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Published on February 24, 2023

Pro Tips

How to Use a Garden Greenhouse

Having a garden greenhouse is the dream of many gardening enthusiasts! But to use it properly, there are some basic principles to know first: materials, types of crops, maintenance, watering, temperature, aeration, etc. Find out how it works!

Please click on the closed captioning icon at the bottom of the video player to watch with English subtitles.

Portrait de Sarah Quesnel
Sarah Quesnel
sarahlalune.com
Sarah, co-author and photographer of the book Gardening Naturally, is an avid fan of plants, gardening, nature in general, and decorating. She is a content creator, photographer, horticulturist, and artist.

Why Use a Garden Greenhouse?

With only a few warm months per year, the growing season in Canada is quite short. As a result, especially in lower hardiness zones (such as more northern regions), some plants will produce little or have difficulty maturing before the cold weather returns.

A garden greenhouse is a practical solution!

In addition to extending the growing season and improving garden production, a greenhouse helps:
  • acclimatize seedlings;
  • house more fragile plants;
  • protect crops from small animals; and
  • store material.
Woman opening a greenhouse window

Choose the Right Model and Materials

It is essential to design any garden greenhouse to withstand high winds, heavy rains, and the weight of snow.

Design
  • Size: Choose the size of your greenhouse according to your needs and to the space available. Keep in mind that depending on the size you choose, you may need to apply for a permit from your municipality!
  • Flooring: To maintain the benefits of gardening in the ground and to allow the roots of plants to sink into the soil for nutrients, installing flooring is not recommended.
  • Roof: An angled roof helps prevent snow accumulation while capturing more sunlight.
  • Doors and Windows: Provide for at least one door and several windows in order to ventilate the greenhouse in hot weather.

Materials
Several types of materials are suitable, the most common being a concrete foundation, a wooden structure, polyethylene plastic on the sides, and polycarbonate panels for the roof.
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Pro Tip

It is important to note that in order to maintain the greenhouse effect, windows must not be covered. This is why mainly the bottom of the greenhouse is insulated.

Selecting Appropriate Crops

In cooler climates, it is advantageous to use a greenhouse to grow plants that need many days of heat for their fruit to mature. This is the case for large tomatoes and bell peppers, in particular.

Some vegetables prefer the heat, such as cucumbers, eggplants, and hot peppers. Growing them in a greenhouse allows them to produce more.

In a greenhouse, early vegetables (those harvested at the very beginning of the season, such as radishes, lettuce, carrots, and kale) can be planted in March or April.

Some of the hardier plants (such as kale, carrots, green onions, and some greens) can also be planted in August for fall and early winter harvests. With a lightly heated greenhouse, you could even grow them year-round!
Woman handling a small hot pepper plant

Optimize Greenhouse Space

To optimize the space inside the greenhouse, it is recommended to garden vertically by hanging plants or adding trellis to support climbing plants, such as tomatoes, cucumbers, and beans.

On the other hand, more compact plants, such as cherry tomatoes and some hot peppers, can be placed in pots on the ground or on tables.

Raised beds are a good way to ensure that plants receive a good amount of sunlight.
Woman watering a vegetable garden

Follow a Watering Routine

Since rainwater does not penetrate the greenhouse and the temperature can become very high in hot weather, it is necessary to water a little more often than outside.

Rain collectors, garden hoses, and watering cans are an environmentally friendly way to water without using drinking water! 

You can also install an irrigation system to simplify your life.
Digital thermometer in a garden greenhouse

Control Temperature and Humidity

In general, for fruit crops, such as tomatoes, cucumbers, and bell peppers, the ideal temperature is between 20-30°, with 40-70% humidity. It is useful to have a thermometer in the greenhouse to check the temperature or humidity.

With the sun, a garden greenhouse quickly becomes too hot and humid for the plants, which can make them weak and more susceptible to diseases and fungi. That’s why it’s important to air it out well by opening the doors and windows. A fan can also be added if required.

Even when the temperature is mild, it is beneficial to open the doors to change up the air.
Woman pollinating a cucumber plant by hand

Pollinate Plants

Pollination is the transport of pollen from a male flower to a female flower by pollinating insects (e.g., butterflies, bees, wasps, flies). This is what makes it possible for the plant to produce a fruit or a vegetable!

Since there are fewer pollinating insects in a greenhouse than outside, plants may have to be pollinated by hand. For tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants, simply tap the flowers to release the pollen. For cucumbers and squash, pollinate between the female and male flowers using a brush.
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Pro Tip

Don't want to manually pollinate your plants? Choose self-fertile varieties that do not require pollination, such as Lebanese cucumbers! You could also choose to make a garden of only greens and root vegetables, as they are harvested well before flowering.

Ensure Proper Maintenance

To guarantee good production and avoid infestations, it is essential to maintain your greenhouse properly:

Summer – It is important to keep the greenhouse clean and tidy to prevent the spread of disease and harmful insects. Insects like to take refuge there, so remove any damaged, dead, or yellow leaves throughout the season. It is also important to have a screening routine to prevent large invasions by harmful insects. By detecting unwanted insects as soon as they arrive, it is easier to control their population than once they are well established.

Fall – Towards the end of the season, simply remove plants that are no longer producing and replace them with plants that will produce until early winter. This is a good time to clean transparent walls and windows to let in as much light as possible. You can also take this opportunity to plant bulbs, which will bloom into pretty flowers in spring.

Winter – Be sure to clear snow from the roof and driveway to gain access to the door in the spring.

Spring – Keep the interior of the greenhouse, including the transparent walls and windows, well cleaned and prepared for the arrival of seedlings. It is also a good idea to add compost and manure to the soil to provide good nutrients for the following season.

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