Did you just purchase a greenhouse and want to start with greenhouse gardening? Congratulations! It’s a great choice! The start can sometimes be a little overwhelming so we made a list of easy to grow greenhouse plants for beginners.
A greenhouse is a magnificent treasure to any crop. It lets gardeners make the most of the sun, extending the seasons, and yield a wide range of high-grade crops. With the help of your greenhouse, you can sustain a very fruitful harvest at any time of the year. Proper planning plays a very important role. Check the space, the soil, the temperature, and water sources.
There may be a few obstacles but with the right solution, everything can be mastered as you go along. Starting with easy to grow greenhouse plants will give you excitement and pleasure as you see them thrive. You will then find yourself leveling up and excited to grow some challenging plants.
Why do plants grow better in a greenhouse?
A greenhouse is practically possible for a lot of yards. Many prefer these indoor settings because of their controlled environment. For example, the automatic timer connected to the watering system. It allows you to save time and control the environment depending on the season or time of the day.
Automatic ventilation controls the indoor airflow. It gives your greenhouse plants with a consistent supply of carbon dioxide. They require this for sugar and oxygen production. The concentrated carbon dioxide will result in bigger leaves and vigorous plant stems. It also increases its potential for early flowering and fruiting.
Greenhouses with moisture regulators keep the air humid for peak plant development. With a humid atmosphere, every plant can focus on flowering and fruiting. Plus a moist soil will be less likely to entertain pests and diseases.
Basics that can still influence plant growth even in a greenhouse
There are a few things to know that still can influence the growth of your plants. Some of them you probably know already from outside gardening.
Seeds
Planting using old seeds is possible. Although you may be wondering the odds of germinating them. Let us have a look at these three important elements that can affect your seeds’ viability.
Age
All seeds are viable for at least one year and some are for two years. However, the germination percentages for out-of-date seeds will begin to drop after their first year.
Type
The variety of seeds can influence how long your seed stays alive. Seeds like corn and peppers will have a tough chance of surviving if they passed the two-year mark. Seeds like carrots and tomatoes can stay viable for as long as four years. While seeds like cucumber and lettuce are good for up to six years.
Storage
Old packets can have a greater possibility of keeping the seeds viable if stored properly. Seeds will stay alive much longer if they are stored in a cool, dark room. Your vegetable drawer in the fridge is a smart option for storage.
Water
Overwatering or underwatering are usual causes of why seedlings have a delay in growth. It is normally followed by drooping or wilting. Some plants naturally absorb more than others. The quantity of water that is enough for a plant may be too generous for the other plant. When a seedling is developing slowly, observe your watering closely.
For greenhouse beginners, it might be tricky at first to find the right watering frequency. It stays moist for longer than in a garden but you also cannot rely on rain anymore. You can also organize your greenhouse plants according to their water needs in order to keep an overview.
pH level
A too high or too low pH level in the soil is the most basic reason that gardeners may overlook. It can slow down germination even if you do not see any visible signs. If you haven’t been monitoring the pH, do it soon to see if that is the potential root cause of your difficulty! It is likely that the pH level at the roots is not fair for some of your plants. This is likely to happen even though they are in the same environment.
You can use a soil meter to monitor pH, moisture, light, and temperature levels of your soil.
Easy to grow greenhouse vegetables
Vegetables are everyone’s favorite to grow. Having your own organic veggie supply year-round is the greatest and greenhouses can be part of this healthy life.
Carrots
Carrots are one of the most popular root crops that are so easy to plant. Plant them anytime even in the winter. No worries because it can tolerate frost. If you are worried about some challenges in growing carrots, then worry no more. Just prepare a loose, sandy, deeply-tilled, and loose soil. This will let them dive without pressure. Make sure that it is not too thick. Or you will end up with dwarfed, rounded carrots!
Sadly, no chemicals have been registered yet for the management of well-known carrot pests and diseases. The good news is that most of them are already resistant to most pests and diseases. Check the packets meticulously. Sow disease-free seeds only. Regular working of the soil can overcome these obstacles. It is also okay to harvest earlier than expected. This can be done only when the damage happens late in maturity. Practice three-year crop rotation with non-susceptible plants. Always discard and destroy infected residue.
Carrots can take any time from 2 to 4 months to ripen. It depends on the type and growing circumstances. Some varieties may require a few more weeks. They are normally ready in about 75 days. Pulling may oftentimes end with a handful of leaves. But unfortunately, no carrots are attached. Loosen the soil first with a garden fork before reaping carrots.
Green onions
Green onions develop fast in a cold, coastal climate or a climate-controlled greenhouse. They are some of the simplest crops to produce and are practically maintenance-free. Onions are one of the most recommended starter plants. Perfect for amateur greenhouse gardeners. You can start the seedlings inside and then transplant them outdoors.
It can be planted either from seeds or sets. The easiest way is to start by developing them from sets. Onion sets are helpful as they thrive abundantly in every condition, even for cold greenhouses.
Just plant the bulbs in well-drained soil. Water the onions regularly once they are set in your greenhouse. Do this especially when the weather is so hot. The best time to cease watering the plants is when they have swollen up. When the foliage becomes yellowish and dies back, you can now uproot it. Next is to dry them in the sun. What could be simpler than that?
They are tougher against pests and diseases. Sanitize your flats and containers with a 10% bleach solution before adding the soil, It will lessen the probability of disease.
Asparagus
Are you looking for veggies that will produce for 20 years? Garden asparagus is the answer to that. It is best planted from a one or two-year-old crown. Twenty asparagus crowns can produce sufficient supply for a household of four.
