Updated at: 26-10-2022 - By: Sienna Lewis

Where in Northeast Iowa do you live and wonder when to build an outdoor micro greenhouse? Those of you who reside in the cities of Cedar Falls, Decorah, Waterloo, Independence, Waverly, and Dyersville are more likely to live in locations with high hills and valleys than the rest of Iowa.

Northeast Iowa’s summers are notoriously wet, with heavy downpours commonplace. Summers in these regions are still extremely hot and humid, despite this. Temperatures in July can range from 90 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit (32 to 37 degrees Celsius).

If you want to build an outside micro greenhouse, there are a few things to think about. The good news is that you’re not the only one going through this. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions regarding micro greenhouse gardening in Northeast Iowa to get you started.

When is the Best Time to Start an Outdoor Mini Greenhouse in Northeast Iowa?

Set up your little greenhouse in April if you wish to do so outside. Mini-greenhouses, on the other hand, allow you to garden continuously, so you can opt to erect yours even in the dead of winter.

When to Start an Outdoor Mini Greenhouse in Northeast Iowa - Krostrade

Do Mini Greenhouses Protect Your Plants from Frost?

In fact, a little greenhouse can protect your delicate plants from the cold. If you want to keep your little greenhouse from blowing away in high winds, you must tie it firmly to the ground.

What Vegetables Can You Grow Inside a Mini Greenhouse?

You can grow a variety of vegetables in a mini greenhouse, including eggplants, peppers, lettuce, asparagus, tomatoes, salads, cucumbers, courgettes, squashes, sweetcorn, chilies, spring cabbage, and French beans.

What Fruits Can You Grow in a Mini Greenhouse for Beginners?

If you’re looking for an easy way to produce a wide variety of veggies in a small greenhouse (e.g. eggplants and peppers as well as lettuce and asparagus), then a little greenhouse is a great place to start.

What Flowers Can You Grow Inside a Mini Greenhouse?

Peace lilies, African violets, kalanchoe, begonias, marigolds, sunflowers, nigella, daisies, and morning glories are the best flowers to grow in a little greenhouse.

What are the Herbs and Spices that are Best Grown in a Mini Greenhouse?

There are many herbs and spices that can be grown in a greenhouse that are easy to care for. Some of the best ones to plant in a greenhouse include licorice and lavender.

What Can You Grow in a Mini Greenhouse in Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter?

Mini greenhouses are ideal for cultivating sensitive and young plants in the springtime. Begonias, busy Lizzies, and petunias can all be started as plug plants early in the season.

Seed starting and cloning plants grown in your yard can be done inside your little greenhouse throughout summer months. On the other hand, you can also start growing spring cabbage, take cuttings from geraniums and fuchsias, and plant salad crops inside your mini greenhouse in the fall. Cacti, orchids, and other carnivorous plants can be grown in the cage once you’ve learned how to maintain its temperature.

As a reminder, your little greenhouse can protect your young plants and cuttings from mild frosts. The little greenhouse is also suitable for the overwintering of the young plants you intend to grow.

Do Plants Grow Better Inside a Mini Greenhouse?

They do, for sure! Mini-greenhouses allow you to customize the conditions in which your plants grow because they are enclosed. To give you an idea, you can connect your watering system to an automatic timer so that you can save time and control the internal temperature regardless of the time of the day or season.

That’s correct. Mini-greenhouses allow you to have complete control over the growing conditions of your plants because they are enclosed. In order to save time and maintain a consistent temperature throughout your home, consider installing an automatic watering system that can be controlled by a timer, regardless of the season.

Your crops will grow larger leaves and stronger stems if they are exposed to high concentrations of carbon dioxide. Finally, this can help your plants produce more early flowers and fruits as well.

Plants thrive in a humid climate, and you’re surely aware of this fact. Because of this, your plants will be able to reach their full potential if you install humidity controls in your little greenhouse.

A little greenhouse not only aids your plants in flowering and bearing fruit, but it also helps to maintain moisture in the soil. There are fewer pests and illnesses that can harm your plants if they are placed in a damp environment.

Greenhouse Planting Schedule

No, I’ve not read any books on greenhouse gardening. Many people know that starting plants from seed or sprouts requires the use of a greenhouse (or a greenhouse-like facility).

Make an Easy, Inexpensive Mini-Greenhouse With Low Tunnels – Mother Earth News

In a greenhouse, plants are protected from harsh weather conditions and can thrive and flourish after they are transplanted outside. Even in the most temperate regions, this is a given. As a result, it is crucial to know when your growing season begins and ends before you begin planting.

Using Greenhouses at Home

In an effort to live a healthier and more environmentally friendly lifestyle, many families are turning to home gardening to try their hand at growing their own food. Observing the growth of a plant from seed to fruit is an additional benefit of this type of activity.

This article from Homestead and Chill describes a typical greenhouse as being constructed from translucent materials to allow light and heat to reach the plants within while shielding them from the elements outside. Transparent surfaces, such as glass, are thought to allow sunlight and heat from the sun to pass through and be absorbed by the enclosure’s living things, which in turn raises its temperature.

These enclosures may need supplementary heating at night, ventilation, or other upkeep depending on the climate where they were erected. Gardeners can grow seedlings in a protected environment in this type of room when they would otherwise not be able to do so outside.

