Consider elevating your greenhouse beyond its traditional role as a tool for getting a head start on outdoor gardening by embracing the concept of an edible landscape. A greenhouse can be so much more than just a means to extend the growing season – it’s a space that can foster beauty, serenity, and a deeper connection with nature.
By incorporating perennial foods that may not thrive in your local climate, you can create a lush oasis that not only provides sustenance but also enhances your overall well-being. With thoughtful planning, moderate investment of time, and strategic spending, you can transform your greenhouse into a stunning edible landscape that boosts your food security and quality of life.
The key lies in understanding how to manage microclimates and design your space for optimal performance based on its unique conditions.
The Problem with Greenhouses
Greenhouses provide a controlled environment for plants, shielding them from harsh weather conditions like strong winds, frost, torrential rains, and snow. They also rapidly warm up when the sun shines, potentially reaching scorching temperatures even on cold days. However, these structures lack the thermal mass and insulating properties necessary to regulate heat consistently. In freezing temperatures with sunlight, greenhouses can quickly soar above 120°F, causing harm or even death to plants.
The daytime warmth dissipates as soon as the sun sets, leaving a significant temperature drop overnight. As an experienced gardener, I’ve come to realize that no plant can withstand the extreme heat and cold fluctuations in an unregulated greenhouse. To successfully cultivate a year-round exotic edible landscape within a greenhouse, one must find ways to moderate the temperature and create a comfortable growing environment for plants.
Generating Heat in a Greenhouse
Planning Ahead for your Future Greenhouse
When embarking on research about greenhouses, it’s essential to explore alternative heating options that don’t rely on fossil fuels. One innovative approach is using walipini technology, which can prove beneficial in many climates. For larger spaces, consider harnessing geothermal heat or installing a rocket mass stove. The site location and construction materials also play a significant role in climate control.
By incorporating elements like stone or concrete knee walls and more insulative paneling, you can create an optimized environment. Furthermore, designing your greenhouse to integrate with your house can be a game-changer, allowing your home to serve as a heat sink when needed.
Install a Heater
Upgrading your greenhouse’s heating system can be a straightforward process if you opt for a heater with thermostat control. The cost of purchasing and operating such a unit will depend on several factors, including the size of your greenhouse and the fuel source you choose (electric, gas, propane, or paraffin). However, it’s essential to note that greenhouses are notorious for losing heat rapidly at night, making it challenging to maintain a comfortable temperature without breaking the bank.
To mitigate this issue, consider combining your heating unit with passive heat-absorbing or generating features, which can significantly reduce your energy expenses.
Water Sinks Captures Heat
A cost-effective method for storing daytime heat for nighttime use is to add black barrels filled with water. The black color enhances the sun’s rays, causing the water to warm up. As the sun sets and cool air temperatures prevail, the heated barrels release their stored warmth back into the greenhouse. Strategically placing these on the north side of your structure or near areas that require extra insulation will amplify their benefits.
Additionally, using them near less cold-hardy plants can provide a few extra degrees of protection against the cold.
Make your ACT in the Greenhouse
When creating actively aerated compost tea (ACT), it’s common for the process to generate a significant amount of heat as well. This natural byproduct of ACT production can be leveraged in greenhouses, where it not only provides supplementary warmth but also offers the added benefit of delivering nourishing compost tea to plants during periods of colder weather and reduced sunlight.
Add Aquaponics
One of the key benefits of aquaponic systems is their ability to generate heat, thanks to the pumps used to circulate water. This natural heating process provides an additional source of warmth that can be utilized in conjunction with other design elements. By incorporating an aesthetically pleasing aquaponic system into your overall design plan, you can not only increase food harvests but also contribute to climate control efforts.
Strategic Composting & Hotbeds
Harnessing the power of composting in your greenhouse is not only eco-friendly but also an effective way to generate heat during the coldest months. By saving your composting materials and building large piles with a balance of carbon-rich and nitrogen-rich components, you can create a natural heating system within your greenhouse. This approach allows for a concentrated source of warmth that can be distributed evenly throughout the space.
Alternatively, you can create multiple hotbeds adjacent to perennial planting areas, allowing the heat to radiate through the soil and warm up surrounding plants. This not only extends the growing season but also promotes healthy root development and overall plant growth.
Add Other Heat Holders
To enhance the thermal mass of your garden, consider incorporating mulch, large stones, and strategically placed potted plants to trap heat and shield plant roots during frigid periods. Additionally, using raised beds constructed from materials like stone or dark painted concrete blocks can not only add visual appeal but also provide excellent insulation.
Cooling Down a Greenhouse
When it comes to maintaining a comfortable temperature within your greenhouse, it’s just as crucial to plan for cooling as it is for heating. A well-designed cooling strategy can make all the difference in promoting healthy plant growth and reducing stress on your plants. One key consideration is the orientation of your greenhouse’s doors and windows. By angling them to catch a gentle breeze, you can harness natural ventilation and reduce the need for artificial cooling methods.
