December in the Greenhouse

I’ve been researching how to extend my NJ vegetable growing season. I use several, excellent gardening books by experts such as Elliot Coleman, Monty Don, James Underwood Crocket and Alan Titchmarsh and reach out to the amazing Farmer Lee Jones regularly for advice.

I’m still trying to figure out how to grow in my greenhouse. I’m able to keep plenty of flowers and herbs safe over the winter, heat the greenhouse with candles, bricks and hot water (and a small heater)… and actually growing a few San Marzano tomatoes and French cucumbers. This is a learning year!

I ripened my final, outdoor grown tomato on Dec 4-this is a tender, delicious salad from my greenhouse garden raised beds.

with lettuce prices through the roof… I’m still picking delicious, tender salads in late December

These are two of my favorite salad dressings.

For tender salads

Lemon Vinaigrette 2 oz  Lemon juice (freshly squeezed),  6 oz Extra Virgin Olive oil, 1 Tsp Honey, 2 tsp Dijon mustard, Kosher Salt & Crushed Black Pepper to taste

Balsamic Vinaigrette 2 oz  Balsamic vinegar,  6 oz Olive oil, 1 Tsp Honey, 2 tsp Dijon mustard, 2 Tbsp Roasted Garlic, Freshly chopped herbs such as Italian parsley, chervil, chives; Kosher Salt & Crushed Black Pepper to taste

French cornichon in the greenhouse.

assorted lettuces

San Marzano tomatoes growing in the greenhouse.

fresh spinach

December greenhouse update

I’ve been experimenting heating the greenhouse with several candles in clay pots… so far it’s working.

the snow peas are just starting to produce, grown very close to the walls of the greenhouse

the tomatoes are flowering

The lettuces love the spring weather I’m duplicating in the greenhouse.

and assorted lettuces, arugula, Asian greens etc… are continuing to provide tender, delicious salads for us from the greenhouse.

Greenhouse Research

This blog is photos explaining my research to learn about soil improvement, managing pests, seeding/ propagating delicious and nutritious vegetables year round.

Choosing a spot with full sunlight, protection from strong winds (and within your town’s guidelines is step one.

After clearing the area, I set up plants in the area the greenhouse would be to understand the size I would need.

clearing the area, creating new paths, etc is extremely hard work and takes weeks…

I chose to build my greenhouse on a sturdy, wooden base. I didn’t use cement or build a foundation so that the greenhouse is considered moveable and not a structure. Once you choose a greenhouse, the dimensions are provided.

I read the directions, watched videos from the producer and videos from people who had assembled this greenhouse repeatedly and found it to be very challenging to assemble.

It’s probably impossible to assemble without help; thankfully my wife Junnie and son Ciro spent time helping. One thing I discovered was the importance of purchasing additional hardware such as longer bolts etc… made the job much easier and the structure much more sturdy. I imagine I built and took apart and rebuilt sections several times until it was built correctly.

the polycarbonate sheets need to be perfectly plumb to avoid rain leaking in…. I didn’t quite manage that and found my greenhouse let raindrops in….

I did additional research and learned how to wrap my greenhouse in a sheet of 4 ml plastic tied down with nylon straps to keep it from leaking. This also allows a layer of air to insulate the greenhouse for added warming.

I added a cement path & 2 black trash cans of water for natural heating retention and planted tomatoes, assorted lettuces, bok choi, arugula, spinach, peas etc… for my first winter research.

I like the idea of repurposing older raised beds etc… for the greenhouse.

I’m managing pests so far and picking tender, delicious, mixed salad greens weekly.

I’m also covering herbs under cloches to keep them for the spring

revitalizing fresh thyme…

fresh sage etc…

and bringing a variety of potted herbs into the greenhouse for the winter for cooking etc…