Having a micro-greenhouse can provide more than just a green thumb’s therapy. It’s a functional space where you can enjoy fresh, organic produce all year round, significantly cutting your grocery bills. Your micro-greenhouse can become a year-round microgreen haven, thriving even amid low temperatures, and providing a continuous source of nutrients. To achieve this, here are ten ideal plants for your year-round micro-greenhouse harvest.
Arugula (Eruca vesicaria)
The poetic nickname “rocket” suits this fast-growing, peppery vegetable. Arugula relishes cool temperatures and can withstand frosts, making it an impeccable choice for your year-round micro-greenhouse. Just provide it with well-drained soil and consistent moisture, and it’ll quickly fill your greenhouse with its rich, green leaves. Harvest the vibrant leaves when young for a less pungent kick; perfect in salads, soups, or pizzas. Its ultrarapid growth cycle allows for frequent harvests, ensuring you a steady supply of this leafy goodness.
Spinach (Spinacia oleracea)
Spinach is a resilient vegetable that packs a nutritional punch with its rich content of iron, calcium, and vitamins. As a cold-hardy plant, it can withstand low winter temperatures, making it a year-round staple in your micro-greenhouse. In fact, you may find that the sweetness of spinach improves with a touch of frost. Provide it with fertile, well-draining soil and regular watering, and you’ll be picking fresh spinach leaves throughout the year for your healthy smoothies and wraps.
Swiss Chard (Beta vulgaris)
Swiss chard brings a spectacle of colors to your greenhouse – its leaves emerald and stems shiny in shades of red, yellow, and white. This aesthetic appeal is equally matched by its robustness and versatility. Despite its tropical roots, Swiss chard prospers in colder seasons. Nutrient-rich, moist soil and full sun or light shade suffice for its growth. Harvest the outer leaves when they’re firm, regularly, for a continuous supply of crunchy, slightly bitter greens for your curries, stir-fries, and salads.
Kale (Brassica oleracea Acephala Group)
A superstar of leafy greens, kale thrives in cold weather, while its hearty leaves can endure frosts. An ample source of vitamins and calcium, this cruciferous plant displays beautiful dark green, sometimes purple, ruffled leaves. Fertile, well-drained soil and steady watering will produce sensational leaf growth, harvestable within six to eight weeks of planting. Implement regular harvesting by picking the outer leaves to promote new growth, so you enjoy steady supply of this superfood.
Watercress (Nasturtium officinale)
Watercress, a versatile aquatic plant, offers a tangy crunch to soup, salads, or sandwiches. It grows abundantly in a hydroponic environment within your micro-greenhouse, with plenty of moisture and sunlight. It yields small, round leaves, and tiny white flowers that embellish your greenhouse. Frequent cutting back of this plant encourages bushier growth, producing plentiful leaves for your year-round use.
Mustard Greens (Brassica juncea)
Mustard greens bring a pungent peppery note, injecting flavor into salads or cooked dishes. Their resilience in cooler climates ensures a steady supply of leaves in your micro-greenhouse. These leafy vegetables prefer a sunlit spot with well-draining soil and consistent watering. By continually harvesting the plants’ outer leaves, it encourages repeated growth and ensures a continuous harvest of luscious, spicy leaves.
Herbs (e.g., Parsley, chives and dill)
Filling your micro-greenhouse with herbs like parsley, chives, and dill furnishes you with flavorful garnishes to complement any dish. These sturdy herbs enjoy cooler temperatures, making them suited for year-round cultivation in your micro-greenhouse. Typically, herbs prefer well-drained soil and copious amounts of sun. Regularly trimming these herbs encourages a bushier growth and ensures a steady supply of sprightly flavors for your culinary delights.
Leaf Lettuce (Lactuca sativa)
Leaf lettuce, with its myriad of shades, is a must-have for your salad bowl and sandwiches. Preferring cooler temperatures, growing it in your micro-greenhouse ensures a year-round supply. Given rich, well-drained soil and steady water, leaf lettuce vigorously grows in well-lit conditions in your micro-greenhouse. Regularly harvesting the older, outer leaves promotes continuous leaf production, meaning fresh salad greens are always at your fingertips.
Mizuna (Brassica rapa nipposinica)
Mizuna, or Japanese mustard greens, is a leafy vegetable that loves cold weather. This frilly leafed green provides a mild, tangy kick to salads or stir-fries. Plant them in a moist, well-drained soil under full sun or partial shade for effective growth. Frequent harvests of outer leaves encourage a full, bushy plant, giving you a continuous supply of this Asian superfood.
Radish (Raphanus sativus)
Sporting vibrant red spheres and tender greens, radish is a spicy addition to your year-round micro-greenhouse. Thriving in cool weather, it’s readily grown in well-drained soil with ample sunlight and good ventilation. Harvest both its crunchy root bulbs and its leafy greens, which add a punch to salads or garnishes. With fast maturity, usually within a month, radish provides quick, continual harvests throughout the year.