As the days get shorter and weather becomes cooler, gardeners are aware that their summer pastime will soon be coming to an end.  For gardeners with tropical or exotic plants outdoors that they don’t want to lose to an early fall frost, transporting plants into a greenhouse is a good alternative.  Greenhouses come in a variety of sizes and styles to accommodate almost any gardener’s needs.  In this article, we’ll explore a few of the common types of greenhouse that might work for you.

Portable or temporary use greenhouse structures work well for the homeowner who is not ready to commit to a permanent structure.  Most temporary use greenhouses are designed with a polyethylene vinyl cover that fits over a steel or aluminum frame.  Depending on the size and shape of the structure, it will probably be necessary to do some kind of staking or anchoring to the ground so that it doesn’t blow away; however, if you don’t set the stakes in cement, you should be able to easily pull them up and move the greenhouse to another location or pack it away in storage, as needed.

Greenhouse gardening in the fall brings special challenges, because you are preparing for the oncoming cold weather of winter.  In climates that see a lot of snow and cold temperatures in the winter, a portable greenhouse won’t cut it for overwintering plants.  If you’re looking for a way to keep your plants alive all winter long, you’ll probably have to invest in a permanent structure.  There are many types of hobby greenhouse kits available through mail order catalogs and specialty online stores.  If you will be overwintering plants in the structure, be sure to consider an appropriate heat source.  A basic structure with polycarbonate panels will not stay warm enough in temperatures below 30 degrees to keep tropical plants alive all winter, unless you provide some type of heat source.

Indoor greenhouses are another good option, particularly for gardeners who won’t have a lot of outdoor space.  Indoor greenhouses can be freestanding shelf units that stand in the corner of a room or small tabletop units that occupy a shelf or workbench.  The primary difference between indoor and outdoor greenhouses is that with an indoor unit, you will need to provide some type of artificial light for your plants.  Before choosing the type of light, first evaluate the temperature in the room.  Is it warm enough for your plants?  If the temperature is below 75 degrees, you should probably consider buying a fixture that will supply both light and heat.  Take extra precautions with heat lamps.  You never want to set a heat lamp too close to anything flammable, including the cover on your indoor greenhouse.  If you don’t need supplemental heat, the best option is to buy a fluorescent light fixture and then select full spectrum fluorescent bulbs for it.

As you can see, fall greenhouse gardening can take on many forms, depending on the type of greenhouse you select.  The greenhouse that is right for you will depend on a number of factors, including how long you want to keep tending your plants and how much space you have to dedicate to a greenhouse.  No matter what your choice, greenhouses are a great option in the fall for gardeners who want to extend their hobby and maintain their plants through the winter months.

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If you want to have some herbs readily available for you, you might want to think about growing a Chia herb garden. A Chia herb garden will allow you to have fresh herbs in your home year round. Add zest and flavor to your cooking, and enjoy the fun and benefits of indoor gardening. The herbs can be grown in clay pots, plastic window boxes or even containers of a suitable size and shape. Just be sure to make drainage holes on the bases of the containers. What you should grow in your kitchen garden depends on what you like to eat.

However, you do not need perfect sunshine, sea mist or even a never-ending summer to successfully grow mini herbs like rosemary. In fact, more rosemary plants suffer from too much attention than from too little. All you need to get started, is a smaller galvanized bucket (6″ high x 5.5″ tall) with all the necessary ingredients to grow fresh and fragrant culinary herbs right in the pail. And this size will fit right on you windowsill! The ultimate in indoor greenhouses are what are sometimes called growing racks. These look like a typical size set of shelves, but they typically have some type of plastic covering that will help keep the temperature and humidity more constant.

Mint grows like a weed, and you will be fortunate if you are a lover of mint infused teas. Select where you would like to grow your mini herb and vegetable garden. When selecting area, don’t forget to read any pre-printed information inserts. Certain herbs and vegetables grow best in either full or partial sun. Chives also do well by clipping their flower heads; and the more you harvest the more chives will grow. Thyme has many growth habits and is a low maintenance plant, making it perfect for every herb garden. Once you have decided which herbs to grow you can focus on designing an herb garden to best accommodate each of the plants. Planting an herb that likes the direct sun in a shady location will not result in a successful garden.

Some herbs, such as basil and thyme, need maximum sunlight and so do best on a south-facing windowsill. Here you could group together individual pots of basil, chives, oregano, thyme, and salad burnet for year-round snipping. Who wouldn’t want a selection of fresh basil or cilantro to cook with! These mini potted herbs would be a great parting gift for your wedding attendants, and would add to your venue. Actually it’s not for breakfast at all, really, don’t eat it – though harvesting your parsley and basil crop is of course deeply satisfying.

If your rosemary plants live outdoor, they can become up to two meters, but if you are growing rosemary indoors, it is recommended that you cut the top now and then. It will prevent the plant from growing very tall, and will give you a fuller and bushier rosemary plant. Planting the herbs in neat rows will accentuate the formality and allow for tidy maintenance procedures to be carried out. Tip: One of the most common causes of indoor plant problems and diseases is due to over-watering not under-watering.

Tyler Jaysen is an herb expert. For more great information on herb gardens , visit http://www.HerbGardenSystem.com.

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