Want to try growing in a greenhouse for the first time? Maybe you've already tried greenhouse gardening but want to get a better crop this year. In this blog post, we've listed a few helpful tricks/tips to help you grow larger, healthier and more fruitful plants.
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If you can, purchase your greenhouse during the "cooler months" or regular off-season. Most gardeners are eager to purchase a new greenhouse when spring first comes around, but if you'll wait until the gardening "frenzy" dies off a bit, most garden centers and even online distributers will drop their prices DRAMATICALLY. For example, one greenhouse might go for $199 in November, but in February the price can jump to as much as $800.00. We've seen this happen before, so if you want a great deal on an awesome greenhouse try purchasing one in fall or winter.
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Use optimal soil. Prepare your own growing medium by combining and including all of the following: rich garden loam, peat-moss and compost. You'll also want to incorporate things like aged manure, bone meal, sand or even wood ashes. This all depends on what you'll be growing so do your research and make sure your soil is going to work for you. If you don't have healthy soil, you certainly won't have healthy plants. Study our Introduction to Soil.
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Let your greenhouse breathe. Often! If the weather is warm outside, open up the doors or window vents on the greenhouse. It also might be a good idea to keep a fan going inside your greenhouse to avoid the air becoming stagnant. If your greenhouse isn't well ventilated you'll be inviting things like unwanted pests, mildew, and fungus to grow and take over, killing your plants and herbs. More about Dealing With Pests in The Garden.
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Choose a sunny location. You'll need the sun to heat up your greenhouse in the cooler months. If you're worried about it getting too hot, just cover it with some shade cloth. Make sure it stays well ventilated which will help keep it cooler during a scorching summer. Read up on Where Should the Garden Be?
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Make an awesome floor. Use pea gravel over weed fabric for your floor inside of the greenhouse. You can keep your greenhouse cool during the summer by hosing off the rocks.
- Keep a journal. Write down what you're planting, the soil mixture, fertilization dates etc. in a "garden journal". This will help remind you what worked or what didn't and you'll only progress and become more and more successful with your plantings each season.