Greenhouse Planting Schedule

What’s the point of having a schedule in the first place? It is possible to germinate and start any sort of seed in a greenhouse, but once the plants are moved outside, there are a lot of things that can harm their development. Poor germination, sluggish growth, or even plant failure might result if the plant is transplanted too early or in a climate that is too cold for it.

In the same way, if you wait too long to transplant seedlings outside, they may not be exposed to the weather they need to thrive. To get the most out of your garden, it’s crucial to time seedling growth and transplanting correctly.

When planning a garden, it’s crucial to know two things: the average date of the last spring frost and the average date of the first fall/winter frost, so that you know when you can safely expect that frost won’t hit for a while.

Greenhouse Planting Guide

Based on these two dates, most seed packs have recommended planting and transplanting times. Planting seeds in a greenhouse-like environment can begin four to six weeks before the normal last frost in spring and early summer, for example, to get them ready for transplanting. Seeds should be started in March for spring planting, but always double-check the seed package instructions before starting seeds in March. Cucumber, bean, basil, or squash seeds, according to Ceres Greenhouse Solutions.

It’s common for planting instructions to mention things like, “Plant 10 to 12 weeks before the first frost,” or “Start seeds inside three months before the first frost,” for plants that might bear fruit later in the year. In order to sell their seeds in a wide range of climates, seed producers utilize this type terminology. For each climate, the suggested planting dates will vary depending on the weather.

Check the seeding age versus transplanting age for each plant you wish to grow in the greenhouse. Outside seeding is best for some crops, but controlled environments are best for others.

Tips for Owning a Hobby Greenhouse (from 13 Years’ Experience)

  • Vents that open on their own. No electricity is required and a greenhouse’s temperature is kept in check this way.
  • For the flooring, I used pea gravel over landscaping cloth. (Spray water on rocks in the summer to keep the greenhouse cool.)
  • To avoid cold spots and sickness, oscillating fans are essential all year round, but they are especially critical in the winter months. (The clip-on variety allows for more shelf space to be utilized.)
  • Help reduce splashing if flowers or crops are grown next to the greenhouse by installing rain barrel fillers.
  • The use of shade fabric is required in the summer if the greenhouse is positioned in full sun. Sunlight is good for vegetables, but southern sun in a greenhouse can kill them.) There are numerous different weaves to choose from depending on the desired level of shade.
  • Keep a notebook in the greenhouse. Temperature records are fun to look back on at the end of the month to see how high and low they were. Make note of what seeds were used, how they were planted, and how long it took for them to germinate. Will aid in the selection of future seeds.
  • Temperature-controlled propagation mats aid in successful germination and reduce the need for heaters in the winter.
  • DO NOT overwinter plants that have been exposed to the elements or are already ill in the greenhouse. Overwintering fragile plants in a greenhouse is a popular question. Learn how to say “no.”)
  • To avoid damping off, water seeds and seedlings from the bottom.
  • Ants adore greenhouses… If you notice ants around your home’s perimeter, contact a pest control company. Will have an enormous “ant farm” if they find a way inside the twin wall’s chambers.
  • When dealing with the greenhouse gnat, avoid using the yellow sticky traps. Overwatering can encourage gnats. (Also traps spiders, ladybugs, and a wren or two.)
  • In order to keep tabs on highs and low temperatures, a wireless transmitter can be used… If the temperature falls below the recommended level, an alarm should sound.
  • Use sterile germination medium, clean/disinfected trays and pots when beginning seeds. A solution of one part bleach to nine parts water is plenty.)
  • Find out what whiteflies look like and how to identify them. If they establish themselves in the greenhouse, it is extremely difficult to remove them.
  • Your greenhouse will attract a wide variety of beneficial insects. If you don’t know what they look like, don’t kill them! (particularly ladybugs and green lacewings)
  • Several times a day, keep an eye on the seeds or seedlings. In order to avoid damaging the seedlings, keep the greenhouse at a comfortable temperature and water the plants only when necessary. Like the Goldilocks and the Three Bears fairy tale, this situation is akin to To be successful, something must be “just right.”
  • When it’s cold outside, use warm water to water your seedlings, as really cold water might harm them and limit their growth.
  • Feed seedlings with diluted fertilizer. With full force, roots will be “burned.”
  • The most important thing is to enjoy yourself and to beam with delight at the prospect of taking care of your own plants.

Greenhouse Prices: Cost Per Square Foot – Forbes Home

FAQs

When should I start my outdoor greenhouse?

You can start seeds in greenhouses at any time because of the controlled environment. However, if you are starting plants, which you plan to transplant into gardens outdoors in the spring, then you should start the seeds in greenhouses 6-8 weeks before the last expected frost date for your location.

Can you use greenhouse in winter?

If you have a controlled atmosphere, you can start seedlings at any time in greenhouses. However, if you wish to transplant your seedlings into your garden in the spring, you should start the seeds in greenhouses six to eight weeks before the latest estimated frost date in your area.

Final Thoughts on When to Start an Outdoor Mini Greenhouse in Northeast Iowa

Mini greenhouses allow you to extend the growing season and get a nice harvest at any time of year since they let your plants catch the most sun possible. So, now that you’ve learned when to start an outdoor mini greenhouse in Northeast Iowa, the next obvious step is to get your own tiny greenhouse and start reaping its rewards.