Getting your greenhouse winter-ready
Before you get started in your garden greenhouse, it is important to make a few preparations. After the active summer months, it is a good idea to clean up your greenhouse so you can start with a clean slate.
First, remove the top layer of soil. This is because it contains a lot of salts, weed seeds, and pathogens. Add a new layer of soil on top and ensure proper moistening to prevent salt build-up. This allows your plants to grow optimally.
If you are really motivated and have the time, you can also give the glass of your greenhouse a good clean inside and out.
Ensuring optimal temperature in your greenhouse
The ideal temperature for growing in a greenhouse during winter is between 5 and 10 °C. During the day, this is the average outdoor temperature in Belgium, but at night the temperature sometimes drops towards freezing.
When it freezes, it is therefore important to provide some extra heating for your greenhouse. A first option is insulating with bubble wrap. Do ensure sufficient ventilation in the greenhouse so that the air inside remains healthy. This is best done during sunny and frost-free weather.
In addition, you can also create extra heat with a heating element such as an electric heater*, including at night. Most electric appliances have a built-in thermostat so you don’t use unnecessary energy.
* Note: read the appliance instructions thoroughly and ensure everything is connected correctly to avoid problems or accidents.
Growing vegetables in winter
Your garden greenhouse doesn’t have to stand empty during the winter months. From January onwards, you can already start sowing new plants. Vegetables you can grow include: beetroot, lettuce, radish, carrot, spinach, celeriac, leek, peas, and pointed cabbage.
Shelter for non-hardy plants
In winter, your greenhouse can also serve perfectly as a shelter for plants that do not handle the cold well. Think of herbs, lavender, some patio plants, etc. Additionally, you can already plant flower bulbs and place them in the greenhouse so you can enjoy them extra early in the spring.
