What to Expect with Your New Greenhouse Plot

A couple new people to Inuvik have recently asked me what they should expect when the get their new greenhouse plot in May. Meaning what will be in it and what will it look like. This is similar to inheriting any older/used garden plot (raised bed garden). In the case of the Inuvik Greenhouse, in May all the plots will be in a similar state, whether they were well taken care of or somewhat abandoned in the previous year. All of us will be working with the same base line garden when we get into the greenhouse. This is a fun time of year.

 

First off, the soil will be hard and depleted of all nutrients. After a growing season in a raised bed garden all of the nutrients will be taken out of the soil. This means that there are no nutrients left to grow another healthy crop. All the beds will require a big helping of 'additives'. This could be organic compost material, manure, chicken pellets, bone meal, egg shells, organic fertilizer, fish liquid, etc. The list goes on and on. As you start digging you will start adding as much new materials as you can find or want to invest in. The more you add to your soil at the start of the season the better crop you will reap later in the season!

The soil will also be hard packed from the previous year. This means you will need to turn over the garden and yes, this means blood, sweat and tears! The more you dig, the better your yield will be also!

 

In the Inuvik Greenhouse you will also inherit all the garden decorations and hangers, etc that are in your plot. This might be plastic covers, tomotoe cages, garden gnomes, trellises, pots, stakes, etc. Keep it all neat and tidy in your plot or at the end of your plot as you never know what you might want, need or recycle for your own use. What you don't want to do it to invest in a bunch of brand new lumber and start building from scratch. Again, see what you need and want and stay low maintenance. This is the same with a new garden at home or in any neighbourhood. See what you can recycle, and just build what you need as the season goes along. Tomatoes will grow with a simple cage and good soil, they don't need any fancy hanging systems to succeed!

 

In all of these cases, start simple and just go with the growth of your garden. Don't overly plan ahead of the season. Start will working your soil and adding what you can, including lots of TLC. As plants grow, continue monitoring to see if the plants needs stakes, cases, tied back and then just for from there.

Another note, on your first visits to the greenhouse or your new garden, wear your rubber boots. For many, many reasons, you will thank me for this tip at some point!

S.