If you’re fortunate enough to have a greenhouse, you may be wondering which vegetables are best suited for winter cultivation. As someone who has successfully utilized their cold frame greenhouse throughout the year, I can attest that having access to fresh produce is not only delicious but also liberating. Rather than relying on grocery stores, you can enjoy the fruits of your labor and reap the benefits of a self-sustaining garden.
If you’re interested in learning how to grow vegetables in your greenhouse over winter and discovering which varieties thrive during this time, I’m here to guide you through it all.
How to Grow Food in Your Greenhouse Over Winter
When it comes to cultivating produce in your greenhouse during the winter season, you’re not limited to a single approach. In fact, there are several viable options to consider, each with its own unique benefits and challenges. Before diving in, take some time to weigh the pros and cons of each method, then choose the one that best suits your needs and goals.
Grow in an Unheated Greenhouse
Having recently relocated, I haven’t had the chance to construct a new greenhouse at our current residence. However, we previously owned a cold frame greenhouse that served us well for nearly five years. Although it’s been some time since we’ve enjoyed its benefits, I’m eager to rebuild and start anew. For those unfamiliar with growing in unheated greenhouses during winter, it’s definitely possible in most climates.
The key is selecting hearty vegetables that can tolerate cold temperatures as long as they’re not buried under snow or frost. Alternatively, you can opt for winter-hardy vegetables that can be left outside to thrive beneath the seasonal layers. When cultivating an unheated greenhouse garden, plant each vegetable as you would in a traditional bed. Fertilization, watering, weeding, and harvesting will all remain crucial components of your gardening routine.
While it may require some extra vigilance, growing a winter garden in an unheated greenhouse is largely a matter of following standard horticultural practices.
Extend Grow Season in a Heated Greenhouse
For plant enthusiasts who want to enjoy a bountiful harvest throughout the year, extending the growing season is an excellent option. This involves moving certain plants like peppers, tomatoes, squash, fruit trees, and potted strawberry plants into a heated greenhouse during the cold winter months. To replicate a typical summer day, maintain an interior temperature of around mid-70s to low-80s (°F) inside your greenhouse, which may lead to some sweat-inducing work.
However, the benefits far outweigh the temporary discomfort. Once relocated, continue to care for these plants as you would outside – watering, fertilizing, weeding, and pruning them regularly. Harvesting and replanting are also crucial aspects of this process. By saving and sustaining your plants over winter, you can reuse them in subsequent years, a common practice among gardeners.
For instance, many people bring their pepper plants indoors during the winter and continue to enjoy their produce year after year. When saving plants from your summer garden, keep this approach in mind to enjoy fresh tomatoes or peppers throughout the winter months.
Overwinter and Plant in a Heated Greenhouse
For those who want to grow anything at any time, maintaining a warm and controlled environment in a greenhouse is an ideal solution. This setup allows for planting seeds and nurturing them as you would in your outdoor garden. However, it’s essential to acknowledge that plants require pollination, which can be challenging without the presence of bees during winter months. To overcome this hurdle, simply shake tomato or pepper plants to release their pollen, facilitating natural pollination.
Following this step, care for your plants as you normally would, including fertilization, watering, pruning, and harvesting. Some enthusiasts also choose to overwinter certain plants in their greenhouse, such as fruit trees planted in pots. By moving these containers to the greenhouse, growers can provide a consistent environment that meets the specific needs of their fruit trees.
This involves harvesting the produced fruit, fertilizing, and pruning the tree before relocating it outside when the seasons change. Having a heated greenhouse at your disposal can be incredibly beneficial and practical.
What Can I Grow in My Greenhouse Over Winter?
Building on my previous discussions about the versatility of greenhouses, I’d like to delve deeper into the world of overwintering and cultivating various plants within these controlled environments. When it comes to choosing which plants to bring into your heated greenhouse for the colder months, there are several options worth considering. Here’s a comprehensive list of plants that can thrive in a greenhouse during winter:
Pot-Grown Strawberries
When it comes to extending the growing season for strawberries, I wanted to revisit some of our previous discussions on heated greenhouse options. For potted perennial strawberry plants, a heated greenhouse can be an ideal solution for year-round protection and continued production. Simply move your plant in and out of the greenhouse as needed. For annual strawberry plants, you may still achieve success by growing them in your heated greenhouse.
However, keep in mind that seed-grown strawberries will require manual pollination within the greenhouse.
Potted Peppers
When a pepper plant is thriving, you may consider relocating it to a container to take advantage of its bounty. Rather than bringing it indoors for the winter to transplant come spring, you could opt to place it in a heated greenhouse and tend to it until next year’s growing season arrives. This approach not only extends its lifespan but also prolongs its production, allowing you to enjoy a longer harvest.
Potted Tomatoes
One exceptional year, our tomato plants flourished in our unheated greenhouse, yielding impressive results. The unusually warm weather was a major contributing factor to their success. While we didn’t provide any heating, the structure still managed to extend the growing season for these plants. With that said, if you were to cultivate your tomatoes in a heated greenhouse, it’s not entirely unrealistic to enjoy a harvest well into Christmas or even beyond.
As long as you cater to their basic needs and environmental requirements, there’s no reason why your tomato plants can’t continue to thrive for an extended period.
Potted Squash
In addition to cucumbers, I’ve witnessed individuals in my local community successfully cultivating squash within their greenhouses. Notably, some of my neighbors had an exceptional year with certain squash varieties, which led them to containerize and relocate these prized plants to a heated greenhouse. By doing so, they were able to extend the growing season well into the winter months, ultimately reaping the rewards of their laborious efforts.
