In the spring, when the earth has warmed up enough, all the seedlings are already planted in open ground. Now you could forget about your greenhouse until the cold weather. But you can grow in a greenhouse all year round. The main thing is to use the greenhouse correctly and create an optimal microclimate and prevent overheating. So let’s figure out how to use your greenhouse in summer!
Why is it beneficial to use a greenhouse in summer?
The weather is hot in summer, but sometimes it can be cool. In addition, there are dry days and periods of prolonged rains. Under such variable conditions, your crops are stressed – cucumbers wither, tomatoes blacken, dill and lettuce dry out, strawberries produce small and watery berries.
In a greenhouse, you can control the conditions. You can, if necessary, shade, ventilate, protect from gusts of wind and precipitation, maintain the necessary humidity. Yes, and weeds grow more reluctantly here and there are fewer pests.
These artificially created conditions favor gardening. And in a limited area, you can grow a crop the same or many times more than in open ground. Not to mention the fact that you can collect fruits two or three times during the summer.
What to grow in a greenhouse in summer?
In the summer you can grow whatever you want in the greenhouse. But is it worth the hassle of potatoes, carrots or beets, if they feel good in the open field? You’d be better off switching to something that can be profitable if you’re growing for sale, or will produce multiple crops in one season.
Greens in your dishes will never be superfluous. It grows well in open ground. But if you plant greens in your greenhouse, they will grow much faster because you can create optimal conditions inside.
- Salad. You don’t need seedlings. You can sow every 2 weeks. Your lettuce will grow very fast if you keep the temperature in the greenhouse at 64-70 °F. Features of care – watering at the root, without falling on the leaves, loosening the earth, weeding, good lighting. Don’t plant lettuce in heaps. Varieties: leaf lettuce, romaine, asparagus lettuce, head lettuce, watercress.
- Dill is a capricious crop, and therefore ideal for growing in a greenhouse in summer. He needs good lighting, a temperature regime of at least 60 °F well-moistened soil. Dill grows for about 2 months. But it’s worth it, because from 10 square feet you can collect 4.4 lb of this green seasoning, periodically cutting off the green tops.
- Parsley. You can sow its seeds. You can also germinate the seeds in a damp cloth before planting in the ground. Or you can plant its roots up to 6 inches deep. The step between root crops is 2 in. With the first method, you can get 3.3 lb of parsley from 10 square feet of area over the summer. The second method is more difficult, but the culture is more resistant. Easy care – weeding, watering, ventilation.
- Chive. Before planting, the soil is loosened, fertilized and leveled. A seedling is planted in increments of 1 in. In order for it to take root and sprout faster, cover it with straw mixed with manure.
In addition to greenery in the summer in the greenhouse, you can grow tomatoes, radishes, cucumbers. Strawberries, garden strawberries and even gourds – melon and watermelon grow well in a greenhouse.
- Strawberries loves well-lit places, warmth and loose soil. Therefore, for her, mix the earth with peat. In open ground, it grows in one tier. In a greenhouse, you can use the block method. Strawberries are planted in boxes, and they, in turn, are placed on a rack. If there is not enough light, use artificial lighting. Install a drip irrigation system to make it easier for you to take care of your crop. If the conditions are met, you can get up to 77-88 lb of crop in the greenhouse.
- Tomatoes and cucumbers. They can also be grown in a greenhouse in summer.
- Eggplants, mushrooms, zucchini, cauliflower, peppers, squash and a number of other crops are just as capricious of weather conditions. And they will be comfortable in the greenhouse.
- Melons crops need warmth, good and long-term illumination and regular, but not plentiful watering.
The cultivation of each crop has its own nuances. But what they have in common is airing, weeding if necessary, watering, temperature control and top dressing.
By following these recommendations, you can expand your season and get more quality crops!
