I'm a newbie when it comes to overwintering veggies, but I'm really passionate about growing my own tomatoes and lemon cucumbers. They always taste a lot better than what you find in stores! I'm located in California (zone 9b) where the weather is generally good, with plenty of sunshine and not much rain. Eventually, I want to set up a greenhouse or hothouse in my backyard to cultivate plants that thrive in warmer conditions. My question is: Can I use my greenhouse to grow vegetables through the winter, or is that not feasible?
3 Answers
Definitely! In Southern California, I can even grow a crop of "winter tomatoes" outdoors if I pick the right variety. A cheap greenhouse should work just fine for that. Just keep a close eye on overnight temperatures since they can drop close to freezing at times. Cucumbers like warmer nights, so your greenhouse setup should be equipped to manage that. Just remember to ventilate during sudden heat waves to keep the plants from overheating!
Sure thing! With your climate, hitting temperatures between 60 and low 70s in your greenhouse should work well for many veggies. Just make sure you're monitoring those night temperatures, as they can get pretty cold.
Yes, you can grow vegetables in a greenhouse during winter! However, keep in mind that most veggies will struggle without proper lighting. Daylight (especially UV) is just as crucial as maintaining a comfortable temperature. So, if you're considering this, think about adding some grow lights to help out during shorter days.