This Month in the Garden (March 2010)...

Greenhouses can extend the gardening season, sheltering tender seedlings from cool spring temperatures as well as protecting plants from early frosts in the autumn.

This small Port Washington greenhouse (8’ x 10’) is used to harden off the seedlings of annual flowers and vegetables.  The seedlings, which are started under lights in the house, are initially protected from the sun by shade cloth but they quickly adjust to the higher light levels outdoors.

In March Port Washington nighttime temperatures are low enough to require supplemental heat in greenhouses which is provided by a milk house heater.  On sunny days, even if the outside air is cold, the temperatures inside the greenhouse can soar.  This hot air must be vented so the plants aren’t damaged (luckily this greenhouse has automatic vent openers which makes heat management simple).

New varieties of fruit trees developed for containers can also get off to a quick start with the help of a greenhouse.  Figs and nectarines can be stored in an unheated garage during the winter and then transferred to a greenhouse when their buds begin to swell.  The flowers open before it’s warm outside but with the help of a small paint brush the flowers can be hand pollinated.  The trees move outside when summer arrives.  Many years, two crops of figs can be harvested with the extra growing time provided by the greenhouse.

Homeowners who don’t want to add a permanent structure to their yard can find collapsible greenhouses in farm catalogs and big box stores.  These can be stored when the weather warms up although they do need to be securely anchored when in use to withstand the wind.

This Month in the Garden Archive:

November 2010
October 2010
September 2010
August 2010
July 2010
June 2010
May 2010
April 2010
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009