How much growing you can do during fall and winter is dependent on the outdoor climate where you live, your greenhouse design, building materials, construction techniques, and climate controls.
In our mild Puget Sound area, in the Cool Greenhouse, a wide range of plants will grow during the winter season. Some of them can be grown outside, but in the protected environment of the greenhouse, sheltered from harsh rain, strong winds, cold and pests, they will be much more productive.
It is surprising how much you can grow with little heat, providing you have enough light. Remember, even on our many cloudy days, solar energy is often plentiful. Just to get you started, the plant list below encompasses, but is not limited to –
Food crops that are grown for their leaves
- Cabbages, Chinese and regular
- Kale
- Bok Choy
- Lettuce, Leaf and Head
- Mesclun Mixes
- Arugula
- Radicchio
- Swiss Chard
- Slow to bolt Spinach varieties
- New Zealand Spinach
- Broccoli
- Broccoli Raab
- Mustard
- Cress
Food crops that are grown for their roots
- Salad Onions
- Leeks
- Radishes
- Carrots
- Beets
- Turnips
- Parsnips
- Kohlrabi
Fresh Gourmet Herbs
- Rosemary
- Fennel
- Chives
- Dill
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Chervil
- Marjoram
- Parsley
- Mint
- Borage
Grow all your favorites, plus try some new varieties that you can’t find at the local grocery stores.
Cool Growing Fruits
With a minimum temperature of 40° F, some Cool Growing Fruits like –
- Grapes
- Strawberries
- Figs
- Indoor Melons
Cold-Tolerant Flowers
- Pansies
- Sweet Pea
- Snapdragons
- African and French Marigolds
- Geraniums
- Chrysanthemums
- Edible Nasturtiums, Chrysanthemums (Great for adding a colorful gourmet accent to salads.)
- Primroses
- Cyclamen
Hardy Bulbs
- Hyacinth
- Daffodils
- Narcissi
- Allium
- Muscari
- Crocus
- Tulips
- Snowdrops
- Snowflakes
- Cyclamen
For Holiday bulb giving or decoration, it is well worth the difference in price to purchase good quality bulbs for forcing, not bargain bulbs. They have been specially pre-cooled for early forcing. The size, color and bloom time are much enhanced.
