Things to do in the greenhouse – June
1. Furnish for creative projects.
Embrace your creative spirit by furnishing a special place in the greenhouse where you can work. The handyman tailors a workbench that fits the selected place in the greenhouse like a glove. We often think in terms of the cc measurement of 425 mm, that is, the distance between the centers of the joists. A suitable size for a workbench could be 3 times this measurement in width. Paint it with linseed oil paint in the same color as the greenhouse and think about adding storage in the form of shelves and drawers, as this is something that is almost always missing. If you feel that a whole bench might be too much, a sturdy shelf on painted brackets can go a long way! We think this month's craft is a beautiful flower arrangement of some kind, as it usually rains heavily between the festivities at this time of year. The above is created in an oblong zinc box filled with seasonal plants. Stick twigs of different kinds between the plants if you want an extra dense and beautiful arrangement.
2. At least one babysitting night a week.
Load up on a bunch of books - maybe books about gardening history or the symbolism of plants...there's always something to be inspired by. Or why not our book about greenhouse growing - Greenhouse Practice - written by Karin Eliasson. Once you've chosen your literature, we suggest you settle down in the greenhouse to read and enjoy the bright early summer nights.
3. Sow leafy vegetables regularly
Being able to harvest leafy greens regularly is a real luxury and if you want the season to be long then it is important to sow regularly, perhaps even in small pots or plug boxes. When the small plants are big enough they can be planted out in the growing beds. If you have chosen to build wide growing beds in your greenhouse there is usually plenty of empty space for lettuce in front of and under the tomato plants.
4. Inspect the growing space.
If you have used the greenhouse for a few seasons, you may be starting to get a feel for the crops and how much space you need. Is that enough or do you feel you need more space? Maybe there is even too much growing space? Now is the time to adjust them.
Start by adding some pots . If for some reason you do not want to grow in pots, it is possible to build growing beds in other materials as a complement to the site-built ones. Wood and corten steel are examples of materials that are functional and also beautiful in a greenhouse and that can form complementary growing beds.
On the other hand, if you need to reduce the growing space, an idea is to place boards on top of the site-built beds and convert them into seating areas with cushions and pillows.
5. Collect rainwater.
Take into account any potential water shortages by planning a rainwater tank in your garden. There are now a variety of smart solutions, simple or advanced, that can be tailored to suit you, your lifestyle and your plot. Collecting rainwater will become a must for growers in the future, as rainfall becomes more erratic. Be foresighted and invest in rain barrels and maybe even a tank.
6. Give the vine a summer break.
If your grapevine is starting to take over in the greenhouse, you can do a summer pruning, or a so-called pinching. You do this by removing weak shoots that have not yet produced flower clusters. The branches that bear flowers can also be shortened. Cut the branches two leaves after the flower cluster, just outside the top leaf. Wait with the rest of the pruning until the grapevine is dormant. December is usually a good time for the major pruning, when you cut into the thicker branching.
With that, we wish you a truly wonderful June!
