7 Steps to Secure Winter Harvests & Get a Head Start on Spring November is the critical transition month for greenhouse growers. While winter crops need protection from dropping temperatures, it's also time to plan for spring success. This comprehensive checklist will guide you through essential tasks to maximize your winter productivity while setting the stage for a bountiful spring season. Prepare your greenhouse to withstand winter conditions while maintaining optimal growing temperatures. With shorter days, supplemental lighting becomes essential for maintaining plant growth and health. Ensure your cold-season vegetables and herbs continue thriving through temperature drops. November is ideal for starting slow-growing spring crops that need a head start. Fall soil preparation saves time and ensures optimal conditions for spring planting. Proper maintenance now prevents breakdowns during the critical spring planting season. Use the quieter winter months to strategize for a more productive year ahead. Focus on cold-hardy greens like spinach, kale, and mâche that thrive in cooler temperatures and lower light conditions. Position reflective materials on north-facing walls to maximize the limited winter sunlight for your plants. Use thermal mass like water barrels to absorb heat during the day and release it at night, stabilizing temperatures. Don't let the changing seasons disrupt your growing schedule. With proper preparation, your greenhouse can be productive year-round. Explore our winter growing supplies and get expert advice to maximize your greenhouse potential.
Your November Greenhouse Checklist
Don't Let Winter Catch You Unprepared
Your 7-Step November Checklist
Winterize Your Greenhouse Structure
Key Tasks:
Recommended Supplies:
Optimize Winter Lighting
Key Tasks:
Recommended Supplies:
Protect Current Winter Crops
Key Tasks:
Recommended Supplies:
Start Spring Seedlings Indoors
Key Tasks:
Recommended Supplies:
Prepare Soil for Spring Planting
Key Tasks:
Recommended Supplies:
Maintain Equipment & Tools
Key Tasks:
Recommended Supplies:
Plan Next Year's Garden
Key Tasks:
Recommended Supplies:
November Growing Tips
Winter Crop Selection
Light Management
Temperature Control
Ready for Your Most Productive Winter Yet?
Catch the Sunshine!
You have no items in your shopping cart.
The most trusted name in greenhouses & supplies • Serving the horticulture industry since 1946!
Greenhouse Manufacturer, Distributor, Importer-Exporter
Blog archive
- 2025
- 2024
- 2023
- 2022
- 2021
- 2020
- 2019
- 2018
- 2017
- 2016
- 2015
- 2014
- 2013
- 2012
- 2010
RSS
Blog
Your November 2025 Greenhouse Checklis Sunday, November 9, 2025
November 2025
1 HIGH PRIORITY
2 HIGH PRIORITY
3 HIGH PRIORITY
4 MEDIUM PRIORITY
5 MEDIUM PRIORITY
6 LOW PRIORITY
7 LOW PRIORITY
Beyond Tomatoes: Your Guide to a Profitable Winter Greenhouse Crop Sunday, November 2, 2025
The "Specialized Grower" Approach
As winter approaches, many greenhouse owners face the annual dilemma: how to maintain profitability when traditional crops like tomatoes become challenging to grow. The solution lies in shifting your focus to high-value, cold-tolerant crops that thrive in winter conditions.
This guide is designed for commercial growers and serious hobbyists looking to implement a profitable winter production strategy using either hydroponic or soil-based systems.
Beyond Tomatoes: How to Grow Profitable Winter Greenhouse Crops
Turn your greenhouse into a year-round business. Learn how salad greens, microgreens, and culinary herbs can boost winter profits and keep your production steady all season long.
The Specialized Grower Advantage
As temperatures drop, many greenhouse owners face the same challenge — maintaining profitability when warm-season crops like tomatoes and peppers slow down. The key to success is focusing on cold-tolerant, high-value crops that flourish during the winter months.
This guide is for commercial growers and passionate hobbyists looking to build a consistent income stream using hydroponic or soil-based greenhouse systems — even when it’s freezing outside.
Top Winter Crops for Greenhouse Profitability
Not all crops slow down in the cold. Here are three proven performers that deliver quick returns, steady demand, and year-round growth potential.
Salad Greens
Cold-hardy greens like lettuce, kale, spinach, and arugula are winter staples. They grow fast, tolerate cooler temperatures, and command premium prices at local markets.
Essential Supplies
- High-density planting trays or NFT hydroponic channels
- Quality potting mix or balanced nutrient solution
- Row covers or low tunnels for frost protection
- Supplemental LED lighting for consistent growth
- Thermal blankets for sub-freezing nights
- pH and EC meters for nutrient monitoring
Microgreens
Microgreens deliver one of the best profit-per-square-foot ratios. With short growth cycles and minimal space requirements, they’re ideal for winter greenhouse production.
Essential Supplies
- Standard 10"x 20" shallow growing trays
- Specialized microgreen growing medium
- High-germination seeds (broccoli, radish, sunflower, pea shoots)
- Tiered shelving systems with built-in lighting
- Fine mist sprayers or bottom-watering setups
- Sharp scissors or knives for precise harvesting
- Eco-friendly packaging for retail or restaurant sales
Culinary Herbs
Fresh herbs like cilantro, parsley, mint, and chives sell consistently through winter. Restaurants, grocery stores, and CSA programs value local, greenhouse-grown herbs for freshness and reliability.
