Greenhouse gardening is one of those fantastic hobbies that can be enjoyed all year long. Whilst many people don’t realise this, you can actually carry out your greenhouse gardening every month of the year. The only thing you need to do to ensure your gardening is a success, is to focus on which plants thrive throughout which months, and work on making the most of the seasons as they come and go. Here are a few pointers and tips to help you get the most out of your greenhouse gardening throughout the colder, winter months.
Winter Gardening Plants
It’s much easier to grow your own fruit, veg and plants throughout winter when you have a greenhouse. The difference between growing outdoors and inside a greenhouse is huge, and greenhouses give you a much better space to get your growing done. Many people don’t realise it, but there are actually lots of fruit and vegetables that can be grown throughout the winter period. Some plants even thrive more from the cooler temperatures, which is ideal when you have a greenhouse that you can control the temperature of. Some of the most popular fruit and veg to grow throughout winter range from broccoli, brussels sprouts, carrots and celery, to azalea, hyacinth, primrose and pansies. This great selection of different plants gives you so much variety and opportunity to really make the most of your greenhouse throughout the colder season.
Benefits to Greenhouse Gardening
Even though the weather is cold and wet, the wind is always strong and the temperatures can drop to freezing more often than not, greenhouse gardening in winter is actually full of benefits. Not only do you gain a huge amount of satisfaction being able to keep your hobby going strong all year long, but you can also plan your growths in advance. With the ability to grow throughout winter, you can plan which fruit and veg you want to grow, providing yourself with home-grown veg for Christmas dinner! The winter season also provides us with some beautifully crisp mornings, which can also provide great satisfaction when your greenhouse is basking in the strong rays of the winter sun every morning.
Then the Disadvantages
As with anything, greenhouse gardening does have its disadvantages too. Although there are not as many as you may think, there are a few that can plant a seed of doubt in some gardener’s minds as to whether or not investing in a greenhouse is really worth it or not. One of the main disadvantages to greenhouse growing, no matter what time of the year it may be, is the cost. Greenhouse gardening can become a costly hobby, as you have to invest in a good quality greenhouse and then keep up with the maintenance. There are however, opportunities to build your greenhouse from scratch, so dependent on the individual the cost can sometimes be brought down a considerable amount.
You then have the decision as to whether or not you’re going to choose a warm or cool greenhouse. Whilst warm greenhouses are hugely beneficial and great for seeing positive results, they also require maintenance and long, expensive heating bills. Not only do they require money for the heating bill itself, but you then need to look at investing in some insulation to ensure your heat stays where it should be and doesn’t escape, costing you even more money.