Celebrating the First Harvest in May with Greenhouse Cultivation

A greenhouse fools plants into believing they are in conditions they wouldn't naturally find. This includes providing warmth and protection from rain or storms. As a result, you cannot assume the same classic sowing, planting, and harvesting times for plants of the same variety grown in a greenhouse compared to those thriving outdoors.

Strawberries are becoming increasingly popular for greenhouse cultivation, promising a harvest as early as April/May. What many don't know is that young strawberry leaves are also edible and can be added to salads, May wine punch, and other culinary delights. Rabbits and tortoises also enjoy them.

To harvest a few weeks earlier than in outdoor beds, strawberries can be planted in pots in the fall and buried in the soil of an unheated greenhouse. Newly purchased plants are best suited for this. If temperatures drop below freezing, brushwood or other winter protection measures should be used to provide warmth.

In mid-December, the forcing process begins. The greenhouse is heated, and the pots are placed on shelves or tables. The temperature should initially be 10 degrees Celsius, later increasing to 20 degrees. Regular watering is important, without causing waterlogging. For pollination, the plants must be shaken occasionally, and a brush should be used to dab from plant to plant, as insects and wind are absent. Then, you can enjoy the first strawberries as early as April.

In a greenhouse, especially if it's heated, plants are simply several weeks ahead of nature. This allows for an earlier harvest or the ability to pre-grow summer annuals. However, you need to ensure they don't suffer a cold shock when transplanting them outdoors.

Radishes and similar vegetables mature earlier in a greenhouse, as do tomatoes and cucumbers. Even if the greenhouse isn't heated, its contents can be harvested sooner because the sunlight warming the glass increases the internal temperature.

If the work with vegetable and fruit plants feels too laborious, a greenhouse is also excellent for starting flowers early. These will then bloom significantly sooner, and even a few nasturtium plants can produce their first edible flowers in April or May. Additionally, herbs can be harvested.