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It is becoming increasingly popular - many gardeners are turning to DIY greenhouse kits to continue growing vegetables all year long. Starting their own plants from seed each season saves money and provides quality, guaranteed healthy foods throughout the year. Learning to grow your own vegetables in a greenhouse takes a little bit of know-how, but it is relatively easy once you get the hang of it.

Temperature is Key

For most vegetables, you must keep your greenhouse at a favorable temperature. This means, in cooler months, the temperature should be above 55º and in warmer months, kept below 100º to continue growth. Tomatoes, for instance, will stop growing once the temperature exceeds 100º.

Lighting

Vegetables require a certain amount of sunlight to grow. This means in the winter when days are shorter, you may have to install grow lights to extend their exposure to daylight hours and help them grow. A grow light can also help on dreary days when little light makes it into the greenhouse.

On the other hand, in the summer, you may need to shade parts of your greenhouse to allow for plants that require a certain amount of shade to grow properly.

Planting from Seed

You will need to start your plants from seed at different times of the year to produce crops all year long. For instance, tomato seeds are usually planted in early January and then again in July to produce a crop in summer and winter. Growing seasons depend on your geographical region and conditions inside the greenhouse, so consult a gardening specialist if you have questions.

Pollination Inside a Greenhouse

Since your plants are inside and not exposed to natural pollination methods such as heavy rainfall, wind or insects, you must take on the task yourself. Watch for signs of peak pollination times and then act quickly. For tomatoes, the leaves of the blossoms begin to curl when they are ready for pollination. When you see this happen, you have three days to pollinate your plants. To do this, you must tap the stakes used to support the plant to distribute the pollen over the plant. Check with your local gardening expert for more instruction on how to pollinate the plants you have in your greenhouse.