A greenhouse in August looks very pretty with colorful plants in pots, climbers, and fruit. Of course, everyone’s favorites – Tomatoes and Cucumbers are on the stage too. However, many growers are wondering what do you do with a greenhouse in August?
In most regions a greenhouse in August is too warm to keep the pots inside. You can move your potted plants outdoors and use this time to paint or repair. Once the work is done, you can return the plants back into a greenhouse.
Remember that for most plants the temperature range of 55°-75°F (13°-24°C) is hot enough. So, if you think that your greenhouse is getting hotter than this, use my go-to tips to reduce the heat. Also, if you haven’t invested in a good thermometer yet, now is a right time to do it.
In this blog post we will talk about the general tasks you need to keep up with to use a greenhouse in summer months. I will also explain who is going to benefit from growing in a greenhouse in August. Alright, let’s dive in!
Can you use a greenhouse in the summer?
If you live in the UK, heads up you need to use a greenhouse in the summer. Also, anyone living in USDA plant hardiness zones 3 to 4 can use a hobby greenhouse or a cold frame in the summer. It extends your growing season so you can harvest at least twice per year!
If you are ready to get a greenhouse, check out this guide designed to help you find the one!
It shields your precious plants from winds and rains which are a normal thing here in the UK. A late summer growing in a greenhouse is not negotiable. Check out this blog post to learn how to set up a greenhouse if you are a beginner.
You probably heard about the plant hardiness zones and that you need to determine in what zone are you to know when to sow seeds, transplant seedling etc. Use this tool to find your plant hardiness zone. Once you have done that, head to August Planting Guide by zones and locations.
P.S. I spent countless hours putting together this guide, so you don’t have to calculate when to plant!
You can also save THIS PIN to your Gardening board on Pinterest to come back to it later 🙂
So, if you live in the US, knowing your hardiness zone is a must. Someone living in Idaho can’t plant heat-loving vegetables in August for a fall garden without any frost protection. On the other hand, a LA citizen can plant tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplants throughout August and September outdoors.
What to do with a greenhouse in August?
1. Watch for gray mold
Mold spores love warm and humid environment. As you can guess in summer and especially in August it is easy to unintentionally create favorable conditions for spores to spread. So, it is crucial to remove affected plant parts as soon as possible.
Check the leaves, fruit, and flowers daily for any signs of mold. Remove old leaves and fallen fruits from the ground promptly. Don’t water your plants in the evening and keep an eye on ventilation. Have a look at my 6 tips to prevent mold in a greenhouse.
2. Ventilate your greenhouse
You have to ace the ventilation in order to cool down your greenhouse without electricity. Open all the vents and the door on hot days. However, open only roof vents during the night. High temperatures can be very damaging for plants.
It is one of the most common reasons why greenhouse plants are dying. If you are growing tomatoes, ventilating a greenhouse is a must to keep temperatures below 80°F (26°C). You can get an automatic vent opener which will open your vent when temperature rises.
3. Keep up with regular watering
It is very important to water your plants regularly to keep them in a good shape. Soak plants in small containers every day. August is a popular month to go on a holiday, so you need to plan how to take care of your plants. Asking a neighbor can be an option but not always a solution.
Check out my tips how to water plants in a greenhouse when on holiday. I would recommend installing a drip irrigation system as it is very reliable out of all watering systems for a greenhouse. You can get a drip irrigation kit from Amazon for under 30$ and set it up in a matter of minutes.
4. Feed your plants
Keep up with the routine feeding because plants are still actively growing. I have been adding a potash-rich fertilizer to my plants in August for years. It prolongs fruiting and flowering with no fails. Grab a pack from Amazon and feed your plants with 10-14 days intervals.
To harvest juicy fruits in September you need to continue watering regularly. Skipping this part results in poor yield. The fruits become cracked and can suffer from blossom end rot. I also recommend checking that wires and other forms of support are strong enough to bear the weight of the plants.
5. Repair your structure
In most regions August is a hot month so you can move the plants in pots outdoors. That is a perfect opportunity to treat a wooden greenhouse. Make sure to use a water-based paint for a wooden frame instead of a solvent-type preservative.
I have a wooden frame greenhouse with plastic glazing and August is a perfect month to take care of the structure. Whether you stain or paint your frame, you must do it annually. Check out wooden greenhouse maintenance guide for more tips.
Additional tasks:
- Take cuttings for plants in the garden – alpines such as Armeria, shrubs such as Weigela and half hardy like Pelargonium. Don’t take too many but always have a few extra cuttings.
- Prepare for planting bulbs in September – make sure you have an adequate supply of pots, bowls and bulb fiber.
- Dry off and store Hippeastrum, Achimenes, Gloxinia and Begonia after flowering
What do you do with your greenhouse in the summer? What grows well in your region in August? Let me know in the comments section down below!
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Happy Greenhousing 🙂
With Love,
Ana
