It can be incredibly fulfilling to grow your own produce in a greenhouse; however, it is a hobby that requires a degree of skill and knowledge. Of course, with that comes a number of myths about the greenhouse as well.
If you’re new to greenhouses, it can be incredibly tricky to get your first season right because of the amount of information circulating. Granted, trial and error will play a factor in your improvement, but to give you a head start before you embark on greenhouse growing, some of these myths and tips should be able to help.
Myth: You Need a Lot of Garden Space
There are a shocking number of people who would like to grow in greenhouses but don’t because they believe their garden isn’t big enough. Realistically, as long as you have a garden, you have room for a greenhouse.
Greenhouses do not have to be bulky in order to be efficient, and there are mini versions available to purchase if you are pushed for garden space. Take the mini-greenhouses sold by Halls Greenhouses; these come in a variety of shapes and sizes at very reasonable prices. Regardless of the size of your garden and your budget, at Halls’ own website, there is the perfect greenhouse for you.
Tip: Stock Up on Supplies
A huge advantage to greenhouse growing is that you can extend the seasons you grow for. If you’re growing in summer, you’ll get a head start; you can also grow certain plants throughout the winter too. There are growing guides available that advise what to grow when, as well as annual flowers for every season that will help you on your way.
That being said, before you start reverting to these lists and preparing a schedule, it is important that you load up on the seed starting supplies that will be necessary for a successful yield. These include the likes of:
Containers
Sterile soil
Fertilizer
Water
Myth: You Won’t Need External Heat Sources
While greenhouses are fantastic for providing more heat, allowing you to grow more exotic plants and vegetables, that does not mean that you won’t need to supply heat yourself. When temperatures are a lot cooler in the early seasons, you will need external heat sources to ensure your plants can grow to their full potential.
Tip: Invest in Light Sources
During the spring and summer, any greenhouse worth its salt will be able to absorb enough natural light to facilitate growth. In the late Autumn and winter months, though, you will need to supply supplementary lighting in order to ensure the production of healthy, strong plants.
One of the most popular lighting systems for greenhouses is high output lamp strips or LED grow lights. They are some of the best options because, unlike other lighting systems on the market, they output full spectrum light and are very energy efficient. They can also cover a much larger area meaning that all of the budding plants in your greenhouse will benefit.
Of course, there are cheaper sources available, such as a normal fluorescent strip hung roughly 3 – 7 inches above the plants, but this won’t have the same effect.
