Winter is coming and dead plants with it, so now is the ideal time to start to prepare your greenhouses for the winter season and avoid those nasty plant deaths. Warmth and frost are two things you need to consider when getting your greenhouse and all the fruit, veg and plants inside ready for the deadly cold.
Deep Cleaning your Greenhouse
First thing to do before winter is a big clean. Start by taking everything out of the greenhouse, plants, tools, everything. This will allow you to get a good look at areas that are normally obscured, which is exactly where dust and grime could be hiding. Any sort of grub can easily attract bugs and critters which are a huge problem during the colder months when they’re trying to find somewhere warm to stay. So deep cleaning all areas is essential, not to mention giving the windows a deep clean. If the sun does pop out for a few precious hours then the greenhouse needs to be ready to absorb 100% of its power, so clean windows are recommended.
Throw out the Waste
During the winter months, infestation and disease is a common place for greenhouses. So before winter comes any dead plants, leaves or branches need to be removed. If any dead items are left over winter this could cause many issues for your plants when spring comes around, once an infestation takes place it becomes very hard to get it out. So removing the problem before it becomes a problem is the way to go.
Check the exterior
There are many ways to keep the interior warm throughout the winter months but none of them will be very effective unless the exterior of your greenhouse is secure and without gaps and holes. Even if pests and critters don’t find a way through gaps and holes the cold air and frost definitely will.
Installing a Greenhouse Heating System
Once you’ve ensured your greenhouse is free from holes and gaps, it can now keep the cold air out and keep the warm air in. Creating a warm environment for your plants to thrive in is what greenhouses do best, but only if they have the warmth coming from somewhere. During the winter months this needs to be done artificially for the best environment, so installing a heater to give a little boost makes for a big impact. A simple plug in heater or overhead heaters do wonders keeping the greenhouse warm and the plants thriving. However, even though the greenhouse needs to be warm and free from gaps there still needs to be ventilation to avoid overheating.
What Veg is best for winter growing?
Only the green veg for winter, with plants such as broccoli, kale and cabbages amongst some of the best veg to grow during the winter months. Other veg include brussels sprouts, leeks and parsnips. With some plants during winter, due to a survival mechanism, they actually become sweeter!
You can also use the greenhouse to get a jump on the spring harvest, sowing spring seeds during the winter months and cultivating them until they can move out into the open garden when the temperature becomes warmer is a great use of a greenhouse.
Now you should have a Greenhouse prepared for Winter!
With that you're greenhouse is ready to brace cold winds and ceaseless snow. No grim or rubbish will attract critters in and the cleaned glass will allow for maximum light. The cold air will have no way of entry into your greenhouse allowing the heater to create a warm internal environment and the vent to keep everything from going over the edge. And with that your plants will be flourishing all through winter and right into spring.
