A greenhouse allows you to extend your growing season, even as temperatures drop outside. It provides a sheltered environment for various vegetables to thrive.
The variety of vegetables you can cultivate in a greenhouse during fall or winter is extensive. Your options may vary depending on whether your greenhouse is heated or not. A heated greenhouse can significantly broaden the range of edibles you can grow during the colder months.
Whether you have a spacious backyard greenhouse or a DIY greenhouse, let's explore some of the top crops to grow in the fall for harvests that last into late winter and beyond.
Greenhouses create a safe environment for crops to flourish into winter.
9 Excellent Greenhouse Crops for Fall
Greenhouses aren't just for warmth-loving plants like tomatoes and cucumbers. Many vegetables thrive in a greenhouse during fall, stepping up to fill the gap left by summer crops. This is a great way to make use of the extended growing season.
If you're planning to winterize your greenhouse, there are strategies to maintain temperatures above freezing, allowing for a variety of crops to flourish. Additionally, consider lighting. Since natural light diminishes in winter, using artificial LED lights, like grow lights from Amazon, can supplement sunlight during the darker months.
Growing times will be slower in fall compared to summer, but the rewards of homegrown vegetables during the colder months will far exceed anything from the store.
1. Lettuce
Corn salad can be harvested from mid-fall through spring.
Hardy winter lettuces can be sown in a greenhouse during fall to yield greens throughout the colder months. Varieties like 'Winter Gem', 'Winter Marvel', and 'Winter Density' are ideal for low temperatures and reduced light. Consider also winter purslane or corn salad, also known as lamb's lettuce. You can find a variety of lettuce seeds at True Leaf Market.
2. Carrots
Carrots thrive in well-drained, sandy soil.
Growing carrots in a greenhouse allows you to extend your harvest season, enabling sowing in spring or late fall for harvesting in early winter. Carrots prefer cooler temperatures and can be ready in under 80 days.
Choose round varieties like 'Parisian' carrots from True Leaf Market for quicker harvests, often ready in about 60 days. You can even grow them indoors!
3. Asian Greens
Mizuna features serrated leaves in red or green.
Varieties such as bok choy, tatsoi, komatsuna, and mizuna thrive when sown in a fall greenhouse. These greens germinate quickly in warmer soils and prefer cooler conditions later.
They offer a range of flavors from mild to spicy, making them versatile for salads or stir-fries. Explore Asian seeds at True Leaf Market.
4. Kale
Kale varieties come in various colors and shapes.
While kale can withstand winter outside, growing it in a greenhouse provides tender leaves throughout the cold season. Even in an unheated greenhouse, you can enjoy fresh kale into spring.
Choose from different kale varieties, including 'Cavolo Nero', known for its sweet, strap-like dark leaves. Find a selection of kale seeds at Burpee and learn how to harvest it to encourage further growth.
5. Arugula
Arugula thrives in temperatures between 50-75°F.
Most arugula varieties, also known as rocket, can grow in unheated greenhouses throughout fall and winter. Planting in early fall leads to multiple harvests during the colder months, with first crops ready in just 30-40 days. Check out arugula seeds at Burpee.
6. Spinach
Spinach loves cooler growing conditions.
This quick-growing vegetable thrives in cooler temperatures and can be harvested about eight weeks after sowing. It allows for multiple harvests from a single plant. Ensure good air circulation when growing spinach to prevent powdery mildew.
7. Spring Cabbage
Spring cabbages often feature pointy heads.
Sow spring cabbages in early fall, around September, and transplant them by October. They'll be ready for harvest in spring. Space each cabbage about 12 inches apart. Some can be picked early as spring greens, while others will grow larger. Chinese cabbage seeds are available at True Leaf Market and grow quickly.
8. Radishes
Summer radishes thrive in warm, moist soils.
Radishes can be sown throughout fall in the greenhouse for quick yields. They make a great fall planting option, whether you choose fast-growing summer radishes or larger winter types. They can be ready to harvest in as little as 30 days. You can plant them in the ground, raised beds, or pots. Check out radish seeds at Burpee.
9. Microgreens
Radishes are popular microgreens.
With adequate heat and light, you can grow microgreens during fall and winter. Options include pea shoots, arugula, beets, and radish micros. They are harvested at the seedling stage, retaining all the nutrients of the mature plant.
To succeed with microgreens in fall, heat mats and grow lights are often necessary for germination and growth. Browse microgreens kits at True Leaf Market, including seeds and trays for greenhouse cultivation in fall.
Prepare Your Greenhouse for Fall
Keep your seeds organized with a storage box featuring 16 slots, each holding an average of six seed packets to keep them tidy and dry.
Consider greenhouse shelving made from durable powder-coated steel and wire mesh, perfect for holding potted plants, seed trays, and garden tools.
A greenhouse heater with a digital thermostat can warm up to 150 square feet, providing 5118 BTU/1500W. The thermostat is adjustable between 40°F and 108°F.
Year-Round Greenhouse Gardening
With proper planning, it's feasible to grow vegetables in a greenhouse throughout the year. A heated greenhouse significantly increases your crop options, allowing for continuous harvests. Even in various hardiness zones, winter vegetable growth is possible, especially when temperatures are kept above freezing.
Planning a kitchen garden with a greenhouse can extend your growing season, making it easier to plant well into fall and start earlier in spring.
