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When I moved homes and built a new greenhouse, I was in for quite a surprise. The natural soil on my new lot is sand. Pure, yellow sand. This means it drains really well. It also means it does not hold nutrients to feed my plants.
Want to kickstart your greenhouse garden this season? The best time to begin is now. Cool-weather crops like arugula, bok choi, spinach, and radishes thrive in early spring greenhouse conditions—even in unheated spaces. Warm the soil with heating cables or IRT mulch to speed up germination and enjoy a head start on the growing season. Greenhouse gardening in late winter or early spring also means fewer pests, like flea beetles. While heat-loving plants like peppers need more warmth to sprout, starting them indoors on a damp paper towel can ensure strong, healthy transplants later. With the right timing and a simple crop schedule, your greenhouse can produce fresh greens and veggies year-round.
Showing off my arugula (also known as rocket) on Instagram leads to a lot of questions about my greenhouse and what I currently have growing.
You can grow more in every square foot by dividing your greenhouse into vertical and horizontal zones—utilizing floor, bench, wall, and ceiling space with hanging baskets, tiered shelving, trellises, and container gardens. What are the best space-saving strategies for small greenhouses? Consider soilless systems like hydroponics, train climbing plants vertically, and use modular, bolt-on features to efficiently scale your layout for high yield—even in an 8x8 greenhouse.
If you're dreaming of growing your own food but worried your space is too small, you're not alone. Every week, we hear from new gardeners who want to grow fresh fruits and vegetables, expanding their growing season, or overwinter plants—but aren't sure if a compact greenhouse can truly deliver.
Here's the good news: With a smart setup, even an 8x8 greenhouse can yield hundreds of pounds of produce per year. Whether you're growing greens to supplement your grocery bill or creating a garden sanctuary in your backyard, these space-saving strategies will help you grow more in every square foot.
Where do I place my lean-to greenhouse for best results? The ideal placement for a lean-to greenhouse is along a south-facing wall to maximize sunlight exposure—especially during spring and fall—while also integrating seamlessly with your home and garden layout. Before building, it’s essential to consider local bylaws, available space, and potential shading from trees or nearby structures. Whether attached to your home, built into a south-facing slope, or framed as a garden focal point or sitting area, a thoughtfully positioned lean-to greenhouse not only supports healthy plant growth but can also enhance your outdoor living space year-round.
When planning a lean to greenhouse, its placement is critical to its functionality and aesthetic appeal. A well-positioned attached greenhouse can enhance both your gardening experience and your home’s appearance. According to Angela Drake, Marketing Director with BC Greenhouse Builders, 1 out of 4 inquiries about new greenhouses involve home-attached designs. So, is this an option for you?
It's essential to consider several factors before committing to planning a lean-to greenhouse.
Kyle began his storied career with BCG in 1997. “I actually worked with Rick’s brother in law Roger at Ryder Truck Rentals and he knew that Rick was looking for someone as an office guy. In true Roger fashion, he really oversold it and called it a ‘worldwide conglomerate’ as Roger would do and I thought “Wow, this sounds amazing”. Worldwide actually meant that the company had shipped a greenhouse to Australia once.” Flash forward to 2021 with Rick and Kyle at the helm and we truly are worldwide!
BC Greenhouse Builders Limited, North America’s leading builder of hobby and estate greenhouses, is proud to announce the recent article “A Photographer's Backyard Greenhouse is Picture Perfect” by Christy Wright. The article features our customer Emily Yewchuck and her stunning Cottage model 12x16 glass greenhouse.
What Are the Tips for Growing Greenhouse Tomatoes in the Heat?
To prevent heat stress and flower drop in greenhouse tomatoes, use 40-70% shade cloth to reduce temperature and light intensity, maintain good air circulation with fans and open screen doors, and regularly water soil and paths to cool the environment and increase humidity. Selecting heat-tolerant tomato varieties, like smaller-fruited types or proven heirlooms such as Juliet and Cherokee Purple, helps ensure fruit set during hot spells. Combining these strategies allows growers to maximize tomato yields and extend the harvest season even in extreme summer heat.
If your tomato blooms are bending and falling off, flower and all, they are having a heatstroke. When extreme heat hits, greenhouse tomatoes fail to set fruit even as the leaves keep growing and new blooms appear.
Joanna DeJong, Accounts Manager of BC Greenhouse Builders, started her long career in 1997. One of the few legacy employees who not only remembers the Hedley location in Burnaby but worked there too. Joanna started as a Girl Friday of sorts but her introduction to the Heinen family started much earlier.
