Introduction Have you ever loved a plant so much that you wished you could make more plants just like it? Well with propagation you can do just that! It is a great way to save money, preserve heirloom varieties, and keep a succession of plants growing throughout the year. What is Plant Propagation? Propagation is...
Paonia Soil Co. is a Colorado-based, family-owned manufacturer of fully mineralized, living, organic potting soils and soil conditioners. We're passionate about cultivating a diverse soil food web and making it simple, successful, and profitable to use for growers, gardeners, and landscapers alike!
Greenhouse pond gardening will enhance the beauty of your dome, improve water quality, provide water coverage, provide food and shade for fish and help prevent algae.
Learn how mushrooms help with greenhouse soil rejuvenation, improve fertility, moisture retention, and enhance plant health for sustainable growing.
Our favorite plants traditionally used as aphrodisiacs or to support cardiovascular health and the best gardening tips for cultivating them in your Growing Dome
Learn the art of growing lavender in a dome greenhouse. Read how to care for your lavender plant including planting, companion plants, harvesting and uses of lavender.
Learn everything about growing brassicas such as broccoli, cauliflower, and romanesco in your dome greenhouse.
Manage winter humidity in your greenhouse with tips on ventilation, water usage, heating, and disease prevention for healthy, year-round plant growth.
Do you want to grow beets in your dome? Follow along as we drop the beat on growing beets! Learn tips for growing beautiful beets in a dome greenhouse. Along with gardening tips, we'll share the history of beets, fun trivia and health information.
In this guide, we’ll explore both ancient and modern irrigation techniques to help you find the best automated greenhouse irrigation system for your needs.
Saffron is one of the world's most expensive spices. Learn about growing saffron, saffron care and how to harvest this spice.
What’s the Difference Between Vermiculture and Vermicomposting? Vermiculture is the cultivation or farming of worms, whereas vermicomposting uses the worms to convert organic waste into nutrient-rich compost for plants. Both terms often overlap in their use and are a great way to reduce waste, improve soil health, and create a sustainable gardening practice. This blog...
Interested in growing fennel in a greenhouse? Discover tips on planting, growing, and harvesting fennel in this comprehensive guide along with health benefits and trivia about fennel.
Growing peppers is easy once you master some simple requirements: sunlight, spacing and water. Growing Peppers Growing peppers is a matter of taste…literally. Do you want hot peppers, medium, mild or sweet? No matter what kind they all require a long, warm growing season. Let’s dive into pepper science! There are many types of peppers...
Aquaponics is a growing method that combines aquaculture and hydroponics. Aquaculture is the process of raising fish and hydroponics is a soilless growing method. In short, aquaponics uses the wastewater created by fish in an aquaculture system as fertilizer for hydroponically grown produce in a recirculating system. This type of system allows you to reduce...
“Pests” are part of the natural ecosystem. Getting rid of them is an impossible feat, but managing them will help keep populations at tolerable levels for both the plants and the people who enjoy the plants. There are a few basic ways to tackle pest management, but an integrated approach will be the most effective....
Interested in growing garlic in a greenhouse? Discover tips on planting, growing, and harvesting garlic in this comprehensive guide along with health benefits and trivia about garlic.
Sweet potatoes are a great addition to your dome greenhouse. They are delicious, nutritious and will benefit from the long growing season a dome greenhouse provides.
Creating a backyard garden is an exciting and fulfilling adventure, but filling raised garden beds can become expensive. Luckily there are a few types of gardening that will not only help to reduce costs but improve the quality of the soil over time!
Nasturiums are easy to grow, edible, a gorgeous ground cover and a great companion plant for your greenhouse garden or outdoor garden.
Learn how to successfully grow tomatoes in your dome greenhouse. Determinate or indeterminate? You decide! Enjoy growing fresh, dome grown tomatoes with our guide.
This innovative farming technique, the floating gardens of Xochimilco, has supported thriving civilizations for centuries.
Learn how to successfully grow an avocado tree, or two, in your dome greenhouse. Enjoy fresh, dome grown avocados!
Gardening books are a great resource for beginners and an amazing way to expand your knowledge even if you are a seasoned pro. We have put together a list of some of our favorite gardening books just for you.
Elevate your greenhouse gardening with borage, the bee-friendly herb that beautifies your space and supports a thriving ecosystem. Easy to grow and perfect as a companion plant, borage offers both aesthetic appeal and practical benefits. Discover the simplicity of cultivating borage for a garden that buzzes with life and flavor.
Calling all modern homesteaders, backyard gardeners, and chicken lovers! Can these fluffy dinosaurs help us in the garden or should we leave them in the coop?
