What if you could get more harvests from your vegetable garden without making it any bigger?
One way is to extend the growing season. By protecting crops from the cold, you can start earlier in spring, keep harvesting later into fall, and sometimes even harvest through winter.
And you don't need a greenhouse to get started.
In this episode of the Food Garden Life Show, I chat with Sonja Peters of Greenbush Greenhouses and Farm in British Columbia's North Okanagan.
Sonja has spent more than 20 years working in horticulture, including greenhouse production and consulting. She shares practical ways to extend the growing season, from simple floating row covers to low tunnels, cold frames, and greenhouses.
We also talk about choosing the right protection for your climate, making the most of warmer spots in your garden, and why combining layers of protection can make a difference.
In this episode:
Why season extension is a way to grow more food without expanding your garden
How floating row covers work and the protection they provide
Simple materials for building low tunnels
When to consider a hoop house or greenhouse
How to combine row covers and tunnels for extra protection
Using cold frames to start earlier and harvest later
Making use of warmer microclimates around your home
Why it's important to monitor temperatures under covers
How row covers can also help with pest management
About Sonja Peters
Sonja Peters is a horticulturist, greenhouse grower, and consultant based near Lumby, British Columbia.
She has more than 20 years of experience in horticulture, including commercial greenhouse production, plant propagation, and pest management consulting.
Sonja and her partner, Dave, operate Greenbush Greenhouses and Farm, where they grow plants, offer custom growing services, and share gardening knowledge through workshops and consulting.