The winter months don’t usually bring to mind lush green plants and juicy vegetables, but, contrary to popular belief, the winter is as good a time as any to invest in a DIY greenhouse kit and grow your own produce! There are plenty of delicious vegetables that you can care for when the going gets cold, and it’s super easy to do-our Planta greenhouses can help you do it!
Our best-selling greenhouse kits are the perfect starting place if you want to start a winter garden-they are built to be extremely robust and designed to withstand the harsh Canadian climate-heavy snowfalls, biting winds and all! We serve clients across Ontario and sell greenhouses for residential and commercial purposes.
Let’s look at 5 tips for creating a successful winter greenhouse:
1. Choose your plants carefully
Let’s start with the obvious: if you’re going to be starting a DIY backyard greenhouse in the winter months, it’s important to do your research beforehand so you know what you can grow in a harsher climate and what you can’t. There are plenty of plants capable of being grown through the winter-it’s important to be thorough and selective-pick what you like! Of course, you have some regular garden staples that are cold-resistant, including:
- Kale
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Garlic
- Potatoes
- Carrots
- Peppers
Some of these will even taste better if grown in the winter-when temperatures drop, they undergo a process where the starches they’ve saved up over the growing period transform into sugars and act as a natural anti-freeze.
2. Care for your plants adequately
Yes, the same rules for gardening at other times of the year still apply to winter gardening: your plants need plenty of water, sunshine and love in order to thrive. However, because there is less sunlight during the winter, plants require less water-but they still need to be watered and cared for! Avoid watering if you know there will be heavy sub-zero temperatures overnight, as this can result in severe frost damage to plants, jeopardizing all your hard work! To combat this, you can add mulch to your greenhouse garden to reduce the amount of water needed and to help keep the plants warm.
3. Keep tools clean and fresh
Clean tools are very important in any kind of gardening, and even more so during the chilly climate. It can sometimes be difficult to do this when gardening is in full swing during the warm weather months, so it’s a good idea to make sure any tools and/or machines you might use are cleaned and well-greased before beginning any winter gardening.
Cleaning them will not only result in better a performance, but can also help extend their lifespan. You should wash your tools thoroughly with soap and water during the fall season to remove grime.
If your tools are a bit rusty from overuse, consider using a wire sponge, wire brush or sandpaper to remove it. Make sure to sharpen your tools as well to ensure maximum performance. Another helpful tip for tool care: consider sealing your tools from oxygen and prevent rust by wiping them down with a rag soaked in machine oil.
4. Use a cold frame or greenhouse
Cold? In winter? Yes, you’re reading that right! A cold frame is a fancy term for setting up a DIY greenhouse kit using a transparent material over a frame to allow sunlight to reach the vegetables, but still keep them warm. This type of material (like plastic) creates a greenhouse effect on a smaller scale, keeping plants safe from extreme cold but still warm enough to grow. Lucky for you, you won’t have to put much thought or effort into creating a cold frame-our products include built-in cold frames to make sure your veggies stay safe!
If you’re looking to grow fresh produce in the winter, our Planta greenhouse kits are the answer! They provide effective protection from wind and snow and make sure your plants are kept warm and properly ventilated.
Contact us today to find out which of our greenhouses is the right choice for you!