When Your Growing Dome Gives You Meyer Lemons, Make Lemonade! Jump to: Growing Lemons, Best Location for Lemon Trees in a Dome, Planting Your Lemon Tree, Companion Plants, Lemon Tree Care, Managing Pests, Harvesting, Pruning, History and Trivia, Health Benefits of Lemons Genus: Citrus x limon ‘Meyer’ Common Name: Meyer’s Lemon ...
Imagine a transition from a quiet, snow-covered backyard into a warm and bustling greenhouse. This is not just any greenhouse, but a Growing Dome, where the harshness of the outside world is replaced by a lush, fruit-bearing oasis. The air is fragrant with Meyer lemons, and the soothing sound of a waterfall from an above-ground pond completes the ambiance. In this realm, greenhouse gardening is limited only by your imagination. Over recent months, we've explored a variety of fruit bearing plants ideal for greenhouse cultivation. Now, we present them to you in a concise, easy-to-access guide.
Our company, Growing Spaces, began as a 100% off-grid greenhouse company with emphasis on helping people live a more sustainable, healthy lifestyle. While the driving force behind what we do has not changed, i.e. we are still here to help you take the steps to live a more sustainable and healthy life. We have realized...
Jump to: Growing Bananas, Ideal Conditions For Growing Bananas, Where to Grow Bananas in Your Dome, Planting Banana Plants, Growing Banana Companion Plants, Caring for Banana Plants, How to Manage Pests, Growing Bananas Year Round, When to Harvest Bananas, Banana History and Trivia, Health Benefits of Bananas Often called a tree, the banana is an...
Guava trees are found in tropical and subtropical regions where there is a hot and humid climate. They do not tolerate frost at all, however, if you live in a cooler climate you can grow guava in a greenhouse or in your home!
Time to get growing thyme! Do you want to start growing thyme in your greenhouse? Thyme is a great herb to have right at your fingertips, year-round! Read more for tips on growing this herb in your greenhouse. Jump to: The History of Thyme, Health Benefits of Thyme, How to Grow Thyme, Thyme Fun Facts,...
In uncertain times, self-sufficiency becomes paramount. At the forefront of this self-reliance is the concept of the survival garden—a means to ensure a steady supply of nutritious food regardless of external challenges.
Pumpkins take between 80-120 days to mature and should only be picked once fully mature. Do not rely on their size to determine maturity though. When they mature the leaves of the plant will die back and the skin will be hard. The skin will also turn a deeper, solid color and the stem will harden.
Unveil the fascinating journey of growing corn in a greenhouse. From its Mexican origins to its global popularity, learn how to cultivate this versatile crop effectively. Explore its history, unique growth requirements, and expert tips for a successful harvest.
Jump to: Growing Beans – Cultivation Tips, Bean Companion Plants, How to Harvest Beans. Bean History – Know Before You Grow Common (green) beans, scientifically known as Phaseolus vulgaris, originate from South America and Central America. Historical evidence suggests beans were cultivated in Mexico and Peru for millennia. They were later introduced to the Mediterranean...
When it comes to cultivating a fruitful and diverse garden or greenhouse, growing blueberries and strawberries together offers an exciting opportunity. Despite their different preferences, these fruits can thrive harmoniously. However, birds pose a threat to their delicious harvests. The solution? Cultivating blueberries and strawberries in a greenhouse provides protection against bird damage, ensuring a bountiful yield. In this article, we explore the cultivation tips for growing these delightful fruits side by side, including soil preparation, companion planting, and harvesting techniques. Let's dive into the world of blueberries and strawberries and uncover the secrets to a successful and rewarding greenhouse cultivation experience.
Featured Plant of the Month: Chard! Chard, or Beta vulgaris var. Cicla is from the Amaranthaceae family, also known as the beet family and is native to the Mediterranean area and is originally from Sicily! Quite a few sources say that Aristotle mentioned growing chard (red-stalked) in 350 BC, probably because it was revered for...
Enhance your gardening skills by improving plant health and productivity with these watering best practices.
Attention greenhouse gardeners! Discover how to protect your harvest from rodents and other animals with our latest blog post. Learn how to create barriers, use natural repellents, and traps to keep your garden thriving. Read now and enjoy a pest-free greenhouse garden!
Spring is finally here, and it's the perfect time to prepare for a bountiful season. Whether you're just starting your Growing Dome gardening journey or you're a seasoned grower, we've compiled a list of valuable blog posts written by our experts to help you succeed. From raised bed ideas to creating a beautiful pond garden, these resources will guide you through creating a thriving garden.
Cilantro, also known as coriander, is a versatile herb that belongs to the Apiaceae family and is native to Asia, Europe, and Africa. The plant has an air of mystery around it, as cilantro refers to the leaves, while coriander refers to the seeds. With its fresh and citrusy flavor, cilantro is a popular ingredient in many dishes, from salsa to curry. And the good news is, growing cilantro is easy, especially when grown in a greenhouse.
