Greenhouse Seeds: What Should You Grow?

A greenhouse is also referred to as a glasshouse or a hothouse, that is structured with walls and a roof that regulates climatic conditions for the plants that are grown inside it.

The concept of a greenhouse has been around since Roman times so fruit and vegetables were available every day of the year. In the sixteenth century, greenhouses were built in Italy so that they could store plants that had been brought back from tropical places. Eventually, in the seventeenth century, this concept was brought over to the Netherlands and England.

In more recent times, greenhouses are a popular garden feature that people buy to enhance the process of growing plants and crops at home. However, knowing exactly what to grow in your greenhouse can pose a challenge to those who are new to greenhouses.

What Are the Benefits of a Greenhouse?

A greenhouse will provide your plants with a controlled environment in which the light, temperature, moisture, soil type and plants will all be at the perfect level. Provided the space is well enclosed, the greenhouse will provide the plants with a safe space away from insects and other animals that would otherwise cause damage to them.

In addition to the animals and insects, the plants are also safe from potential environmental damages such as extreme weather conditions. Since the plants inside the greenhouse are well protected and the conditions are to their liking, it provides a much better environment to grow healthy and well-grown plants.

One of the best benefits of a greenhouse is the all-year-round gardening that it allows. In the colder months, you can increase the temperature of the greenhouse and mimic warmer temperatures. Alternatively, you can also get cold-frame greenhouses that provide a cooler climate.

With a flower bed or with planting seeds in the ground, you are typically reduced to one space and one soil type. However, with a greenhouse, you can create one multipurpose environment. You can use as many different types of soil, as many different seeds and as many different tools and storage.

What Seeds Should I Buy to Grow in My Greenhouse?

Out of all the seeds, including flowers, fruit, vegetables and scrubs, it can be difficult to narrow down what kind of plants we want to grow in our greenhouse. It is particularly useful to grow crops in the greenhouse when they can benefit from an extended season.

Some of the greenhouse seeds you should buy are listed below.

Strawberries

When planting your strawberry seeds, you need to ensure that you plant them in well-drained soil that is free of weeds. This is because strawberries have shallow roots and they need to be kept away from weeds. The soil also needs to have high organic content and be rich in minerals and nutrients.

For a greenhouse, you are going to want the strawberries to be planted individually in containers or in grow bags, where they have access to plenty of sunlight. In the hotter months, ensure that you water them daily as the shallow roots can dry out quickly. Be sure to use containers or grow bags that have drainage holes in them.

Peppers

Bell peppers are typically grown in warmer climates, such as South American countries, so it is understandable why this is a good fruit to grow in a greenhouse. They are best being sown in February and early April.

Peppers require a lot of water, so you are going to want to ensure that the soil is kept wet, especially if the greenhouse is particularly warm. However, peppers will require good exposure to sunlight.

Cucumber

Growing cucumber seeds in a greenhouse will require a lot of heat. Ideally, you are going to want to sow the seeds in late winter, in pots that contain multi-purpose compost. Cucumbers do not do well in the cold and so they tend to thrive in the greenhouse environment.

They are going to need plenty of sunlight so be sure to position them in a place where this is possible. Note that some types of cucumbers will require the male flowers to be removed to prevent the cucumber from having a bitter taste.

Plant your cucumber seeds in soil that is neutral, but slightly more alkaline. The soil should not be too dry, moist is best.

Carrots

When you are growing carrots in a greenhouse, you need to ensure that they are sown very thinly. The seeds a very small and once they are in rows, cover them with soil. They will typically do better in slightly cooler environments. Since they thrive better, it is good to have this vegetable and prepare it throughout the winter months.

A raised planter bed, large planters or directly into an open greenhouse ground is the best place to plant your carrot seeds. Once the seeds have started to grow, you are going to want to ensure that you get rid of the seeds that are not growing as well and create a three-inch gap between carrots. Ensure the soil remains moist, but not wet.

Kale

When growing kale from a seedling, this should be done so in trays. If you are a beginner, kale is a great place to start since it is extremely resilient and will thrive in most situations. Additionally, you can trim the leaves and it will produce more and will continue to do so for months. 

Due to their ability to withstand cold conditions, this is another vegetable that is great for growing during the winter months. They can grow with sunlight, but they can also thrive in shady conditions.

Tomatoes

A greenhouse can provide a great supply of tomatoes all year round. There are two different ways that you can grow tomatoes; Cordon or Bush.

Cordon is where they will grow up tall and become around 6ft. They will require support as they start to get tall, which makes them ideal plants for a greenhouse. Bush tomatoes will grow shorter, but wider and they are very easy to grow. This makes them great for beginners.

