what work should be carried out in the greenhouse?

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greenhouse in the garden under the spring sun
© istock

April, a month to be wary of!

Whether in your garden or in your greenhouse, the month of April is a month when it is necessary exercise great vigilance. Certainly, spring has finally begun, the temperatures are milder and the days are longer and brighter, which favors the germination of seeds and prevents the young plants from stretching out too quickly in search of light and becoming too thin. , but the risk of frost is still very present and the sun’s rays are starting to really heat up. These are the reasons why you should take precautions:

  • Don’t throw away your winter sails just yet.
  • Keep an eye on the weather and if chances of cold weather are forecast, cover everything that needs covering, hence the usefulness of keeping winter sails on hand.
  • If your greenhouse is equipped with a heating system, leave it on to limit temperature differences between day and night.
  • On beautiful sunny days, leave your greenhouse open to avoid heatstroke which could be fatal to your seedlings and plants, and remember to water.

Greenhouse maintenance to be done in April

To take full advantage of your greenhouse, it is necessary to carry out certain tasks:

  • If you haven’t already done so and especially if you live in the south of France, it’s time to whiten the glazing of your greenhouse or install curtains to protect your plants from direct sunlight.
  • Clean the greenhouse regularly, as well as the plants found there by ridding them of their yellowed or dry leaves.
  • Monitor the possible intrusion of pests. The faster you act, the more you will limit their invasion.
  • Also watch for possible signs of illness on your plants to treat quickly when needed.
  • If necessary, treat for aphids and whiteflies.
  • Depending on the weather, it may be necessary to water more frequently.

Sowing to be done in April

This is the time to carry out numerous sowings, but also to transplant plants from seeds sown in February or March, and to start taking out certain overwintered plants, such as pelargoniums, fuchsias, etc..

Flower side

There are many flowers sensitive to cold that you can sow in April in a greenhouse:

  • Annualssuch as cosmos, nigella damascus, rudbeckias, zinnias etc.
  • Perennialssuch as echinacea, iberis, etc.
  • Biennials which you will plant in the ground at the end of summer for flowering the following year, such as hollyhocks, pope’s money, wallflowers, etc..
  • Without forgetting companion plants for the vegetable garden, such as amaranths, marigolds, etc. They will also appreciate starting under cover which offers favorable temperatures for their germination.

Vegetable side

While you can start some seedlings in the ground, others will appreciate the gentle warmth of the greenhouse for a quicker start and quicker harvests. This is the case for the following vegetables to be sown in boxes or pots:

  • cucumbers;
  • squash;
  • zucchini ;
  • the Basilic ;
  • melons and watermelons;
  • tomatoes ;
  • peppers and chili peppers;
  • the eggplants ;
  • lettuces;
  • etc.


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