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Donna Balzer is a former brand ambassador, garden expert, a regular guest on CBC radio and host is internationally aired "Bugs & Blooms" on HGTV.
Growing prize-winning tomatoes requires a greenhouse for earlier ripening and protection, careful late-summer pruning and low-nitrogen fertilization with calcium, consistent watering, and good air circulation to produce healthy, blemish-free fruit ready for competition.
My tomatoes are sitting beside me in the front seat of my shiny black station wagon. We are on our way to the fair!
What are the 5 easy steps to start my greenhouse garden today? To kickstart your greenhouse garden, begin by buying ready-to-plant vegetables, adding quality soil or potting mix, and growing in nursery pots if beds aren’t built yet. How do I quickly set up a productive greenhouse space with minimal effort? Install shelves for vertical growing, personalize your space for comfort (yes, even a chandelier!), and remember: starting small today means thriving plants tomorrow.
I called Rodney a year after his greenhouse was installed. I expected him to brag about the size of his tomatoes or the hours he spends sitting and enjoying the beautiful space he created.
Why Should I Start My Fall Crops Now?
Starting fall crops in August maximizes your greenhouse space by replacing summer plants like zucchini or lettuce with fast-growing cool-season crops such as radish, kale, peas, and spinach. This strategic transition extends your harvest into fall and winter while allowing you to propagate strawberries, collect seeds, and prepare transplants. By planning now, you create a continuous cycle of fresh food, making your greenhouse more productive year-round.
August crops are growing so fast that I should have a time-lapse camera to record the speedy growth. It’s a good thing I’m home all month to watch the changes and get the next crops planted and growing. Check out my tips to grow your own food too!
What are the tips for managing and double cropping in a greenhouse to prepare for winter? Effective greenhouse management in summer involves double cropping fast-growing plants like radishes between slower growers such as peppers, using trap crops like beans to monitor pests, and starting winter-hardy crops early to maximize space and season length. Planning ahead by maintaining seedlings in flats and supplementing nutrients ensures continuous, healthy growth, allowing gardeners to transition smoothly from summer to fall and winter crops. This strategic approach optimizes greenhouse productivity year-round and helps prevent common pest issues.
Managing your winter greenhouse with crops coming and going is a bit of an art form, so please bear with me. It involves starting seeds directly in greenhouse soil and also starting seeds in flats on shelves or potting benches.
How can I solve watering problems in my greenhouse garden? Using irrigation solutions such as shrubblers, soaker hoses, and self-watering pots helps maintain consistent soil moisture, reducing plant stress caused by irregular watering. These systems allow you to keep your plants healthy and hydrated even when you’re away, preventing common issues like wilting or nutrient deficiencies. By implementing these methods, you can improve plant growth, avoid over- or under-watering, and achieve higher yields in your greenhouse garden.
Hand watering is fun for gardeners. If you are around to get the job done. But a wilted plant is a stressed plant and stressed plants get buggy. I would love to stay home all summer watering my
greenhouse at exactly the right minute but that’s just wishful thinking. The truth is, life gets in the way and instead of tending my tomatoes and pacifying my pak choi with hand watering I seem to travel just when my babies need me.
Installing a UV-stabilized shade cloth over your greenhouse in late spring reduces heat buildup, lowers pest pressure, saves water, and protects plants—especially in polycarbonate or glass structures—while offering seasonal flexibility to match changing light and temperature needs.
I’m sitting in my greenhouse sipping a cool drink as I look outside. With the current heatwave this is positively the coolest spot in the garden right now. But it didn’t use to be that way. Scorched leaves, dry soil and wilted, bolting lettuce used to be the norm.
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How Do I Grow Pesticide-Free Strawberries in My Greenhouse?
You can grow clean, delicious strawberries year-round in your greenhouse by planting day-neutral varieties in rain gutters filled with soilless mix, spaced for airflow and watered consistently. Start with bare-root plants, trim roots before planting, and fertilize with natural options like alfalfa pellets. Growing in a controlled greenhouse environment lets you avoid pesticides entirely, beat the commercial “Dirty Dozen,” and harvest berries earlier and longer than outdoor growers.
I was just reading about how over-sprayed commercial strawberries area. I was reading this on the same day I was planting up my own greenhouse strawberries!
Should I Buy Shade Cloth This Summer?
Yes—installing shade cloth is a game-changing upgrade that instantly lowers greenhouse temperatures, prevents plant stress, and transforms your space into a productive and enjoyable retreat during hot weather. Shade cloth improves plant health, reduces cooling system strain, and can make your greenhouse a cool midday escape—even at 30°C. Choose 47–70% shade depending on your glazing and exposure, and install before summer heat peaks for optimal results.
I had to take a break in the shade. It was over 30 C, the sun was beating down and I was thinking I might be getting heat stroke. So I stepped into my greenhouse to cool down.
When should I start planting in my greenhouse this spring to avoid leggy seedlings? Start seeds in mid-to-late March or later, ensuring they get plenty of light and cool temperatures to promote sturdy growth. How can I prevent and fix leggy tomato plants? Avoid early fertilizing, use fans to simulate natural wind for stronger stems, and if plants become leggy, transplant them deep to encourage root growth along the stem for healthier, robust tomatoes.
Rick cornered Helpful Husband on the 19th hole at the golf course. Rick keeps trying to grow a perfect spring tomato but once again his tomatoes are tall, thin and floppy. He hoped asking Helpful Husband would get the message across to me and it did.
What Lessons Can I Learn from Trial and Error in Greenhouse Growing?
Trial and error in greenhouse gardening teaches vital lessons about timing, pest protection, and crop management, such as waiting to turn on watering systems until heat is active and understanding when to harvest crops like quinoa to avoid loss. Experimenting with unusual plants expands your gardening skills but requires research and adaptation to local conditions, including wildlife challenges. Ultimately, growing your own food year-round is about balancing fresh harvests with smart storage and enjoying the unique rewards of home greenhouse gardening.
My water wand blew up in the last brutal storm of the season when water froze in my greenhouse. No one was expecting that cold spell but then again we live in a Northern climate and a wintertime greenhouse garden is usually cold. I should have known better.
