Anyone who is considering building a greenhouse wonders what plants to grow in the greenhouse after it’s completed. Almost every plant will grow and produce in a greenhouse so the first question to ask is ‘how will I use my greenhouse?’,then you can decide what to grow in it.
Do you plan to use the greenhouse to grow food for your family to eat? Or will the plants and produce be grown to sell? It might be a combination of both but once you answer this question you can decide what to grow in your greenhouse.
Personal Use
A greenhouse is your indoor garden and can produce food year-round, so grow what you like to eat. Flowers thrive in a greenhouse too. You may want to indulge in a floral hobby, like growing orchids or bonsai trees.
Keep a constant supply of microgreens growing by planting lettuce, radish, spinach, mustard, basil, cilantro, broccoli, and cabbage seeds every 2-weeks. Sow these (or other favorite) seeds in a shallow container and enjoy fresh green salads all year.
All these greens can be grown in deeper containers inside a greenhouse and allowed to reach maturity if you prefer. Grow peppers, tomatoes, lettuce, squash, and all types of herbs so you can create healthy, flavorful meals. Plant and grow whatever you like to eat in the indoor growing space.
Business Use
Having a greenhouse will enable you to make money by selling plants and/or produce. Since the environment inside the greenhouse is controlled you can grow anything. A little research will help you determine which crop(s) would be the easiest to grow and net the biggest profit for you.
The size of your greenhouse will also help determine what crop(s) will bring in the largest profit.
A small greenhouse will be well suited for seed starting and growing bedding plants to sell in the spring. A medium-sized greenhouse can produce seedlings for spring sales, plus produce and flowers for sale. A large greenhouse can cover everything and grow food for your family with plenty of room leftover to grow seedlings and plants for sale.
Flats of annual bedding plants, like petunias, impatiens, and marigolds, are always in high demand during the spring. Containers of chrysanthemums would sell quickly at the end of summer. Don’t forget the flowers and plants associated with the holidays throughout the year.
Roses and hanging baskets of flowers for Mother’s Day, Lilies for Easter, and an assortment of flowers suitable for cutting to make bouquets for birthdays, anniversaries, and weddings.
How To Grow
Food-producing plants can be grown directly in the soil of at the bottom of the greenhouse. Or you can increase the growing space by using containers. Tiered shelves and hanging baskets can triple the amount of growing space inside a greenhouse.
All types of plants can be grown all year long, even fruit trees. Select dwarf varieties of apple, peach, lemon, and orange trees to grow in the greenhouse so they will take up minimal space yet produce full-size fruits.
Amend the soil and rotate crops after each harvest. when plants are grown directly in the soil. After harvesting produce from container-grown plants, empty the soil from the containers and create a 50-50 mix of used soil and compost. Use this mix to re-fill container and start seeds or plants. Most of the nutrients in the soil have been depleted and will need to be replenished before re-planting the container.
The old potting soil can be tossed into the compost pile and fresh soil used to re-fill the containers. The used potting soil will blend with the composting matter to help create nutrient-rich soil for future use.
Making A Greenhouse
If you have basic DIY skills then you can build a simple greenhouse with PVC pipes and plastic sheeting. Minimal carpentry skills are needed to create a structure like this and the expense is minimal too. The more advanced the DIY skills are, the more elaborate the greenhouse can become.
If you don’t want to make a greenhouse from start to finish, greenhouse kits can be purchased and just need to be put together. All the measuring and cutting have been done for you. Follow the instructions and create your own greenhouse with a kit.
If neither of those options are appealing to you, locate an experienced builder in your area and hire them to build a greenhouse for you. Have water, electricity, heating, and cooling installed, plus a sink, planting tables and compost bin built in so that your greenhouse can become a man-cave or she-shed.
Life inside a greenhouse is what you make it. It is an indoor controlled environment that can help you grow food, eat healthier, make money, and reduce your stress level by allowing you to pursue a useful hobby and get exercise.
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