Growing Healthy Winter Greens in Greenhouse

Winter is a terrible time for gardeners all over the world. Most vegetable beds are empty or covered for winter, and nothing grows, it seems. But is there nothing you can do to grow some healthy greens?

We have to acknowledge that the growing conditions for plants in winter are unfavourable, to say he least, in many parts of the world. Temperatures are low, and snow an ice add to the difficulties. But there are options for everybody. Some of us might have a greenhouse or a conservatory attached to or near the house, where growing conditions over winter could be better controlled. And even if you don’t have any of this, you’ll definitely have a bright window sill in a heated room in your flat or home.

Picture via Walton’s garden products

What are the winter greens you could grow in a sheltered and well tempered location like outlined above? There is a surprising variety of herbs that grow almost all year round: parsley, coriander, rosemary, dill, chives, sage etc. Just check the seed bags of herbs in your local garden centre, and if you’ll find the note: Sowing from January to December and/or Harvest from January to December as well as “indoors” or “under glass” or “under cover”, then you could give it a try.

Sow the winter green seeds for best growing conditions in pots or small troughs containing a mixture of potting compost and grit (for an improved drainage) in a depth and distance according to the instructions on the seed bag. Then place the pots or containers either on a window sill or a piece of furniture near a window in your room, sun room or conservatory, or in a heated greenhouse. Heating your greenhouse, which might otherwise stand around empty and unused all winter, does not have to be expensive.

Picture via Indiana Public Media

You can get an electric greenhouse heater with thermostatic function in any local DIY or garden centre. All you need is an electric connection, but a fully insulated and weather resistant outdoor cable will do the trick. Insulate your greenhouse with bubble wrap all around on the inside. In front of the door you can install a piece of bubble wrap that works like a curtain and can be pushed aside in order to enter the greenhouse easily. Don’t over water your winter greens whilst they germinate and grow. The water intake in winter is definitely lower than usual. If this is not the case, then your room is too hot for the plants. Check every now and again for fungus and provide some aeration on milder days – if your greenhouse is insufficiently vented, fungus might develop, and your growing winter greens might deteriorate in the greenhouse or conservatory.

Picture via Heartstrong Wordpress Blog

After only a few weeks, you’ll be able to harvest some micro greens from your winter growing place. Use especially the young leaves, which provide the best taste, in order to add some fresh healthy greens to any winter salad making it even more delicious.