Asparagus hates competition. It is crucial to remove all the weeds and grasses around its surroundings. Never plant other crops in the same area.
The usual method of planting asparagus is in a trench. It should be about 12 to 14 inches under. Supplement the soil with lots of organic matter dug within the trench. Set the crowns 12 inches individually, with the shoots aiming up. You do not need to pick everything. If you chopped everything, the crown may die. Make sure to leave some spears preferably the smallest ones.
You can also grow your asparagus in deep containers if you want.
Don’t get too excited about your first harvest. Do not pick too much from it for the first few years. They need to develop a stable root system and energy that they will require. This will provide a generous crop of spears the next season.
Spinach
Spinach is a cold and hardy leafy vegetable. It is a common product that can be grown all year round. Most spinach thrives in cool weather. Pests are normally not a challenge, especially for a newbie.
They have comparable growing conditions as lettuce, but they are more nutritious. It can be eaten fresh or cooked. It has higher iron, calcium, and vitamin content than other raised veggies. It is even one of the excellent sources of vitamins.
Spinach loves full sun to light shade with well-drained soil. Prepare your soil with aged manure approximately one week before planting. The soil temperature should not increase more than 70ºF. The seedlings are hard to transplant. This is the reason why starting it indoors is not advised. Feed them only if needed. When seedlings germinate to a couple of inches, thin them from three to four inches apart. Keep the soil moistened with mulch.
You can already harvest the leaves just as soon as they are mature enough to eat. Remove only the outer leaves. Let the core leaves to become bigger. This will let the plant to continue growing. This technique will also temporarily delay bolting.
Eggplants
Eggplants are also known as aubergine. These warm-weather greens need relatively warm conditions, like peppers and tomatoes. Raised beds enhanced with composted manure are an excellent thriving site for eggplants. The beds will warm the soil immediately.
Eggplant may tend to fall over once packed with ripe fruits. Make sure to stake them for about 24in tall. You may also use a cage to hold them upright. Check out some planters and raised beds with trellis.
Apply the finest potting mix to prevent diseases. Water them well after planting. Add a coat of mulch to maintain moisture and defeat annoying weeds. Remove the terminal buds for a thicker bush. This veggie is also excellent for pots and makes attractive decorative borders.
16 to 24 weeks after sowing is the perfect time to harvest when the skin is bright and unwrinkled. Don’t pull the eggplant. Cut the fruit near the stem, leaving approximately an inch of it still attached.
Read more about growing eggplants in a greenhouse here!
Turnips
Turnips are cool-weather greens that belong to the mustard family. They grow quite fast. You can savor both the roots and the greens. Another amazing fact about this vegetable is that they sprout in just a few days. This root crop is very nutritious and adaptable to most areas.
Prepare a mixture of compost before sowing. Turnip seeds are scattered right into the soil. They do not transplant well. Make sure to prepare a permanent sunny spot for them. They do not require much attention. However, regular soil moisture is necessary.
To help overcome diseases, never plant turnips in the same spot. Practice crop rotation. Floating row covers will also shield your vegetables from pests. Since they mature quickly and get picked right away, infestations are not usually a difficulty in greenhouses. In the event you detect a problem, it is already time to harvest.
Within a month, you can already appreciate their fresh greens. The swelled roots can be harvested in the following month. Young turnips are so fragile. You can just peel and consume them just as you would an apple.
Read more about growing turnips in a greenhouse here!
Kale
Kale is so nutritious with the highest antioxidant properties. It is an effective anti-inflammatory. It is best to use seeding trays for sowing. You’ll be surprised that it is way easier than developing in a seedbed.
Practically no attention is needed because kale is one of the toughest and most disease resistant of all greens. Keep the weeds away with routine hoeing. Eliminate yellowing leaves which will emerge around the base of the plant.
They will thrive in nearly all situations, even with partial shade and sandy soils. Adequate sunlight is enough. But then again they will develop properly in part shade.
Kale is ideal for continuous cutting. It keeps on providing fresh leaves for months. Pick the ground leaves first. The tip will continue to develop and produce fresh leaves.
Read more about growing kale in a greenhouse here!
Zucchini
Zucchinis are a healthy vegetable to start with especially for beginners. They are one of the simplest vegetables to grow. They typically generate a bountiful harvest in three to four weeks.
They love to spread out. You can also set them in large containers or growing bags if you have insufficient space. Remember that some seeds may fail if you buy a packet. It is best to plant all of them. If not, the seeds will not germinate well for another year.
If you are planning to plant several zucchinis, place them roughly two feet apart. They demand a lot of space to expand. It is better to stake them up so that they won’t hang in an uncomfortable position. Water them adequately. Keep an eye out for some slugs.
Take good care of them as they thrive in your greenhouse. Healthy plants should start to shoot up quickly. You may want to move them into a larger container. Make sure to provide them the space they require.
Microgreens
Microgreens are also known as the vegetable confetti. They are times that they are mistaken with sprouts. They are a combination of edible young greens.
You can easily grow microgreens in a greenhouse or a cold frame. They love the full sun. They cannot tolerate freezing temperatures. Make sure that your greenhouse or cold frame has a little moisture and excellent ventilation. You can use heaters or heating pads to protect them from frost.
Each set of seeds in seed trays should be sufficient. This will make them grow in dense and hold each other. It’s okay to water them from above at first to soak the soil. Bottom watering is advisable when they start to sprout. Check the absorption of water. This will also limit the growth of diseases and gray mold.
Use scissors when harvesting. You can already enjoy them in less than a month when they reach up to two inches high. The stems, seed leaves, and the first set of true leaves are all safe to eat.