It doesn't matter what season it is, a greenhouse always comes in handy. Gardeners who have greenhouses on their list of gardening tools enjoy year round gardening, they start earlier and extend their seasons. Having a greenhouse enables those with zonal denial to push limits, gardeners with the need to propagate a controlled environment to do so in, and early vegetable growers and hanging basket pros to get an early start.

A greenhouse is an eco system all its own, the enclosed space makes growing manageable, monitoring disease, pests and controlling light and heat are much easier than in an out door garden. With no end to affordable styles, designer accessories a greenhouse gardening experience can be quite enjoyable and successful. Simply learning about all the accessories and how to use them can be as challenging as it is educational to any grower.

arly spring is my favourite time in the greenhouse, there is a certain nostalgic garden smell and feel that is noticeable at the beginning of the gardening season. Greenhouse should be placed where they get at least 6 hours of afternoon sun, away from messy trees, and where there is easy access to water. Although my greenhouse is unheated, it is always warmer than the outside, as soon as the sun shines in the early morning the little greenhouse has a warm spring feeling, it is a great escape in the early spring when you just have to get out and garden.

In the corner of my greenhouse there is a small propagation table, 4 feet by 4 feet, my favourite greenhouse accessory. It is a small sand bench with a buried heating cable, with a set thermostat of 21 degrees Celsius. The bench is covered with poly, 20" above the bench, simply tucked around pvc hoops. The poly seems to hold the heat and moisture in perfectly, the benches the most popular place in the spring, constantly overcrowded with new emerging seeds, cuttings and baby echeverias. My kitchen appreciates it too, no longer are the windowsills, the fridge tops or hot water tank overflowing with seedlings and soil.

Later in the spring, when the early spring veggies have been started and transplanted out, the space on the bench is occupied by summer vegetable seedlings. Starting my tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and even beans will ensure an early crop during the summer. Perhaps the greatest advantage in starting my own seedlings is being able to control their fertilizer and care, then being able to harden then off properly. I have found that a seedling that is given a great start grows up to be a healthy, productive and tasty plant.

Early May is a fun and busy time in the greenhouse, it is a great time to give those hanging baskets a head start. It is amazing how fast they grow so early in the season, even in an unheated greenhouse. By shopping for my bedding plants early I get the first pick at what is available, then I simply plant up my baskets and hang them up. A weekly feed and regular watering gets them growing in a hurry, then as soon as the weather allows the advanced baskets are out for all to enjoy.

As the baskets head out for the summer the tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers are transplanted into the greenhouse grow bags. There are many benefits to growing in containers, such as the container warming up faster, a plus in early spring. The containers are also mobile, so the plants can easily be moved around the greenhouse, creating extra space or positioning for extra sun. Being able to control the watering and feeding of each plant individually is a definite plus, and the most important reason for growing in containers is that the soil is easily replaced and replenished. This is important when it comes to blight, disease and pests, by using fresh soil every year the chance of disease is reduced and the quality of soil nutrition can be controlled.

After summer when the vegetables have been harvested it is time to clean up the greenhouse. The containers are dumped, the benches washed, the poly on the bench replaced. I check for any pest or disease and make sure that everything is washed down, the louvers and doors are oiled, and that the glass pains are in order. The greenhouse is where not so hardy plants and pottery will be overwintered. Geraniums, echeverias and tibouchinas will be fine, I have learnt that they drier they are kept the better. When they are nestled away for the winter they get one final feed of liquid bone meal, to feed their roots and to keep strong over the winter. I have noticed that I have lost far less by over wintering in the greenhouse then in the house, the light levels, watering and heat were too hard to control, they do much better in the greenhouse, and my family appreciates not sharing the living room with the geraniums.

The not so frost resistant pots and containers get a rinse of one part bleach to ten parts water, are air dried and then tucked away into the corner. At this time I'll usually push the limits by starting a few containers of salad mix, cilantro, spinach and chard. It's always a treat to enjoy in the early winter! When the last of the raking, weeding and watering is done I rinse all my tools and tuck them into the greenhouse, it serves as a nice tool closet, things keep dry and if put away clean, oiled and sharpened they are ready to go come early spring.

Growing in a greenhouse is absolutely wonderful, experimenting and pushing limits and seasons is both challenging and rewarding. To ma a greenhouse is an outdoor room, which I enjoy year round, and so do my plants!

Heating cable. Excellent for propagation, seedling stating and over wintering tender annuals. Look for ones with a set thermostat of 21 Degrees. They use little electricity and are an inexpensive way to provide bottom heat when needed.

Seedling mister. Purchase a small mister for the hose and use it exclusively in you seedlings and cuttings. The impact from high-pressure water wands can damage young seedlings, and encourage diseases and pests.

Grow Bags. Available in sizes from one to seven gallons. These bags are great in the greenhouse as they can be refilled each year with fresh soil. When finished discard soil, rinse bags, let dry and then fold and tuck away using minimal storage space.

S hooks. These hooks are perfect for hanging tools to hanging baskets. Always have a few short and long on hand, they make hanging things easy and convenient.

Automatic vent openers. These temperature-controlled devices will open up your greenhouse vents even if you forget to. No more sitting at the lake thinking, oh no I forgot to open the vents. These are true-life savers.

Greenhouse shade cloth. When the hot afternoon sun is too much look for shade cloth. It is inexpensive and easy to install. Place it on the west side of the greenhouse for protection from the hot summer sun.

Ladybugs. A regular release of ladybugs will help to control aphids, a common greenhouse pest. Release them early in the morning, after watering, be sure that vents and door remain closed for at least two hours. Repeat several times during the growing season.

Seeds can be started from early February through late March. It's best to start with top quality seed, fresh sterilized soil and clean containers! You'll need a warm spot with bright light. Some prefer to use their windowsills; this works well, however sometimes it can get out grown in a hurry! A great seed starting method is to purchase a few seed trays with clear domes. Simply fill the trays, add your soil, plant seeds, then mist and cover. Place in a sunny area and the temperature will heat up in no time. The benefits, which I appreciate most, are no mess and reduced watering. As your plants get taller you can change your 3" dome to a taller 6" dome. After you have transplanted out your plants, rinse your trays in bleach and water and store away until next season.

Heating Cables: This is the perfect accessory to add bottom heat to your trays. Bottom heat will accelerate and increase germination. The best heating cable is 33' long and has a thermostat that runs at 21 degrees Celsius. You can start your seed trays outdoors in your greenhouse or shed. Simply place your trays on top of the heating cables; they will turn on as needed. These are also useful when propagating cuttings.

As your seedlings mature you may need to transplant them into a larger 4" pot. To do this simply fill your container with sterilized soil and nestle your seedling into it, then water well. Keep in a warm, sunny spot. Begin fertilizing, a 1/2 dose of liquid kelp fertilizer is perfect, simply mist onto leaves every few days.

The next journey your plant will take will be to the garden. Generally planting out is not done until the garden soil temperature is warm & cozy, usually mid May.

Before I even till in my cover crops or get my seeds. I prepare this soil, the earlier the better, infact I like to do it January 1. Doing it earlier ensures that the compost and rock dust have blended together and come alive, it also allows the compost to mature completely.

Mix up and let sit for a few weeks. Fill seed flats with soil and start sowing seeds. After seeding water in seeds using a blend of compost tea. Then resist the need to fertilize until the true leaves have developed. Don't worry the nutrients in the soil will help the plant develop at a natural speed, increasing its strength and resistance.

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