Time for some interesting facts! Find out what is worth growing in greenhouses and when it is best to start sowing to enjoy the first harvest of aromatic vegetables and fruits as soon as possible. Learn about the most important advantages of greenhouse farming.
Top 5 greenhouse crops among Poles
Greenhouses provide ideal conditions for the development of vegetables and fruits, which is why they have become more and more popular over the years. Here is a short list of plant species that Poles are most likely to grow in their greenhouses. Check what is worth planting in your greenhouse this year.
1. Nowalijki
Nowalijki – young vegetables appearing for the first time in the new season. These include: radish, lettuce, chives, parsley, spinach, arugula, lamb's lettuce, onion. You can enjoy their first harvest in April.
2. Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers
These are thermophilic vegetables, which is why they are the species of plants most often grown under cover.
3. Fruit
Fruits include wild strawberries and raspberries, and especially strawberries - these are what the covers are especially good for. Thanks to a greenhouse, you can achieve faster ripening, larger yields and exceptionally aromatic fruit.
4. Exotic fruits
Greenhouses are used for exotic plants with high thermal requirements, which mature only at high temperatures. Such fruits include: pineapple, watermelon, melon, kiwano, as well as citrus fruits: tangerines, limes, lemons.
5. Herbs
A greenhouse is an ideal place to grow some herbs, such as: basil, marjoram, lovage, thyme, coriander, tarragon, mint, oregano, sage, lemongrass.
When to start greenhouse cultivation?
April is a perfect time to start growing thermophilic vegetables in the greenhouse, such as cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, eggplants and watermelon. According to the gardening calendar, they can be planted from April to the end of May. In the first half of the month, it is worth planting legumes - peas and broad beans, as well as onions, parsnips and root parsley, or potatoes.
However, if you want to take full advantage of the upcoming season and enjoy the first harvest in April or May, it is worth starting for this earlier. The end of February and the whole of March will be perfect for starting the first greenhouse crops. The end of February is a good time to make the first sowings, e.g. of artichokes, cauliflower, broccoli, white or red cabbage, kohlrabi, Chinese cabbage, spinach, celery and root celery. February is also an ideal month for sowing seedlings of lettuce varieties (Romaine lettuce, butter lettuce), broad beans, leeks and onions. It is also worth trimming vine or blackberry shoots.
Seeds for seedlings are also sown in early spring. This will allow you to obtain your own seedlings, e.g. of leeks, celery, tomatoes, broccoli, peppers or cabbage. In turn, for autumn cultivation it is worth planting radishes, endive, lamb's lettuce and spinach, the latter two species can be left in the greenhouse for the winter to enjoy the harvest even then.
Advantages of growing plants in a greenhouse
Cultivated plants can be grown in the ground. However, greenhouses and tunnels are becoming more and more popular on farms, because growing under cover offers many benefits. The advantages include:
specific microclimate created by such a cover, providing plants with optimal conditions for development and thus extending their growing season;
thanks to the greenhouse, the fruits ripen faster and are more aromatic;
plants grown in a greenhouse are less exposed to pest attacks and harmful weather conditions;
some plants are particularly thermophilic and have specific requirements that the greenhouse provides;
the possibility of obtaining much larger harvests of better quality.< /p>
Is it worth building a greenhouse?
The glass structure will certainly create perfect conditions for the growth of fruit and vegetables. However, for the entire effort to bring satisfactory results, professional equipment is necessary. The LS Tractor brand has a wide selection of both LS Tractor MT 1.25 and LS Tractor XJ 25 mini tractors for smaller greenhouses, as well as the entire series of MT3 tractors for larger spaces, as well as all the necessary equipment that will allow you to care for your greenhouse crops.