http://king.wsu.

edu
KING COUNTY 700 Fifth Ave, Suite 3700
Seattle, WA 98104-5037
206-296-3900 /TTY-TDD 296-5242

Greenhouse Growing
Agriculture and Natural Resources Fact Sheet # 528

The Basic Idea

Greenhouse production offers a cost-efficient way to
extend the growing season at both ends and to even grow
some crops year-round. A lot of information is available
on greenhouse growing, equipment, and supplies. This
house is three zones warmer than where you live.” (See
fact sheet presents a few basic considerations and is meant
Growing for Market Vol. No. 1). USDA climate zones are
as a starting point. Follow-up on some of the ideas and
based on a 10° F spread so this means the temperature
resources provided here with your own research and
inside a greenhouse could be 15-30° F warmer, a signifi-
experiments.
cant difference in the cool months of spring, autumn, and
Most people think of greenhouses as solar, or heated
winter in this area. Ventilation is as important as heat.
and lighted by the sun. Solar greenhouses are insulated to
Lack of proper ventilation can result in too much heat or
collect and store energy from the sun for use at night and
conditions that favor mildew and disease.
during cloudy weather. Here in the Pacific Northwest,
Winter plants have to be planted before winter to
however, most of the light in winter is diffuse and little
overcome the limitation on growth caused by the cooler
direct light from the sun reaches the earth because of our
temperatures of winter lower levels of light (see Frost
cloudy climate. As a result, greenhouse production in this
Dates/Climatic Data, Community Horticulture Fact Sheet
area will likely require the use of supplementary light or
#40). During the period of winter when there are less than
heat. This type of greenhouse system is often referred to as
10 hours of daylight (see figure), newly sown seeds grow
an active system. Those that rely only on energy from the
very slowly. Count on these crops for early spring harvest.
sun are passive systems.

Types and Location 25

Greenhouses generally are attached to a building (house,

shed, barn) or are freestanding. Most commercial green- 20

houses are freestanding. Whichever type you choose, the

15
best placement is such that light is captured from all
Hours

directions. For an attached greenhouse, the south side of a 10

building will be the sunniest all year. The north side is
not recommended. Wind is another factor to consider in 5

deciding where to locate a greenhouse, especially one that

is freestanding. 0
Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun

Month
Temperature & Light
In the Pacific Northwest the long period of short gray days Hours of Daylight Over a Year in the Pacific Northwest (Seattle)
during winter make solar heating difficult. Electric lights
and alternative heating sources (e.g., electric or fossil fuel) What to Grow
can be used during fall, winter, and spring months to Greenhouse production offers a wide variety of plant
overcome this limitation. You may also want to install a choices, including those that may be grown year round
backup heating system in case of power failure. and those that can be transplanted outside. Cold tolerant
However, Eliot Coleman, author of the book Four- vegetables such as brassicas, lettuce, spinach, scallions,
Season Harvest: How to Harvest Fresh Organic Vegetables parsnips, beets, chard, radishes, and turnips are easily
from Your Home Garden All Year Long, suggests any grown in a greenhouse throughout the off seasons (see Fall
greenhouse from simple hoop structures to glass conserva- and Winter Vegetable Gardening, Community Horticulture
tories which grow plants in the soil can produce veg- Fact Sheet #41). Warm weather crops like melons,
etables without artificial heat. “All you need is to add a peppers, eggplants, and tomatoes can be started early in
second protective layer of translucent material inside the the greenhouse for later transplanting outside or can be
greenhouse...This twice tempered climate in your green- grown inside the greenhouse all the way to harvest. Such
crops will not yield as well in winter but it is possible to Growing for Market Newsletter. Fariplain Publications,
get tomatoes in winter with added light and heat. For Lawrence, KS (800) 307-8949.
winter growth in the greenhouse look for varieties of
plants grown in the South which are varieties adapted to WSU Cooperative Extension King County. Frost Dates/
short-day culture. Whether you plant cold tolerant or heat Climatic Data. Community Horticulture Fact Sheet #40.
loving plants, timing is key in greenhouse growing. Once Seattle, WA. Call (206) 296-3900.
you understand your greenhouse climate and light condi- WSU Cooperative Extension King County. Fall and Winter
tions you will be able to schedule plantings to maximize Vegetable Gardening. Community Horticulture Fact
growth and harvest. Sheet #41. Seattle, WA. Call (206) 296-3900.
Other possibilities for greenhouse growing include
herbs, specialty or delicate plants such as orchids, some Greenhouse Equipment & Supplies
types of mushrooms, bedding plants, bulbs, potted
flowers and, of course, cut flowers. Cut flowers that can BioTherm Hydronic, Inc. (heating specialists for the
be grown successfully include bachelor’s button, calen- greenhouse industry) 800-GET-HEAT or 707-794-9660;
dula, carnation, chrysanthemum, gardenia, lupine, P.O. Box 750967, Petaluma, CA 94975;
marigold, pincushion flower, poppy, snapdragon, stock, e-mail: [email protected];
zinnia. http://www.getheat.com/.
Cascade Greenhouse Supply
Pest and Disease Management (253) 833-5664; 214 21st SE Auburn, WA 98002.
Disease is often best handled by practicing proper hy-
giene, cultivating strong, healthy plants which will be Charley’s Greenhouse Supply
more resistant to disease and pests, and weeding out weak (800) 233-2611 1599 Memorial Hwy, Mount Vernon,
and sick ones. Diseases and pests can enter the greenhouse WA 98273-9721.
via insects, in soil, on plants, and on seeds so careful
handling and monitoring can go a long way to prevent Future Gardening & Hydroponics
disease and pest infestation. (253) 531-9641 11522 Canyon Rd E, Puyallup, WA
Prevention is very important in the greenhouse 98373-4360.
environment but diseases and pests will inevitably be a Garden Specialties Inc
problem at one time or another. Pest management rather (253) 941-6767 30821 Pacific Hwy S, Federal Way,
than eradication is a more realistic goal and is the basis of WA 98003-4901.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM). IPM in greenhouses
involves monitoring, pest identification, record keeping, Green Air Products
understanding pest life cycles, exclusion techniques, (800) 669-2113.
cultural practices such as sanitation, biological controls Green Gardens Distributing
including the use of beneficial organisms, insect growth (425) 454-5731 12738 Bellevue Redmond Rd, WA
regulators, and, as a last resort, chemical controls (see 98005-2601.
ATTRA publication Integrated Pest Management for
Greenhouse Crops). Perhaps the most important aspect of Indoor Garden & Lighting
IPM is monitoring and understanding the life cycle and (253) 373-9060 730-A S Central, Kent ,WA 98032-
behavior of pests. This information will help you develop 6109; (253) 761-7478 3843 6th Ave, Tacoma, WA
the most effective control strategy. 98406-4903.
Indoor Sun Shoppe
Resources (206) 634-3727 911 NE 45th, Seattle, WA 98105-4714.
Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas (ATTRA)
PO Box 3657, Fayetteville, AR 72702 (800) 346-9140; Linda’s Gardening & Hydroponics Inc
web: http://www.attra.org. (253) 531-9641 11522 Canyon Rd E, Puyallup, WA
Related publications: 98373-4360.
Greenhouse IPM: Sustainable Aphid Control
Greenhouse IPM: Sustainable Thrips Control M & R Lighting
Greenhouse IPM: Sustainable Whitefly Control (206) 729-7751 1301 N 97th, Seattle, WA 98103-3319
Integrated Pest Management for Greenhouse Crops (253) 891-4190 22914 State Route 410 E, Buckley, WA
Solar Greenhouses: Horticulture Resource List 98103-3319.

