Quick Answer:

How Do I Grow Arugula in My Greenhouse From Seed to Salad?
Arugula is an easy, hardy winter green that thrives in cool greenhouse conditions, reseeds itself naturally, and requires minimal pest control with simple mesh covers in spring. Growing your own arugula lets you enjoy fresh, flavorful leaves and edible flowers all winter long, perfect for salads or toppings. Understanding its growth cycle helps you maximize harvests and incorporate this nutritious green into your seasonal meals confidently.

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My go-to recipe

My potluck arugula salad is sprinkled with jewel-toned tropical pomegranate seeds. My neighbour Barbara is excited and quickly tells me how much she loves the bitter taste of arugula. So I tell her I grow arugula as a winter crop and now she is all ears.

What is the Best Soil for Greenhouse Growing?

Quick Answer:

What is the best soil for greenhouse gardening? The ideal soil for greenhouse growing balances drainage, nutrient retention, and microbial activity—making custom blends like loam, triple mix, or super soil more effective than natural or bagged top soils. Should you use bagged soil or soil-less mixes in a greenhouse? While convenient, most bagged top soils and soil-less mixes lack essential nutrients and structure for long-term crops, so combining them with compost or organic amendments is key. How can you create high-performance soil for greenhouse plants? Blending your own triple mix (one-third soil, compost, and peat) or upgrading to a nutrient-rich super soil with worm castings, biochar, and trace minerals provides a strong foundation for healthier plants, richer flavors, and vibrant blooms.

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If you are new to gardening and think growing is just a matter of adding water, you're in for a surprise. With terms like super soil, triple mix, natural soil, and even soil with no soil—it's no wonder new gardeners feel overwhelemed. So how do you choose the right soil for strong, healthy growth? And how do you get the most flavorful food and the brightest blooms?

Quick Answer:

Preparing your greenhouse for fall involves maintaining appropriate night temperatures for different plants, thorough cleaning to prevent pests and diseases, and proactive pest management using safe insecticidal soaps, sterilized soils, and yellow sticky traps to ensure a healthy growing environment.

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There are many plant varieties and they all require different night temperatures to sustain their growth.

Greenhouse night temperatures

Quick Answer:

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.

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My tomatoes are sitting beside me in the front seat of my shiny black station wagon. We are on our way to the fair! 

Quick Answer:

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.

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Setting Up Your Greenhouse: The box has finally arrived - the greenhouse is assembled. Now what?

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.

Quick Answer:

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.

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Surprisingly, Summer is the perfect time to prep for winterization

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.

Quick Answer:

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.

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Hot Summer Gardening

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.

BC Greenhouse Builders is thrilled to announce...