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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.
How Does a Greenhouse Save Your Garden from Climate Challenges?
A greenhouse protects your garden from unpredictable weather, extends the growing season by one to two months, and shields crops from pests like slugs and marmots through controlled heat, water, and shelter. Unlike outdoor gardens affected by heavy rains, cold snaps, or short seasons, a greenhouse offers consistent conditions that support reliable growth and higher yields. Whether you're overwintering perennials, growing year-round vegetables, or simply avoiding climate chaos, a greenhouse provides a practical, long-term solution.
In late September, I asked Facebook followers to share their biggest gardening challenges this summer.
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 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.