Coleman, Elliot. 1999. Four-Season Harvest: How to McCalif Growers Supplies Inc
Harvest Fresh Organic Vegetables from Your Home (360) 435-0741, Arlington, WA 98223.
Garden All Year Long. Chelsea Green Publishing, White McConkey J M & Co Inc (206) 328-1500 or (253) 863-
River Junction, VT. 8111.
Oregon Valley Greenhouse (800) 347-2701; 20367 Hwy
99E, Aurora, OR 97002; email: [email protected].
OBC Northwest, (800) 477-4744 or (503) 266-2021;
PO Box 759; Canby, OR 97013; email: obcnw@web-
ster.com.

Steuber Distributing Co
(360) 568-2626; (800) 426-8815 308; 3rd, Snohomish,
WA 98291.
Sunglo Solar Greenhouses
(253) 833-4529; 214 21st SE, Auburn, WA 98002.
US Global Resources
(425) 391-5646; 20808 SE 20th, Issaquah, WA 98029-
7406.

Sources
Coleman, E. 1999. “Start Your Season Now!” in Growing
for Market Vol. 8, No. 1. Fariplain Publications,
Lawrence, KS.
Freeman, M. 1998. Greenhouse Basics: Gardening in
Your Greenhouse. Stackpole Books, Mechanicsburg, PA
Greenhouses. Washington State University Cooperative
Extension Spokane County, http://www.spokane-
county.wsu.edu/GARDEN/c055.htm.
Greer, L. and Diver, S. 1999. Integrated Pest Management
for Greenhouse Crops. ATTRA, Fayetteville, AR.
Greer, L. 1999. Solar Greenhouses: Horticulture Resource
List. ATTRA, Fayetteville, AR.
Miller, E. and C. 1999. “Fundamentals of Solar
Greenhousing” in Acres USA March 1999.
Miller, E. and C. 1999. “Greenhouse Management Tips”
in Acres USA July 1999.

No endorsement is intended of any businesses listed in this fact sheet, nor is criticism of unnamed businesses implied.

Written by Sylvia Kantor, WSU Cooperative Extension King County, 1999.

Cooperating agencies: Washington State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and King County. Cooperative Extension programs and
employment are available to all without discrimination. Evidence of noncompliance may be reported through your local Cooperative Extension office.