With a manageable amount of care, a herb greenhouse offers decent yields for the culinary refinement of the family kitchen, even in winter. When it comes to soil quality, the plants we know are not very demanding, but the temperatures in the house should be right.
Which herbs are suitable for a greenhouse?
In the herb greenhouse, annual plants such as basil, garden cress, dill or chervil and perennial plants such as lavender, chives and savory can be grown. Optimal temperatures, germination temperatures and germination times vary depending on the plant species.
When growing medicinal plants and herbs in a greenhouse, consistently good yields can be expected throughout the year. Particularlyinteresting are biennial and perennial herb plants, which always suffer high losses outdoors, especially after somewhat harsher winter months. Incidentally, constant rain on the garden beds is no less harmful for marjoram, chervil, rosemary, etc. Depending on which herbs are to be grown, an unheated greenhouse is sometimes sufficient for cultivation, even in winter.
Which herbs are particularly suitable?
The annual plants that are particularly suitable for growing under foil or glass include basil, garden cress, dill and chervil, marjoram and also some exotic species such as purslane, hot peppers and coriander. Fresh parsley is always harvested from the two-year-olds, which, like winter cress and spoonwort, form quite stable and vigorously growing perennials after the first year.
Potting perennial plants in the herb greenhouse
In this way, very robust plants grow that deliver excellent long-term yields, especially in pots (lavender, chives and savory) and regularly fertilized. However, certain requirements regardingheat and light also need to be met when growing in a greenhouse. Here is a small overview:
| Plant | Germination temperature (°C) | Germination time (days) | optimal temperature (°C) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basil | 12 | 14 to 21 | 20 to 25 |
| Savory (single year) | 10 | 14 to 21 | 12 to 16 |
| Dill | 6 | 7 to 14 | 18 to 24 |
| Chervil | 6 | 14 to 21 | 12 to 18 |
| Marjoram | 12 | 21 to 28 | 18 to 20 |
| parsley | from 18 | 14 to 21 | 12 to 15 |
| Lavender | 16 | 21 to 28 | 20 to 26 |
| Chives | 5 | 7 to 21 | 12 to 15 |
| Oregano (Dost) | 12 | 14 to 28 | 12 to 15 |
| Thyme | 6 | 7 to 21 | 16 to 22 |
It’s the floor that counts
And the fertilizer may need to be added as well. The soil should be slightly crumbly and have a balanced ratio (garden soil, compost or humus with portions of clay and/or peat). In the herb greenhouse, although the plants adapt relatively well to the soil conditions on their own,fertilization is rich in nutrients Long-term fertilizer is ideal (€6.00 on Amazon), but it should be used in moderation.
Tip
Spices and medicinal plants dry out particularly quickly in the heat and very intensively. Especially in the herb greenhouse, it is particularly beneficial for the plants if they are not watered too little first thing in the morning and, if necessary, in the evening. Waterlogging should, however, be avoided at all costs.