Alitex’s Guide to Summer Greenhouse Growing

Summer is one of the most exciting times for gardeners, with warm, sunny weather making time spent in the greenhouse even more enjoyable. But the season is not without its challenges! High temperatures, intense sunlight, and a greenhouse brimming with crops mean it can be a demanding few months. To help green-fingered growers make the most of the summer, bespoke greenhouse manufacturer Alitex, has shared some top tips for a successful season.  

Harden off crops 

Transferring crops from the greenhouse to outdoors is a key task towards the end of spring and early summer, and making use of cold frames is a great way to set young plants up for success. Begin hardening off crops by exposing them to the elements slowly on a warm but overcast day, gradually opening the lid more over the coming weeks until they have become fully acclimatised to the great outdoors and can be planted out. Ideally, your cold frame should be positioned in a south-facing area that offers a good amount of light and is sheltered from the wind. All Alitex’s greenhouses can be fitted with cold frames to provide an additional cold-protected environment ideal for hardening off

Get a head start on autumn  

As the season progresses, greenhouses will soon be overflowing with an abundance of crops sown in early spring. While gardeners will be kept suitably busy transferring plants outside, it’s also time to start thinking ahead to autumn’s harvest. Summer is a great time to start off broccoli, beetroot, turnips, radishes, dwarf French beans and winter cabbage, so that you can enjoy a selection of fresh vegetables later in the year - perfect for soup season and warming roast dinners! 

Make your plants multiply 

A great way to grow your plant collection is to propagate from existing ones during the summer – all you need is a healthy plant that you’d like more of! Simply find a shoot that is five to ten centimetres long and isn't flowering, and take a cutting just below the leaf node. Apply a rooting gel and plant the cutting into a prepared pot, before placing it on the greenhouse shelf in bright, indirect sunlight. Those side shoots you snip off on your tomato plants are great for this – just snip off and pop into a jug of water until some roots establish. 

Beat the heat

Summer’s heat can be intense, and it’s vital to make sure that the greenhouse is kept at a steady internal temperature while protecting plants from leaf scorch. Ensure you make good use of greenhouse shades on hot bright days to deflect suns rays and keep the temperature down. During periods of extreme heat, you can also damp down the interior to create a cooler environment. 

Allow proper air circulation  

It is also important to make sure the plants are also getting enough air circulation to control air temperatures and prevent disease or fungus growth, so keep your manual side vents permanently open at this time of year. If your roof vents have thermostatic control, like those installed in an Alitex greenhouse, they will automatically open as soon as the temperature starts to rise. You will also tend to keep your door open at this time of year. Alitex greenhouses always have a perfect combination of roof and side vents to create the unique 'chimney effect' inside the greenhouse that encourages effective air circulation. 

Watering sustainably 

Finally, don't forget to keep crops hydrated! High temperatures can cause soil to dry out rapidly, leading to stress and dehydration in plants. Water crops regularly, ensuring the soil remains moist but not waterlogged and monitor compost moisture levels daily during hot spells. Where possible, water sustainably using rain water diverters and a waterbutt to collect a ready supply of water for jobs in and around the greenhouse all year round. Not only is using recycled rainwater great for the environment, but it also contains nitrates so it gives plants and crops an extra boost! 

For more expert growing advice, and to find out more about Alitex greenhouses, visit https://www.alitex.co.uk/.  

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Editors notes

Alitex designs and produces the most beautiful, bespoke Victorian greenhouses in the world.

Established in 1952, it has since become the leading luxury greenhouse manufacturer on the market, boasting over 70 years of horticultural heritage and paving the way with a pioneering approach to the planet, its people and purpose.

Since laying down its roots in the 50s, Alitex has developed its flagship Thomas Messenger glasshouse, launched the National Trust Collection in 2004, established a flourishing overseas market and earned a prestigious endorsement from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Alitex’s home on Torberry Farm in the South Downs includes an impressive show site and factory where all of its greenhouses are created, providing customers with the unique opportunity to gather inspiration for their own dream greenhouse, walk through the production process and chat with its passionate experts in person.

It prides itself on offering every customer a fully personal service throughout their Alitex journey, from the initial design and planning stages through to installation and aftercare.

Key to the company is its most important ingredient – its people. With a team of 100 dedicated individuals that make up the heart and soul of Alitex, they are central to driving forward its purpose and passion for all that grows.