Are you dreaming of growing plants even when it’s cold outside? With a greenhouse or cold frame, that dream can become a reality. Extend the gardening season and grow more varieties of your favorite fruits, vegetables, and flowers than ever before. Whether you are just getting started in gardening or have years of experience under your belt, our guides will give you the information and tips you need to know. Keep reading to learn all about these energy efficient structures including building considerations, climate control methods, common mistakes, and much more!
A greenhouse’s internal temperature has to be kept warm enough to keep the plants within alive. In our guide to heating up greenhouses, we’ll cover several different types of heating, along with the basics of keeping a greenhouse warm enough and factors to consider when choosing one or more types of heating.
Greenhouses don’t need to be heated to help you extend the growing season. It’s possible to grow all kinds of plants year-round without supplemental heat. We’ll help you figure out how to use an unheated greenhouse to its fullest potential, including which crops work best. Read more now in this comprehensive guide.
If you can’t imagine winter without heaps of fresh herbs to use in the kitchen, we get it. A sprig of fresh basil or chives makes all the difference, improving and adding flavor to homemade meals. Read more to learn about growing herbs in greenhouses so you don’t have to be without, even at the coldest time of year.
You don’t have to stop gardening when summer ends. A simple cold frame will help you extend the harvest season for months. You can start seeds, protect tender veggies, and grow an autumn or winter harvest in a basic cold frame with minimal effort and financial output. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process.
Intense sun can scorch greenhouse plants and push temperatures too high. Fast-growing annual vines offer living shade that cools your growing space naturally without permanent structures. Learn about 19 of the best annual vines for filtering harsh afternoon rays while adding beauty to your greenhouse in this guide.
Can’t wait to start your garden in the spring? We get it, neither can we! A cold frame is a versatile tool that can extend the spring growing season significantly. Great for starting seeds, hardening off plants, or growing cold-tolerant plants, our comprehensive guide explains how to use cold frames in the spring.
Rodents are attracted to the steady warmth and food sources inside greenhouses, where they can quickly damage seedlings, bulbs, and stored seed. Learn how to spot the signs of activity early and use practical prevention and exclusion strategies to keep them out and protect your plants in this guide. Read more now.
Winter doesn’t have to mean the end of the growing season and home-grown food. Don’t let Old Man Winter spell an end to the fun. There are dozens of edible species you can grow in a winter greenhouse, from leafy greens like watercress to root veggies like beets and turnips. This guide gives you 35 excellent options.
Greenhouse flooring options range from packed dirt to fancy bricks in beautiful patterns. Depending on your climate and goals, you can use the existing ground, set wood blocks, or lay a sturdy concrete base covered in grippy rubber mats. Learn how to choose the best material for your budget, space, and needs in this guide.
Shade cloth can make a massive difference to the growing environment of a greenhouse. It can increase the humidity and lower the temperature inside your structure, and protect plants from too much sun, allowing you to grow species unsuitable for your climate. Learn how to use shade cloth in your greenhouse in this guide.
If you want to install a greenhouse in your garden, you’ll need to consider sun exposure, site conditions, access to utilities, as well as access and landscaping around the structure. Evaluating these factors ahead of time will ensure you find the right location. Learn how to fit a greenhouse in your garden in this guide.
Powdery mildew is common in the greenhouse and can infect hundreds of popular plants, from tomatoes to lupines to roses and more. Once it takes hold it can be hard to control and eliminate. Learn how to identify and deal with this frustrating fungal disease in your greenhouse using a variety of methods in this guide.
A hoop house or polytunnel is a structure tall enough to stand up in. It traps heat to keep plants warm during off-season months when outdoor cultivation isn’t possible. Read on to find 11 tips for installing and using a hoop house and enjoy tending and harvesting flowers, fruits, herbs, and vegetables all winter long.
A cold frame is a powerful addition to your gardening toolkit, allowing you to extend the growing season. Smaller and cheaper than a greenhouse, a cold frame has multiple uses including starting seeds, hardening off plants, and overwintering perennials. Learn how to use a cold frame in this guide. Read more now.
Starting seeds early in a greenhouse is the ideal way to get a jump on the growing season and up your propagation game. With their warmth, light, and humidity, greenhouses help to extend the growing season and so you can enjoy a productive summer. Learn how to use a greenhouse to start seeds in this guide. Read more now.
Imagine being able to grow oranges in the winter. Or having a ready supply of greens and herbs no matter what time of year. Or maybe you want to start heaps of flowers in the winter for spring planting. If you dream of using a greenhouse to extend your gardening capabilities, this guide will help you get started.
Pit greenhouses have some distinct advantages for growers over conventional types that make them worth the effort of constructing. They also have some noteworthy disadvantages that you need to be aware of. Learn more about the three types of sunken greenhouses: Chinese, pit, and walipini, in this guide. Read more now.
Installing your new greenhouse is just the first step in achieving your gardening goals. You’re going to need some tools and equipment for successful growing. This guide explains all the essential greenhouse supplies that you’ll need to start and nurture your plants, from lights and pots to flooring and tools. Read more.
With suitable temperature, light, and spacing, many succulent varieties grow well in a home greenhouse. Growing in a greenhouse offers more room for an expanding succulent collection or a dedicated spot for winterizing outdoor specimens. Find tips for growing succulents in a greenhouse in this guide. Read more now.
Ever picked a delicious piece of fruit from a tree and wished you could grow it in your own backyard? With a greenhouse you can grow fruit trees right at home. This starter guide explains why you should grow fruit trees in a greenhouse, what to consider before starting, which varieties to choose, and greenhouse setup.
If you grow plants in a greenhouse rather than out in the garden, there’s a chance you’ll make some mistakes. Luckily, most greenhouse mistakes are entirely avoidable. In this guide, we cover some of the most common blunders you can make when growing plants in a greenhouse and how to avoid them. Read more now.
Floating row covers are a must for every gardener. From extending the season to keeping out pests, this multipurpose fabric can transform the way you garden. Keep reading to learn how to use floating row covers to make the most of every season.
A hotbed extends the growing season for months so you can harvest fresh veggies in the middle of winter. These also enable you to start seedlings much earlier than you might otherwise. Our guide explains how to build, fill, and use hotbeds inside cold frames, greenhouses, or tunnels for year-round gardening. Read more.
Attempting to grow tropical plants or start seeds inside a cold and drafty house can be a challenge. A mini indoor greenhouse offers a cheap and easy way to create the perfect environment for growing plants inside your home. Read more now for tips to create the perfect DIY mini greenhouse to fit your needs.
Greenhouses are great places to grow plants, whether they need extra heat and humidity or to keep them growing during the winter. Insects love the warm, humid, food-rich environment too, and they can do some real damage. Learn all about common greenhouse pests and how to deal with them in this guide. Read more now.
Cold frames offer versatility and convenience, allowing gardeners to overwinter plants inexpensively. In this guide to overwintering plants in a cold frame we’ll provide all the necessary know-how for getting started, including info on how cold frames work and their benefits, along with placement and assembly tips.
For vertical gardens, leafy greens, and especially root crops, or if you simply want improved soil and drainage, a raised bed is the best option. But buying these from the store can really make you question the frugality of gardening. Check out this simple plan to build a small, economical version. Read more now.
Do you want a greenhouse but don’t want to spend a whole lot? If so, check out this great build now. Free pallet racks and other repurposed materials make this one cheap build!
Want to boost your garden’s productivity throughout winter, early spring, and beyond? Visit Gardener’s Path and learn about season extension: how to build greenhouses, cold frames, hoop houses, and more to protect your crops from the cold – with tips from beloved gardening and homesteading bloggers.