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Small Scale Greenhouse Gardening in 2024: Tips and What to Grow

Small Scale Greenhouse

Small Scale Greenhouses are ideal for gardeners with limited space or just starting their greenhouse journey. The compact size can fit in most backyards, making it perfect for urban or suburban environments. Moreover, small greenhouses are easier to maintain, require less energy to heat, and offer ample opportunity for producing a diverse range of fruits, vegetables, and flowers.

The versatility of a small-scale greenhouse lies in its ability to extend the growing season, protect plants from pests and harsh weather, and offer the perfect environment for growing various crops, including those that thrive in warmth and light.

What to Grow in a Small Scale Greenhouse?

The key to success in a small greenhouse lies in understanding its potential and the types of plants you can grow, depending on whether the greenhouse is heated or unheated.

Plants for a Heated Small Scale Greenhouse

A heated greenhouse can create a warm environment ideal for growing heat-loving plants and crops that might not survive in your outdoor climate. Adding grow lights during the darker winter months further the growing season, allowing you to harvest all year. Here’s a season-wise breakdown of what to plant in a heated greenhouse:

Late Winter is an excellent time to start sowing fast-growing salad greens and propagating vegetables. Ideal crops include:

  • Spinach, lettuce, and mustard greens
  • Onions (from seed), leeks, and shallots
  • Carrots, beets, and radishes
  • Peas (with trellis support), cauliflower, kale, and broccoli
  • Additionally, seed potatoes can be started indoors in containers or bags.

Early to Mid-Spring: As daylight increases, warm-season vegetables can be sown, such as:

  • Tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants
  • Cucumbers, zucchini, and squash
  • Beans
  • You can also start herbs like basil, parsley, and cilantro from seed or young plants from nurseries.

Late Spring to Late Summer: During this warm period, the focus shifts to harvesting, but you can still plant:

  • Heat-tolerant greens like arugula, New Zealand spinach, and Swiss chard
  • Endives, fennel, and celery
  • Turnips, swedes, and radishes
  • Ensure your greenhouse has adequate ventilation to prevent overheating. Consider using fans or opening vents to maintain an optimal environment.

Early Fall: As temperatures cool, plant crops for next year’s harvest, such as:

  • Strawberries
  • Garlic and onions (from sets)
  • Beans
  • Quick-growing crops like spinach, lettuce, radishes, and bok choy can still be sown for a final harvest before Winter.

Mid-Fall to Mid-Winter: Even in the darkest months, you can grow salad greens, microgreens, and herbs. Consider adding grow lights to maintain warmth and light for continued growth if needed.

Plants for a Unheated Small Scale Greenhouse

In an unheated greenhouse, temperatures can drop to freezing in Winter, so your planting strategy must be adjusted accordingly. While you won’t be able to grow tender, heat-loving plants year-round, you can still make the most of the space in spring, summer, and early fall.

  • Spring: Start planting once nighttime temperatures consistently stay above 50°F. Prioritize crops with long growing seasons, such as:
  • Tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants
  • Cucumbers, squash, and melons
  • Okra and sweet potatoes
  • Using heat mats can help tender seeds germinate in cooler spring temperatures.

Late Summer to Early Fall: Once the main crops have been harvested, use the remaining warmth to grow fast-maturing vegetables like:

  • Spinach, radishes, and baby carrots
  • Asian cabbages and snow peas
  • Early-maturing potatoes

These crops thrive in cooling temperatures, and the greenhouse will retain enough warmth to extend their growth.

Winter: If nighttime temperatures remain between 50°F and 60°F, the unheated greenhouse can be used to overwinter citrus trees such as lemons and limes or trigger blooming in succulents like the Christmas cactus.

Plants to Avoid in a Small Scale Greenhouse

Despite the versatility of a small greenhouse, certain plants aren’t well-suited in confined spaces due to their size or growth habits. Avoid planting:

  • Corn: Corn requires dense planting for proper pollination and occupies significant space.
  • Squash and Watermelon: These sprawling plants can quickly dominate a small space, limiting what else can be grown.
  • Fruit Trees: While a dwarf lemon tree may fit, larger fruit trees need more room to thrive. If you wish to grow fruit trees, consider upgrading to a larger greenhouse or growing dwarf varieties in containers.

That said, you can still start seeds for these crops in your greenhouse before transplanting them outdoors when the weather warms.

Tips for Maximizing Your Small Scale Greenhouse Space

Making the most out of your small greenhouse needs careful planning and intelligent use of space. Here are six essential tips to ensure you get the best yield:

1. Draw Up a Layout

Designing a layout for your greenhouse can help you visualize and allocate the space efficiently. Start by creating a grid of 1ft x 1ft squares and plan where to place your plants, workbenches, and other equipment. Consider a U-shaped layout with a central path for easy access to all corners.

2. Think Vertically

Vertical space is just as important in a small greenhouse as in a floor space. To make the most of the height, install shelves, hanging baskets, and trellises. Hanging baskets are perfect for growing strawberries or trailing tomatoes, while trellises work well for cucumbers and beans.

3. Utilize the Space Under Shelves

The space under your shelves may need more sunlight for plants, but it can still be valuable storage for tools, pots, and supplies. Alternatively, consider using the darker, cooler area to grow mushrooms, which thrive in these conditions.

4. Don’t Overcrowd Plants

While it’s tempting to put it in as many plants as possible, overcrowding can lead to competition for sunlight, air circulation, and nutrients, increasing the risk of disease. Follow spacing guidelines for each type to ensure each plant has enough room to grow.

5. Invest in a Greenhouse Heater

In colder climates, a small greenhouse loses heat faster than larger ones. A heater can prevent nighttime temperatures from dropping too low, extending your growing season and allowing you to grow more exotic plants like citrus or vanilla.

6. Be Aware of Space-Hogging Plants

Some plants take up more space than others. For example:

  • Squash, pumpkins, and watermelons need four sq ft per plant.
  • Cabbage, cauliflower, and broccoli need at least two sq ft each.
  • Asparagus requires several years to mature and occupies two sq ft per plant.

You must plan your planting layout with these space requirements in mind.

Conclusion

If utilized wisely, a small scale greenhouse offers a compact yet highly productive growing space. By understanding what plants thrive in heated and unheated environments and employing smart planning strategies, you can enjoy a year-round harvest of fresh vegetables, fruits, and herbs. Whether sowing winter veggies or starting summer tomatoes, a small greenhouse can be your key to extended growing seasons and diverse harvests.

FAQs

Warm-season crops like tomatoes, peppers, and herbs thrive in these greenhouses.

Yes, with proper crop selection, such as cool-weather greens and root vegetables, you can extend your growing season in an unheated greenhouse.

To maximize the limited space, I utilize vertical growing with shelves, hanging baskets, and trellises.

Avoid large, sprawling plants like corn, squash, and full-sized fruit trees that require excessive space.

A greenhouse heater is recommended for maintaining warmth in colder months, especially in climates with freezing temperatures.

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