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Here is some advice and recommendations on how I have learned to use my greenhouse and if you are thinking of purchasing a greenhouse, I have written about this here.
If you have already purchased or built your greenhouse, congratulations! You are in for a treat. However, before you start filling it with all the plants, there are a few tips and tricks to consider so you can get the best out of your bright, thermal space from the very start.
Decide how you want to use your greenhouse
It is important to understand what you want to get from your greenhouse so you can optimise the often limited space inside and so you can make informed decisions on how you organise your space.
For my own 8x10ft unheated, analogue; (no running aside from collected barrels of rainwater, nor light apart from solar bulbs, nor electricity) greenhouse, I wanted the following:
My greenhouse needs
- Somewhere to grow and overwinter tender plants like my citrus fruit trees (ground space with a high enough roof for the size of my fruit plants)
- Somewhere to plant, pot up and work on plants (so work space)
- Somewhere to store tools, pots and gardening products (storage solutions that could withstand humid, bright and extreme temperature conditions)
- Somewhere to start and store seedlings before they are ready to be planted out in the vegetable beds or garden (plant storage of varying height for various stages of growth)
- Somewhere to sit, and relax (seating area that could be removed in the winter to make room for overwintering storage)
So in short, my greenhouse works pretty hard for the small space and I am only really able to do it all with organization and planning.
Here is a breakdown of the elements that make things easier.
Seasonal Planning
Take stock of the seasons. Your new greenhouse will need a different requirement. Here is what my year greenhouse year looks like. Yours may look a little different, but here’s a guide:
- November-January: Dormancy. I live in the UK, USDA Hardiness zone 9a so November is officially when I put the garden to bed, move any tender plants that are still outside into the greenhouse for the winter- this will be the dwarf lemon and orange trees that are in the garden over the Summer.
Winter requirements: Manual ventillation of windows daily. I have 4 autovents in the roof when the temperature in the greenhouse goes above 21 C or 70 F, but during the UK winters, the humidity in a greenhouse can he cold and wet which can be the ideal condition for mould and fungal diseases. This can be kept at bay with regular ventilation. Especially during wet weather.
I water deeply once a week at the most. I also inspect plants for pests, mould and fungal infections.
At the end of Winter is when I start to sow Spring seeds in the greenhouse for fresh pickings a few months later. Spring greens, brassicas, beans and peas, onions, lettuce and spinach tend to work well at that time of year.
It’s also a good time to cut back any perennial herbs that I overwinter in the greenhouse, right back to the crown of the plant, such as tarragon, mint and oregano. This enables the plant to regenerate new growth for the growing season.
At the end of Winter/beginning of Spring is when I ensure to give the greenhouse a thorough clean out.
Storage
A place for everything and everything in its place.
An organized greenhouse is a productive greenhouse. Some people tend to store their tools and materials elsewhere, I like to have everything I need on hand so I tend to store everything from pots, hand tools to feed and potting compost in the greenhouse.
This means that it’s important to have a designated space for everything needed so you know where everything is which can enable you to streamline the gardening process.
I found these nifty metal storage tins and metal scoops (Amazon affiliate link- I am recommend items I bought myself but I may earn a small commission from items bought using my links) that I use to store my composts. I would say that metal is probably the best material to use for storage in the greenhouse: plastic gets brittle after a while and wood can get a little rotten.
Vertical Storage
Don’t overlook adding shelving higher up in the greenhouse. Due to their shapes, sometimes it can be difficult to make the most of storage space but working with the higher areas, I am able to squeeze in shelving for smaller plants and seedlings and shelves for smaller pots.
Under-bench storage is useful as well. I use mine to store bags of compost, straw, tools and shade -loving plants like my wasabi.
But I think the best way to get the best out of your greenhouse is to ultimately plant and grow what you like. Greenhouses help to extend the season and keeps tender plants frost free so it’s just criminal to not use this valuable resource as effectively as possible!
All Homesteading 
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