Potted Fruit Trees
I initially constructed our original greenhouse with the intention of nurturing fruit trees year-round. My goal was to enjoy fresh fruit throughout the seasons, but unfortunately, I never had the opportunity to install heating in the greenhouse. Instead, I planted the trees directly into the ground. However, it’s possible to relocate potted fruit trees into a greenhouse for protection, which can significantly extend their production period.
Most Potted Summer Vegetables
In essence, any plant that thrives when tended to in a suitable environment will typically prolong its growing season. In some cases, this can even extend into winter months. If there’s a particular species you have a soft spot for, you might consider kick-starting its growth earlier in a heated greenhouse or attempting to coax it along later in the same setting.
Onions
Onions are an exception when it comes to growing plants during the harsh winter months. Unlike many other vegetables, onions can thrive outside even in freezing temperatures. In fact, they’re one of the hardiest varieties that can withstand exposure to snow and frost. If you don’t fancy braving the cold to harvest your onions, consider planting them in a greenhouse where you can control the environment and enjoy a bountiful crop.
Garlic
Garlic cultivation is a process that demands patience, as it typically takes time to mature. Interestingly, many growers opt to plant garlic during the coldest temperatures, leveraging the natural insulation of the soil and air to facilitate growth. For those looking to simplify their garlic-growing experience, incorporating this crop into a greenhouse setup can be an effective approach.
By doing so, you’ll eliminate the need for supplemental heat, as the garlic will still thrive in the controlled environment.
Spring Onions
I have a profound appreciation for spring onions, which I find elevates the flavor of a warm bowl of soup to new heights. The fact that they can thrive in an unheated greenhouse is all the more reason for my enthusiasm. As an onion variety, spring onions are naturally hardy and resilient, capable of surviving without the protection of a heated greenhouse. This means that growing them in an unheated greenhouse is a viable option, one that I’m excited to explore further.
Spinach
In the early days of my self-sufficient living journey, I made the decision to grow spinach as one of the first crops in my cold frame greenhouse. This leafy green is particularly well-suited for this type of setup, as it thrives without the need for supplemental heat. Moreover, spinach yields a bountiful harvest in a relatively short period, making it an excellent choice for those looking to maximize their yield while minimizing time and effort.
Furthermore, its versatility allows it to be used in a variety of dishes, from crisp salads to warm, comforting meals.
Broad Beans
Broad beans, also known as fava beans, are a type of green bean characterized by their robust size and plump shape. As a result, they thrive in cooler temperatures, making them an ideal choice for fall gardens where the soil is still warm from the summer. In fact, their hardiness allows them to be planted earlier than other types of green beans, as they are less susceptible to frost damage.
This attribute makes them well-suited for growth in a cold frame or greenhouse, where the controlled environment can shield them from harsh winter conditions and promote optimal production.
Peas
While green peas can thrive in cold temperatures, it’s essential to note that they require a substantial amount to yield a substantial harvest. This might be challenging for smaller-scale growers or those without a spacious greenhouse. Nevertheless, with the right conditions and sufficient quantities, green peas can prove to be a rewarding addition to your garden.
Potted Asparagus
Asparagus is an exceptional plant that can thrive outdoors even in the harshest of cold temperatures without requiring any special care. Moreover, it’s a perennial crop that will only get better with age, growing larger and more bountiful each year.
While asparagus can be grown directly outside, it also lends itself well to being cultivated within a cold frame setup.
This could involve dedicating a section of your greenhouse to the plant’s growth, allowing you to harvest its bounty over multiple years. Alternatively, you could opt for container-grown asparagus, providing greater flexibility and the ability to move the plants around to take advantage of colder temperatures while still enjoying a fruitful harvest.
Winter Mix Lettuce
Lettuce is one vegetable that thrives in chilly conditions, whereas warm weather can cause it to wilt. However, leaf lettuce is an exception that excels in the cold, producing a bountiful harvest. In fact, it grows exceptionally well in temperatures that are typically uninviting to other vegetables, making it a great option for those who don’t have the resources or desire to provide supplemental heat.
Collard Greens
While many vegetables are sensitive to cold temperatures, greens are surprisingly resilient. This is why they’re often planted in fall gardens and allowed to thrive until the first frost sets in. However, if you want to enjoy a continuous harvest of fresh greens throughout the winter months, consider using a cold frame. I’ve had success with this method myself, consistently yielding a bountiful crop even in the chilliest of seasons.
Mustard Greens
For gardeners looking to expand their repertoire of leafy greens during the colder months, mustard greens are an excellent choice. Like other cold-hardy greens, they thrive in the controlled environment of a cold frame greenhouse or even a traditional greenhouse setup. If you’re seeking to add a tangy, spicy flavor profile to your winter meals or fresh salads, mustard greens are definitely worth considering for inclusion in your garden’s winter rotation.
Carrots
Carrots thrive in cold conditions, making them an ideal choice for a cold frame greenhouse setup. You have the option to plant them directly into a bed within your greenhouse or place them in pots and position them inside. I opted for the latter approach and achieved impressive results.
Pak Choi
Pak choi bears a resemblance to miniaturized Romaine lettuce, its lighter hue of green distinguishing it from other leafy greens. More commonly known as Chinese cabbage, this versatile vegetable deserves consideration for inclusion in your winter greenhouse garden.
As you ponder ways to add diversity to your cold frame or heated greenhouse during the winter months, Pak choi is definitely worth a look. Its adaptability and hardiness make it an ideal candidate for thriving in such environments.
In conclusion, we’ve outlined various options for growing vegetables in greenhouses over winter, including Pak choi as a suitable choice. Notwithstanding local climate conditions that may pose challenges, don’t be discouraged from attempting to grow certain varieties – the experience can be rewarding.
We’re eager to hear your thoughts on this topic! Do you cultivate vegetables in your greenhouse during winter? If so, which ones do you prefer?