You are going to want to start off growing your tomatoes from their seeds in a warm climate. Select a small pot and fill it with compost/soil and sprinkle your seeds in. Cover with more soil/compost and water. If you are planning to grow tomatoes in your greenhouse, we suggest that you start with cordon tomatoes.

Lettuce

Lettuce that is grown in a greenhouse can be harvested all year long. It can grow very quickly and provide you with a great supply. You can start to grow your lettuce by planting seeds into trays and once they have gotten to be around 3inches, they can be transferred to a bigger plot.

Alternatively, you can just simply plant the lettuce into a plot and let it grow that way, but it might be easier to start with the trays first. Be sure to place the seeds in rows.

Lettuce shouldn't be housed in warmer temperatures and does well in cooler greenhouses.

Turnips

Another winter vegetable that grows well in cooler climates is the turnip. You are going to want to avoid transferring your turnips to a different pot once they have started to grow because this typically disrupts their growing process.

To avoid this, ensure that you being the sowing process in a well-sized plot and scatter the turnip seeds into the soil, ensuring that this will be their permanent spot. Turnips will benefit from having sun exposure, but they do not like hot summer months.

Raspberries

You can grow raspberries in a greenhouse at any time of the year and they are a very simple fruit to grow.

You can grow raspberries in a nearly cold environment, but a temperature of 21°C is best. There are two ways that you are able to grow them in a greenhouse. Firstly, you can sow the seeds into rows that are in the soil on the ground.

Alternatively, you can start them off in pots. The soil needs to remain fairly moist and you should prevent them from drying out.

Herbs

As well as growing fruits and vegetables, you can benefit from growing herbs and spices. Growing your own can provide you with fresh herbs and spices when you need them. Simply take them from your garden and use them at your convenience. You will be able to taste the difference between store-bought herbs and those you have grown yourself.

Mint

Mint is an easy herb to grow, but need to be planted in their own plot as it will take the water, light and nutrients from other plants. For this reason, you are going to want to plant it in a container.

Corriander

For coriander (cilantro) you are going to want to decide which method you want to use. They can either be planted directly into a bed or grown in pots. They can do well in both methods and it's really a matter of preference.

You will need to maintain regular watering of this herb and it can dry out quickly. They can grow to be around 20cm high and you are going to want to plant them 25cm apart in well-drained.

Basil

Basil cannot be grown in cold temperatures and it does not do well in areas that are not kept warm or in sunlight. They need to receive light in order to survive. You can start growing basil in trays or pots.

When they grow, you are going to want to transport them into larger containers.

Tip for Growing Seeds in a Greenhouse

If you are a beginner, these are some useful tips that can help you to get started on building your own greenhouse that is full of thriving fruit, vegetables and herbs.

1. Maintain temperature

Ensuring that you keep the temperature of the greenhouse at a monitored level will be extremely beneficial for beginners. A great way to do this is to place a thermometer in your greenhouse. This will allow you to keep track of the temperature at all times.

This can help you to regulate the temperature by helping you to know when you should ventilate or heat your greenhouse. Even the more experienced gardeners can benefit from this tool.

2.  Access the plant's needs

Knowing what each of your plants needs is a great way to establish the best way to house your plants.

Before you grow your selection, map out the space and where each of your plants is going to go. This will prevent overcrowding in your greenhouse which in turn can prevent their growth. Knowing how best to cater to the needs of your plants will ensure that they are growing in the best conditions.

3. Start off with beginner plants

If you are a beginner, then starting off with the plants that are easier to grow can make the transition into the more advanced plants easier. This will allow you to experience growing and planting your own greenhouse seeds and therefore your knowledge will increase.

4. Organisation

Ensuring that you keep your greenhouse well organised is a great way to improve productivity. It can be worth allocating a certain space either inside the greenhouse or just outside for equipment that you need for your plants.

This ensures that the space you need for the plants is being used effectively and not wasted on clutter.

5. Protect your plants

You are going to want to protect your plants from pests such as insects and other animals that pose a threat to your plants. A great way to do this is to ensure that your greenhouse protects your plants and that no insects or animals are able to get inside.

6. Seasonal Seeds

If this is your first time growing plants in a greenhouse, then start with the plants that are seasonal and are great for practice. The greenhouse will extend the growing season and allow you more time to know what should be planted and when.

7. Heating Devices

When you notice that the temperatures of your greenhouse are starting to drop but you have plants that require heat then investing in a heating device is a great way to increase the temperature of your greenhouse and provide your plants with the correct temperature that they need in order to thrive.