Essential Supplies
- 4–6" pots or deep-flow hydroponic systems
- Well-draining potting soil or rockwool cubes
- Herb-specific nutrient formulations
- Ventilation systems for humidity management
- Benches or rolling carts to maximize space
- Propagation mats for faster germination
- Pruning shears for ongoing harvests
Master the Two-Season Strategy: Grow Year-Round
Successful greenhouse growers don’t shut down for winter — they adapt. By planning a two-season strategy, you can maintain consistent production and make the most of your infrastructure investment.
For New Growers: Build a Strong Winter Foundation
- Start small — focus on one or two profitable winter crops
- Invest in reliable greenhouse heaters and insulation
- Use supplemental LED lighting to extend day length
- Establish local partnerships with restaurants or markets early
For Experienced Growers: Scale with Precision
- Use succession planting for continuous harvests
- Adopt vertical or tiered growing systems
- Install automated environmental controls for accuracy
- Create value-added mixes (herb bundles, salad blends) to raise profits
- Explore advanced hydroponic systems for faster turnover
Essential Infrastructure for Cold-Weather Growing
- Double-layer poly or insulated panels for better energy retention
- Thermal mass materials (stone, water barrels) to stabilize temps
- Backup heating for power or weather emergencies
- Durable greenhouse frames rated for snow and wind
- Energy-efficient LED lighting tuned to your crop spectrum
Ready to Grow Through Winter?
With a brilliant crop selection, efficient heating, and the proper greenhouse setup, your winter season can be your most profitable time of year.
Explore our full range of professional greenhouse structures and winter growing equipment to prepare for success.
Explore Winter Growing SolutionsThe Winter Fortress: Protect Your Greenhouse Now Sunday, October 19, 2025
Research-Backed Strategies to Safeguard Your Plants Through Winter's Harshest Conditions As the crisp autumn air gives way to winter's biting chill, gardeners face one of their most significant annual challenges: protecting their greenhouse plants from freezing temperatures. While many assume a greenhouse alone provides sufficient cold-weather protection, the reality is more complex. Without proper preparation, your greenhouse can transform from a plant sanctuary into an icy tomb when temperatures plummet. This comprehensive guide draws on scientific research and expert gardening experience to equip you with practical strategies for safeguarding your greenhouse through winter's harshest conditions. Whether you're a seasoned horticulturist or a passionate beginner, you'll discover how to transform your greenhouse into an impenetrable "winter fortress" that keeps your plants thriving rather than merely surviving.
The Future of Greenhouses: 7 Cutting-Edge Trends Sunday, October 5, 2025
Transforming Agriculture Through Technology Modern greenhouse operations are evolving into highly sophisticated, data-driven systems for food production. This article examines the key technical innovations that are setting new standards for efficiency, sustainability, and productivity in controlled environment agriculture.
Greenhouse Solutions for Horticulture Training Centers Sunday, September 28, 2025
Educational greenhouses require versatile workspace configurations. Mobile benches allow for classroom-style demonstrations, while stationary benches provide consistent growing environments for long-term experiments. Consider:
Your Backyard Oasis: A Hobbyist's Guide to Home Greenhouses Sunday, September 21, 2025
Have you ever looked longingly at your windowsill, crowded with seed starters and pet-friendly plants, and dreamed of more space? Do you wish you could extend your growing season, cultivate exotic flowers, or harvest tomatoes months before your neighbors?
Maximizing Winter Nursery Production Sunday, September 14, 2025
Executive Summary: Wild Hope Farm (Chester, South Carolina) has successfully transformed its winter production capabilities through strategic crop selection, precise environmental management, and innovative scheduling techniques. By implementing data-driven approaches to high tunnel production, the farm now supplies a 100-member winter CSA for 10 weeks from January through March using only two 30' × 96' high tunnels with minimal field supplementation.
The Scientific Grower's Guide to September: Optimizing the Autumn Transition Sunday, August 31, 2025
For the commercial grower, September is not merely a calendar month; it is a critical phenological phase marked by declining photoperiods, shifting thermal gradients, and altered plant physiological responses. Success hinges on a scientific approach to environmental control, crop selection, and resource management. This guide provides a technical framework for maximizing greenhouse productivity and profitability through the autumn season
An Analysis of Advanced Controlled-Environment Agriculture (CEA) System Tuesday, August 26, 2025
Controlled‑Environment Agriculture (CEA) combines hydroponics, precise environmental automation, and optimized lighting to maximize yield, quality, and resource efficiency. This guide translates key scientific principles—VPD, PAR/PPFD, root‑zone oxygenation—into practical decisions for commercial growers, researchers, and advanced hobbyists.
Deep Water Culture (DWC) Advanced for Hydroponics Sunday, August 10, 2025
Deep Water Culture (DWC) is a high-performance hydroponic method where plant roots are suspended in a nutrient-rich, oxygenated water solution. Advanced DWC systems incorporate precision environmental controls, scientific nutrient management, and enhanced oxygen delivery to achieve faster growth rates and higher yields than traditional soil cultivation.