Quick Answer:

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.

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August Plants

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!

Quick Answer:

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.

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Watering Problems?

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.

Quick Answer:

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.

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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!

 

Quick Answer:

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.

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Rick cornered Helpful Husband on the 19^th 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.

Forcing Bulbs

For the friends with the winter blues, or being impressive on Valentine's Day, consider forcing bulbs. "Forcing" sounds ruthless, but it's the process of condensing the bulb's winter and spring, so the flowers bloom in early winter instead of mid-Spring. A greenhouse makes this easy, and foolproof.