I'm new to gardening and looking to grow tomatoes, cucumbers, and squash throughout the entire year. I live in Northern California, and I'm wondering what the best approach is. Do I need a greenhouse, or would growing indoors work better for me?
4 Answers
To keep your plants happy year-round, tomatoes like it warm, around 70°F to 82°F, with proper light also in a specific spectrum for fruiting. It's definitely doable, but it requires a lot of resources, especially since it can get pretty chilly in NorCal during winter. It's a commitment!
Just a heads-up, I initially mistook your location for North Carolina! If you're planning on growing tomatoes into the fall and winter, shielding them from rain and frosts will be crucial. It’s doable in a greenhouse. In fact, you can 'hold' tomatoes on the vine if you're careful! I've successfully picked peppers into November using a similar approach.
In my experience, growing tomatoes in winter can be tricky, especially since the sunlight hours are limited. If you're serious about it, you'll definitely want to invest in some supplemental lighting, especially if you go with a greenhouse. Don't forget, a greenhouse also needs proper heating and insulation to keep those plants cozy during the colder months! Just know that growing indoors can be quite the energy sink since you'll need a lot of lights for just a few plants—it's more of a hobby than a money-saver.
You're right about needing plenty of light! If you're considering growing indoors, massive grow lights are a must because sunny windows just won’t cut it. And if you choose a greenhouse, you'll need both heat and lights there too, which can get pretty pricey. My personal take is to focus on canning your produce instead; also, I'm experimenting with hydroponic dwarf cherry tomatoes this year!
Great idea! Thank you!