grow Vegetables in A Greenhouse in the Winter?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”Yes, the greenhouse is ideal for growing vegetables over the winter! So don’t let this valuable space stand idle, and fill it with cold-tolerant vegetables.Growing vegetables in the greenhouse over winter is a great way to nurture plants outside of their regular growing season. It is also the best time for growing vegetables that bolt (go to seed) in hot summer weather! Such crops include my favorites like salad rocket and pak choi.”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”What Vegetables Grow Well in a Greenhouse in Winter? “,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”Want to increase the yield of your fresh garden veggies over the winter? Start with a winter salad bed! This winter, I’ve dedicated over half of my greenhouse to a salad bed. I can’t wait for the goodies to pay off – big time.Nestled inside my salad bed, you’ll find tender green leaves, lettuces, mustard greens, radishes, and spring onions – perfect for a seasonal salad bowl!The other way that I use my greenhouse over winter is to protect plants that will not thrive outside in cooler weather. My tender citrus trees have been brought in for the winter, as have my avocados.As an experiment, I am also trialing a bed of this year’s eggplant, bell pepper, and chili pepper plants overwinter in the greenhouse.Once these become dormant and the leaves fall off, I will wrap them in fleece and see what happens. I hope they will burst into life in the spring and give us an earlier harvest, but only time will tell!”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”How Cold is Too Cold for a Greenhouse? “,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”A greenhouse offers superior protection for your crops than leaving them outdoors – especially during the dead of winter. But, it may well still be too cold for some of the things you would like to flourish.However, there are some great ways to maximize the heat in a greenhouse – without investing in a purpose-built heating unit!(I’m currently exploring the idea of Bitcoin heaters for my greenhouse. It’s an insane topic – but Bitcoin heaters may help to keep your small greenhouse warm while also reducing your electric bill. We live in crazy times!)”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”When Can I Start Seeds in an Unheated Greenhouse? “,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”The timing of starting seeds in an unheated greenhouse depends on your climate and last frost date. Most seeds need enough consecutive warm days and nights to germinate. Even in sunny weather, the overnight temperatures may be too cold for germination!As a rule of thumb, you will get better germination rates in the house or a propagator until the last frost in your area has passed. After this, overnight temperatures will increase, and you can start sowing seeds into pots in an unheated greenhouse.”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”Will a Greenhouse Keep Plants from Freezing?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”Unless you have a heated greenhouse or very mild frosts, a greenhouse will not keep plants from freezing. However, a greenhouse will keep your plants safe from cold, chilly winds and icy rain, giving them a better chance of surviving freezing weather.If you want to grow frost-tender plants in the greenhouse over winter, you may need to consider a heated greenhouse. Or, consider using other frost protection measures.”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”How Can I Heat My Greenhouse for Free in the Winter? “,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”There are some great hacks you can use to keep your greenhouse warmer in the winter! These may only increase the temperature by a small amount, but this can be enough to make the difference between an average or poor crop and a bountiful yield.The first thing to consider is how to keep the existing heat inside your greenhouse. Most greenhouses contain a cover with a single layer of glass, Perspex, or polythene. These material covers allow them to warm up quickly in the sunshine. But, the materials will not retain heat at night.Bubble wrap or horticultural fleece is excellent for providing an insulating layer. If you have enough? You can wrap the horticultural fleece around the entire greenhouse. The other option is to insulate just one section of your greenhouse or individual plants or beds.A deep mulch of straw or compost will also help prevent the ground in your greenhouse from freezing. A layer of thick cardboard over the mulch gives an additional layer of ground insulation.Water-filled containers are a simple and clever way to heat your greenhouse for free in the winter! These will absorb heat during the day and slowly release it overnight. For maximum effect, use a black container or paint it on the outside.One final trick to heat a greenhouse is to put a compost bin inside it! The internal temperature of a well-fed composter can get up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit – imagine how snuggly and warm your plants will be with a heater like this in their greenhouse!”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”What Can I Grow in a Heated Greenhouse in Winter?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”If you’re lucky enough to have a heated greenhouse, your options for growing a diverse set of garden veggies increases. Big time! You don’t have to worry about the frost creeping in, and you can keep your delicate plants warm and happy all year round.You can grow any of the plants suggested above in a heated greenhouse in winter – salads, brassicas, and root vegetables. These will all thrive in a heated greenhouse and give you abundant yields right through the winter.But maybe you wonder about whether it is worth popping some tomatoes or zucchini plants into the heated greenhouse in the winter? Unfortunately, this is a strategy that is unlikely to give good results.The first reason for this is the shortened day length. Plants respond to shortening days by going into dormancy for the winter. Dormancy isn’t a problem for your winter salads that will grow slowly even in cool weather, but your cucumbers will not like it!The second problem is the lack of pollinating insects. So, even if you can use artificial lights to trick your summer vegetables into flowering in the winter, it is unlikely that they will set fruit successfully.”}}]}