Wintering over means using your greenhouse to protect existing plants through cold weather with minimal growth or maintenance. It focuses on insulation and frost protection rather than active production.
Winter growing keeps your greenhouse climate-controlled for active cultivation through the winter months, using heat, ventilation, and supplemental light to maintain growth.
The right approach depends on your growing goals. Choose winter over for plant preservation and lower energy costs, or winter growing for true four-season harvests.
When winter settles in, your greenhouse becomes more than a structure; it's a decision point. Some gardeners use their space to simply protect plants from frost, while others keep their growing season alive all year long. Understanding the difference between wintering over and winter growing helps you design the right setup for your goals, climate, and budget.
What does it mean to winter over plants in a greenhouse? This section explains how overwintering works and how to create an effective overwintering greenhouse setup.
Preserve, not produce.
Wintering over means using your greenhouse as a protective space rather than a production zone. Instead of cultivating new crops, you're keeping tender perennials, potted citrus, or tropical plants alive through the cold months.
Pro Tip: Add thermal mass such as water barrels or stone flooring. They absorb warmth during the day and release it overnight, helping stabilize interior temperatures.
What does it mean to grow actively through the winter? This section explains how winter growing works and how to create a productive greenhouse setup that thrives through the cold season.
Grow through the cold.
Winter growing means maintaining a controlled environment that supports active plant growth throughout the coldest months. Instead of closing down for the season, you're cultivating cool-weather crops like leafy greens, herbs, and even certain fruiting plants by managing light, heat, and airflow.
Pro Tip: Group plants by their heat requirements. Keep cool-loving crops lower to the ground and position tropicals or fruiting plants higher where the warm air collects.
| Features | Winter Over | Winter Growing |
| Main Goal | Protect plants from frost | Maintain active growth |
| Temperature Range | 2 to 7°C 35 to 45°F |
10 to 24°C 50 to 75°F |
| Energy Use | Low | Moderate to High |
| Crop Type | Ornamentals, perennials, tender shrubs | Vegetables, herbs, tropicals |
| Equipment Needs | Basic greenhouse heater, insulation, fan | Full heating, thermostat, lighting |
| Maintenance | Low | High |
| Ideal Models | Pacific, Traditional | Meridian Estate, Attached, Cottage |
Ask Yourself:
If you love low-maintenance protecting and efficiency from your greenhouse, winter over may be perfect. If you crave the satisfaction of harvesting your own greens in January, winter growing delivers that year-round payoff.
Heating is often the biggest variable between these two approaches. The warmer you maintain your greenhouse, the higher your energy use climbs. You can make either method more efficient by adding:
Even modest upgrades can make a major difference in comfort and energy savings.
Every BC Greenhouse is designed with your climate in mind. During the design phase, our experts consider heating, cooling, and ventilation requirements specific to your growing goals. Whether you want to maintain frost protection or build a four-season food source, we tailor the glazing and equipment recommendations to fit your region.
Christina's Pacific greenhouse, seen frequently in our catalog, is used to winter over her many gardening experiments including quinoa and subtropicals. Located in Zone 8b, she keeps her space heated at 12°C/54°F and relies on bubble wrap insulation to reduce energy costs.
This Meridian Estate Greenhouse combines double-glass glazing and an a attached design to be able to keep greens and flowers alive year-round. Located in Zone 4b, this structure also includes thermostatic control to keep the greenhouse at comfortable temperature, especially in winter.
Whether you're overwintering delicate plants or cultivating a full winter garden, the key is planning a greenhouse that works with your lifestyle and local climate. Both approaches—Winter Over and Winter Growing—can transform the colder months into productive, restorative time in the garden. With the right structure, insulation, and temperature control, you'll keep your plants thriving and your passion for growing alive no matter the forecast.