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You can grow in the shoulder season with a greenhouse by overlapping warm- and cool-season crops, managing ventilation to handle temperature swings, and refreshing soil for new planting. The greenhouse protects against early frosts and extends harvests, making it possible to keep fresh produce coming as summer turns to fall.
What are the best tips for a successful late summer greenhouse harvest? As the season transitions, focus on four essential strategies: switch to a low-nitrogen fertilizer (like a 2-8-4 mix with kelp and micronutrients) to build plant strength without promoting excessive growth; maintain strong air circulation with fans to prevent fungal issues as nights cool; start fresh crops like lettuce and arugula to extend your harvest into fall; and apply targeted shading using aluminet or shade cloth to protect plants from intense late-summer sun. These greenhouse gardening tips will help you maximize yields and enjoy a longer, more productive harvest season.
It is late August and I am chatting with my daughter who lives in Northern Alberta, Canada. Her outside garden has never looked so good because of the heat and regular rains. But she is wishing she could get another month on either end of the growing season.
What Are the Tips to Maximize a Bumper Harvest?
To maximize your fall greenhouse harvest, start fast-growing crops like radishes, spinach, and mustard in late summer, and experiment with resilient plants like sesame for high yield with minimal water. A greenhouse extends the growing season beyond outdoor limits, especially in northern climates, allowing gardeners to produce fresh food well into fall. By donating excess produce, greenhouse growers can also support food security and uphold the human right to access fresh, healthy food.
I’m flying home through Calgary into Comox on my way back from a speaking gig. It’s late August and the pilot warns us: it is snowing close to Calgary. In August.
How Do You Keep Your Greenhouse Healthy and Pest-Free Year-Round?
A thorough fall cleanup—including disinfecting surfaces, protecting polycarbonate panels, and cleaning benches and pots—is essential to maintain a healthy greenhouse. Maintaining appropriate night temperatures based on plant needs and controlling pests with soapy water, sterilized soil, insecticidal soaps, and yellow sticky traps prevents diseases and infestations. These best practices ensure a productive, disease-free greenhouse environment ready for every growing season.
There are many plant varieties and they all require different night temperatures to sustain their growth.
Maintaining ideal fall greenhouse temperatures involves using heaters with accurate thermostats and maximum-minimum thermometers, ensuring proper air circulation with circulating fans to prevent disease, and utilizing automatic vents to manage temperature fluctuations while supplementing light for healthy plant growth.
You can feel the cool and crisp air in the morning as soon as the calendar says October. Night temperatures are dropping not only outside but also in the greenhouse. Now is the time for planning and preparedness.
