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Enjoy Fresh Veggies in Winter with Greenhouse Vegetable Gardening

Vegetables can be grown any time of year when you make use of greenhouse vegetable gardening methods. Growing vegetables greenhouse style is just about the same as producing them from a garden outside in the summer. You simply have to supplement what nature supplies that a greenhouse can't.

There are two different techniques of using a portable greenhouse. One is called the cold greenhouse technique and that is when only the sun throughout the day gives the greenhouse its warmth. The temperature at nighttime commonly goes down to about 45 degrees at the coldest and heat does kick on when it gets very cold outside. No growing occurs in this type of greenhouse, however you can maintain many plants that will come back in the summer such as rosemary.

Greenhouse vegetables will need to have warmth and the second system, the warm greenhouse system, should be utilized in this case. This technique will require more money since the temperature can't fall below 55 degrees F. A heating system needs to be installed into your garden greenhouse. You can use a propane, electric or gas heater.

Most veggies can be grown in a greenhouse. There are several varieties of each vegetable that are available in plants developed purposely for greenhouse growing. Look in seed catalogs to find those kinds. You want to try to find types that will grow in cooler temperatures than normal. You also want to find types that are more compact because room is at a minimum in a greenhouse.

Pollination is one of those things that you'll have to do for your plants. Pollinating insects don't exist in greenhouse culture in most cases so you must do it for them. Pollinating a vegetable is not difficult. Tomatoes, for instance, ought to be tied to bamboo stakes and the stakes can be jiggled in the morning and once in the evening so as to pollinate. You will have to watch the flowers carefully to discover when you have to do this. When the flower opens and the petals all bend backwards it's time. You'll only have three days to pollinate the tomatoes so take a look every day.

Sunlight must be given to your plants throughout the wintertime when the days are shorter and sunlight is at a minimum. The rule is to supply plants with at least eight hours of sunlight a day. Fertilizer and water are also essential to the health of your greenhouse plants.

Greenhouse vegetables throughout the winter can be difficult to work with, more so than in the summer, but it can be very enjoyable. Tomatoes can be picked out of the greenhouse in the middle of winter. You'll be able to have fresh veggies any time of year.

Article Source: GardenGap.com

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For serious gardeners, greenhouse gardening is the perfect way to extend your growing season. And there are so many different kinds of greenhouses, there's certain to be one that fits your needs and the space you have available. The Garden Greenhouses site has all the information you need to get started on this great pastime.