That being said, not planning ahead for hot summer days can be a costly mistake – as I learned from my own experience. The good news is that retrofits are possible, allowing you to adapt your greenhouse to changing weather conditions. Consider installing shade cloths or trellises to provide plants with a respite from the heat, or explore more advanced options like geothermal cooling systems that draw cool air from the soil into your greenhouse.
Whatever approach you choose, it’s essential to think ahead and plan for a comfortable temperature in your greenhouse.
Automated Openers
To effectively manage temperature fluctuations in your greenhouse, it’s essential to strategically ventilate by opening doors and windows before the space becomes excessively hot. This can be achieved through the utilization of innovative solutions such as automatic window openers featuring wax cores that expand in response to heat, allowing for an economical means of opening windows. Alternatively, electric door openers can be employed if window ventilation is insufficient to meet your needs.
Good Airflow
To enhance airflow, consider incorporating electric fans that allow for the circulation of cool air into the space or the forced removal of hot air. Additionally, ventilation fans can be installed, mimicking their bathroom counterparts by efficiently drawing heat upward and outward.
Passive Cooling
While it’s true that maintaining an optimal temperature in a greenhouse can get pricey, there are natural and cost-effective ways to keep your space cool. One approach is to harness the power of strategic shading using heat-tolerant plants. For instance, strategically placing lemon or olive trees can shield more sensitive plants from harsh sunlight. Alternatively, you can use shade cloth to achieve similar results.
It’s essential to consider that plants also require light to thrive.
To effectively manage your greenhouse’s temperature, you need to observe the trajectory of the sun at various times of the year and plan your shading accordingly. By doing so, you can place heat-tolerant plants or patches of shade cloth at the optimal angle to protect less hardy plants during peak heat hours, ultimately creating a more balanced environment.
Self-Watering Devices
Maintaining optimal soil moisture levels plays a crucial role in ensuring plant comfort during extreme heat waves. Implementing innovative solutions such as using clay pots like ollas or automated self-watering systems that can be set to accommodate the peak temperatures is akin to providing air conditioning at its most efficient, much like timing the AC to run during the hottest part of the day.
Learn Your Conditions
With temperature regulation strategies in place, it’s crucial to analyze the temperature fluctuations in your greenhouse. This involves identifying highs, lows, and averages to prepare for the most extreme conditions, whether it’s the scorching summer or freezing winter. By understanding these patterns, you can make informed decisions about plant selection, ensuring they thrive in the prevailing climate.
Practice Before You Plant
Before embarking on an edible landscape plan, consider devoting six months to a year to cultivating mostly annuals initially. This extended period allows for hands-on experience with the unique growing conditions within your greenhouse setup, enabling you to fine-tune your techniques before transitioning to perennial plants.
Use Indicator Plants
In my own garden, I experimented with a diverse range of crops, including baby vegetables like lettuce, beets, turnips, and various greens. This approach allowed me to maximize the yield from a limited space while minimizing the risk of loss due to their fast growth rates. I also cultivated indicator plants such as basil and cabbage. Basil is highly sensitive to cold temperatures, so if it begins to show signs of stress, I know it’s time to take measures to warm up the area.
Conversely, cabbage is extremely heat-intolerant and will start to bolt if the daytime temperature becomes too high. This makes it an ideal indicator plant for monitoring the effectiveness of my daytime heat regulation strategies.
Planning an Exotic Edible Landscape in your Greenhouse
With the foundation of creating an exotic edible landscape established, it’s time to map out what you’ll be planting in this unique setting. Just like designing a traditional outdoor garden, consideration must be given to the available space and the characteristics of your soil. Think of this process as laying the groundwork for a fruitful harvest, where every decision sets the stage for a vibrant and productive landscape.
Check your Soil Status
When it comes to planting, whether in pots or directly in the ground, understanding the importance of soil conditions is crucial for achieving optimal results. When potting, you have full control over the soil composition, allowing you to select mixes that cater specifically to the needs of your chosen plants. You can simply purchase or create blends that meet the desired pH and fertility levels for a thriving growth.
In contrast, when planting directly in the ground, it’s essential to consider the existing soil conditions. This may involve adding amendments like compost and fertilizer to improve pH levels and overall soil quality. Alternatively, you may need to select plants that are well-suited to the native soil type and characteristics, eliminating the need for extensive soil manipulation.
What is your Available Space?
While greenhouses can vary significantly in size, my personal setup measures 12 feet wide by 32 feet long, encompassing a spacious 384 square feet. This generous area allows me to create a thriving edible landscaping space, similar in scale to what you might find directly outside a typical house. Within this realm, I’ve been able to accommodate multiple dwarf trees, shrubs, vines, and an array of other plants, making the most of my available space.
