Get the most from your greenhouse
Dr. Natalie Bumgarner, horticulture extension specialist at the University of Tennessee, offers the following expert advice on greenhouse gardening: Plants best suited for greenhouses M Produce and flowers grown from seed, such as heirloom varieties, that need heating from late winter to late spring. M Produce grown year-round, especially hydroponically, that needs heating and cooling all year. M Tropical plants, citrus trees and orchids that requires heating and lighting in all cool-weather seasons. Greenhouse gadgets M Install a sensor connecting a greenhouse thermometer to your smart phone. While away, you can adjust the fan, heater, vents or mister as needed to protect plants. M A small mister system tied to a timer or environmental sensor is one of the best ways to keep plants moist and reduce air temperature.
electric heater. But for much of North Carolina, Jonathan says a heat lamp will do the trick. “A 350- to 500-watt lamp, the kind used in chicken coops, clipped on the frame is all you need,” he explains. As spring temperatures rise, plants in a greenhouse can become stressed by heat. Jonathan advises making sure that the greenhouse you want has adjustable windows for ventilation. A fan, even a small one, will help keep the afternoon air cooler. Shelving is sold separately from the greenhouse itself. The shelving should be the same brand as the greenhouse kit, or a compatible one. (Read the labels to be certain.) Then the framing hardware will match. And be sure to weigh your current and future gardening needs when investing in a greenhouse kit. “For most people, if they have the room and budget, a 10-foot by 10-foot is a great size greenhouse to start with,” Jonathan suggests. “You can pack a lot of different plants into it and add on more sections later. If you go with a 4-foot by 7-foot greenhouse, you may wish very quickly that you had chosen [something a little larger].” Margaret Buranen writes from her home in Kentucky.
M Metallic shade cloths are more expensive than mesh ones, but work better because they reflect heat. They’re great for late spring or early fall days when midday temperatures shoot up.
Be safe!
Follow instructions provided with the greenhouse kit and always have the recommended number of people on hand to lift and assemble the greenhouse. Make sure pets that might enter the greenhouse have a way out to avoid overheating during summer months.
Digital Extra
Visit carolinacountry.com/extras to download two pamphlets Natalie has written for greenhouse owners: “What Can a Small Greenhouse Do for You?” and “Selecting and Designing Small-scale Greenhouses To Fit Your Needs.”
carolinacountry.com | 27
CC06_JA.indd 27
5/10/22 12:42 PM
