Feb 17 • Outdoor Gardening
Extending the Season
Outdoor gardening here in Zone 3 is limited to roughly 4 months so we need varieties that grow quickly. Some plants take all of that (and sometimes need more) to reach maturity.
We can extend our season by using greenhouses, row covers, high tunnels, cold frames, and raised beds (or a combination of). Many of our flowers are started in February or March by greenhouses and sold as bedding plants in late May-June. It is because of dedicated horticulturalists that we can enjoy some instant colour as the sun shines longer and warms the air and soil.
In this post I'm going to fill you in on my greenhouse and raised beds.
Greenhouse:
I purchased a 10' x 10' greenhouse two summers ago (2023) and was excited to fill it with vegetables. I built a bench along the east wall so I would have a work/growing space, and proceeded to plant seeds for rhubarb, Goji berries, asparagus, marigolds, peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, and more. Surprisingly most of what I planted germinated and grew; even the rhubarb and Goji berries.
My first season I had a dozen tomato plants, several peppers, cucumbers, and a mix of flowers. I was able to plant the trees and rhubarb in my newly made orchard, as well as the asparagus. (I'm hopeful to get at least a couple spears this spring.)
My biggest challenge with the greenhouse was keeping it from getting too hot. It only has a door and window for air circulation, and the wind was rarely from the north to provide the right amount of airflow.
I did have a successful harvest even though it wasn't properly ventilated. I ate tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers for weeks.
My 2024 season wasn't as bountiful because it was a hotter, drier summer. I added a fan for air circulation but it still didn't seem to do the trick. Plus I had an infestation of spider mites that I just couldn't get rid of. (I'm hoping the brutal cold we're experiencing this month takes care of any lurkers.)
I ordered an automatic vent arm for the roof but didn't get it installed. I'll install it this year so the excess heat should escape from the top, providing a more comfortable environment for the plants. Having the extra air circulation will benefit the plants inside giving them stronger stems and encouraging growth.
One thing I will be doing this summer is adding a layer of insulation to the bottom 2' of the greenhouse, which is essentially metal roofing material. That will help retain some of the sun's heat which will be released during the cooler nights. I'll also be adding water to black buckets to help with some heat retention.
Raised Beds:
I have been using raised beds for years with considerable success. My 2023 season was a bit of a wash as I was starting from scratch. I relocated during the summer of 2022 and basically started with a blank canvas. (I'm gradually turning over an acre of lawn into gardens and an orchard.) In 2023 I built the frames for the raised beds and added straw bales. I think my best crop that year was wheat (from the bales), as well as a bit of kale on the north side of the greenhouse.
Last year the bales had broken down considerably and I was able to grow some herbs and strawberries in 2 of them. I've added grass clippings, vegetable peels, coffee grounds, and spent potting soil to the beds so am confident they'll be healthier this summer. I am hopeful the strawberries (which my granddaughter loves and picked well into October) overwintered well.
I also have 4 raised beds (2 on either side) by my greenhouse. I filled them with straw, potting soil, grass clippings, pulled weeds, etc. as the summer went on in hopes they'll be conditioned enough to plant in this year. My only hiccup there is I'm going to have to move them (and the greenhouse) to accommodate the 22' growing dome I'm building this spring.
Have you extended your season by using a greenhouse or raised beds? Let me know in the comments below.
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Extending the Season
skool.com/cold-climate-gardening-6901
Learn to garden in a cold climate (Zone 3) and eat fresh greens year-round. $7/mo.
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