How to Expand your Soil Area
Even with a limited space like 6 x 8 feet, cleverly utilizing a combination of planting beds and free-standing containers can help maximize your soil area. To make the most of this space, consider thinking vertically as well as horizontally. This approach allows you to fit in multiple perennial plants without sacrificing soil access for any one plant. For instance, a dwarf tree might require a significant amount of soil root area, consuming a substantial portion of your greenhouse space.
By placing deep pots on top of that soil area, however, you can accommodate several larger-sized plants in the same space without compromising their growth or competing with each other for soil access.
Some Space Limiting Factors
When designing your indoor garden, consider positioning taller plants at a distance from the path of direct sunlight, while placing shorter ones closer to the sun’s rays to ensure each receives sufficient illumination. To maintain accessibility and prevent damage, incorporate stepping stones or paths that allow you to move freely around your plants. Additionally, don’t forget to factor in your ceiling height when planning your garden layout.
Finally – Selecting your Exotic Plants
Imagine a world where you can cultivate an array of exotic spices and herbs year-round, regardless of your climate’s limitations. A well-designed greenhouse provides the perfect environment for growing plants that wouldn’t thrive outside. While the specific plants you choose to grow will depend on the unique features of your greenhouse setup, there are some fundamental considerations to keep in mind when selecting plants for indoor cultivation.
Temperature Limits
When selecting plants for your greenhouse, it’s crucial to consider their temperature tolerance. All plants have a specific range of temperatures that they can thrive in, known as their thermal comfort zone. This range is typically defined by an upper limit and a lower limit, beyond which the plant may experience damage or even death.
To ensure the health and viability of your plants, choose species that are adapted to survive within the temperature fluctuations you’ve measured in your greenhouse. By doing so, you’ll be able to provide optimal growing conditions for your plants.
Find the Sweet Spot
When selecting plants for your greenhouse, it’s crucial to consider their ideal temperature range. Each plant has its unique sweet spot, and failing to meet this requirement can hinder growth or even lead to poor health. To ensure optimal conditions, strive to match the average temperature you’ve achieved in your greenhouse with the preferred range of the plants you’re growing. By doing so, you’ll be providing the best possible environment for your plants to thrive.
Monitor the Humidity
While opinions may vary on the ideal level of humidity, greenhouses often thrive with a certain degree of moisture in the air. As you move towards the entrance, conditions tend to shift, with areas near the doors potentially being drier than the rest of the space. To ensure a harmonious coexistence among your plants, it’s generally wise to select varieties that are adaptable to varying humidity levels.
Pollinating Plants
When it comes to greenhouses, natural pollinators are often scarce. To overcome this challenge, opt for plants that don’t rely on flowers for reproduction or feature self-pollination mechanisms. Alternatively, select species with predictable flowering periods, allowing you to dedicate a brief window of time to hand-pollination rather than worrying about it all year round.
Care Levels
Creating an inviting atmosphere in your greenhouse can make plant care a joyous experience rather than a chore. However, if you’re short on time or have specific needs, consider selecting low-maintenance plants that thrive with minimal attention. Alternatively, incorporate automation features like irrigation systems to streamline care for more finicky species.
Design Details
In my opinion, no garden is complete without a cozy spot to relax and some thoughtful decorative elements that give it a warm, inviting feel. It’s all about creating a sense of homey comfort, even in a small or intimate space like a greenhouse. A simple bench or folding chairs can go a long way in making the area feel welcoming and accommodating for those who spend time there.
My Greenhouse Inspiration
I’m excited to share what’s thriving in my greenhouse, located in Zone 7a where we experience winter nights that occasionally dip below freezing, but generally stay above 32°F (10°C). To maintain a consistent temperature range of 45-85°F (-7°C to 30°C) throughout the year, I employ various techniques and utilize a wood-fired hot tub as a heat source. During the colder months, I prioritize warmth for my sensitive plants by strategically placing compost piles and heaters.
My exotic edible landscape comprises a mix of in-ground and potted plants, including Allspice, Annato, Arbequina Olive, Artichokes, Ashitaba, Bay Laurel, Black Pepper, Cardamom, Catnip, Celery, Cinnamon, Coffee, Duckweed, Galangal, Ginger, Lavender, Lemon Grass, Meyer Lemon, Mint, Patchouli, Rosemary, Tamarind, Tea, Vanilla, Wasabi, and a variety of shade-tolerant summer and winter greens. As I continue to expand my collection, I’m eager to add more plants in the future.
Meanwhile, I still have ample space for starting seeds in the spring and propagating plants through cuttings to support my outdoor gardening endeavors.
Conclusion
Greenhouse gardening offers a paradigm shift in the way we think about horticulture, extending far beyond mere seasonal extension. It took me several years to master the art of leveraging our homestead greenhouse for food and plant production. The experience has been transformative, as I’ve come to appreciate the unparalleled bounty that can be reaped from this controlled environment.
As a result, I’ve abandoned my previous approach to using the space solely for seed starting and winter vegetables, opting instead to cultivate an exotic edible landscape that provides year-round enjoyment.
