Summer is when a greenhouse is most productive — and most likely to cook your plants. The whole game in summer is shedding heat and keeping up with water, so plants get the warmth they love without the scorch and stress that heat brings. Here’s how to manage it.
The summer priorities
- Prevent overheating — ventilate fully and shade the glazing; see how to cool a greenhouse“>how to cool a greenhouse and shade cloth“>shade cloth.
- Keep up with watering — pots may need water twice a day; automate if you’re out. See watering“>watering and greenhouse irrigation“>irrigation.
- Manage humidity — damping down cools and humidifies, but balance with airflow.
The crops that love it
Summer is prime time for heat-loving greenhouse crops: tomatoes, peppers, chillies, cucumbers, aubergines, melons and basil all thrive in the warmth — provided they’re fed, watered and not scorched. See best vegetables for greenhouses.
Don’t forget
- Feed regularly — fast summer growth needs it; see fertilizing“>fertilizing.
- Pollinate — fruit set needs help under cover; see greenhouse pollination“>pollination.
- Watch for pests — spider mites and whitefly boom in summer heat; see pest control“>pest control.
Quick questions
How hot is too hot for a greenhouse? There’s no single figure, but sustained high heat halts fruit set and scorches leaves — ventilate, shade and water so plants stay in a comfortable range.
Related guides
- Cooling“>Cooling · shade cloth“>shade cloth · watering“>watering · winter growing“>winter growing