Did you know that growing cabbage in a greenhouse can provide you with fresh produce all year round? This humble vegetable has a rich history dating back to the Roman Empire and played a vital role in sustaining the Irish during times of food insecurity. Growing cabbage from seed is easy, and it prefers loamy soil with lots of compost mixed in. Companion plants like broccoli, kale, and swiss chard are great friends to cabbage, and they thrive in the same conditions and climate. Learn more about the benefits of companion planting and how to harvest your cabbage for a second, smaller harvest, or hang it in a root cellar for up to three months. Discover why cabbage is a superhero packed with vitamins, minerals, and cancer-fighting properties.
Brussels sprouts are a cultivar of wild cabbage native to the Mediterranean area. Known for their long growing season and cool weather preference, they are best grown in a greenhouse. With tips on planting, companion plants, and harvesting, you'll be able to successfully grow this nutritious vegetable. Add some fun to your greenhouse gardening with interesting facts about Brussels sprouts, and try a new recipe to truly appreciate this oftentimes misunderstood veggie.
An arctic blast swept through the northern half of our continent just before Christmas. On our Facebook groups we saw reports of temperatures as low as -21F in the US, and even colder in Canada. Despite these frigid temperatures, Dome Owners were still able to keep their plants alive and thriving by adding a bit of supplemental heat. Even if the temperature drops below freezing in the Dome, hardy plants will survive and perk back up as the sun hits them the following day.
These days it is even more important to be able to grow your own lettuce as crops in California’s Salinas Valley are currently fighting Impatiens necrotic spot virus, or INSV, which is mainly spread by thrips. Pythium wilt is another crop disease that attacks lettuce, generally along with INSV causing lettuce to wilt or completely collapse. We recommend planting lettuce as this disease may affect its availability since California grows approximately 70% of the lettuce consumed in the US. There has never been a better time to grow lettuce in your backyard!
Growing rosemary from seed in a greenhouse can take a few weeks for germination. Propagating plants from an established rosemary bush is a quicker method and you can be ready to plant in two weeks. Let us teach you how to grow rosemary successfully in your greenhouse. With our expert advice, you will tip the scales in your favor.
Growing basil in a greenhouse is a tricky balance. They don't like things too hot or too cold, and while they repel some common pests, such as hornworms and flies, they are susceptible to problems like aphids and Japanese beetles. Let us teach you how to grow basil successfully in your greenhouse. With our expert advice, you will tip the scales in your favor.
Celery seeds are tiny and can take up to 21 days to germinate. However, soaking celery seeds in warm water overnight will speed germination. Growing your celery inside a Growing Dome or starting seeds indoors will give you a significant head start to celery season.
What The Fig? Check out our article: How to Grow Figs in a Greenhouse! If you are like the majority of people, you may not be acquainted with the fig except for maybe a fig newton or perhaps used as a prehistoric fig leaf loin cloth in the days before underwear. All joking aside figs...
So, how can you keep your precious plants safe from hail damage when a rainstorm takes a turn for the worst? Well, if you have a Growing Dome, you are in luck. Unlike other greenhouses or hoop houses that have covering made from glass, fiberglass, or plastic sheeting, our greenhouses are built with high-quality, hail-resistant polycarbonate glazing.
Over the years, as our reach has extended to all 50 states and 14 countries worldwide, we’ve developed some components and guidance for customers who live where it may be cloudier, more humid, much colder, or even hotter than the Rocky Mountain West. We like hearing about our Dome owners’ experiences and learning from their feedback and then making improvements to what we offer.
Will Bees Help Your Greenhouse? Attracting bees to your greenhouse will certainly encourage ample harvests. New greenhouses don’t always get discovered by local pollinators, which might leave the gardener empty-handed, or with much less produce than anticipated when it comes time to harvest. It is the job of the gardener to help pollinators find the...
In spring, early high temperatures are a huge benefit--especially in our mountain location with a short growing season. But as spring turns into summer, the increasing heat in the dome can turn our sanctuary into an oven unless it’s managed correctly. Over the years, we’ve learned how to adapt our growing practices, our plant choices, and even our plant locations to make the most of summer heat and provide much-needed shade for the water tank.
In spring, early high temperatures are a huge benefit--especially in our mountain location with a short growing season. But as spring turns into summer, the increasing heat in the dome can turn our sanctuary into an oven unless it’s managed correctly. Over the years, we’ve learned how to adapt our growing practices, our plant choices, and even our plant locations to make the most of summer heat and provide much-needed shade for the water tank.
The above-ground pond included with our greenhouse kits creates an optimal opportunity for growth. -- It aids the growth of your plants in your raised beds, acting as the greenhouse's primary source of thermal mass, but it can also foster the growth of aquatic plants & fish. It can even promote the growth of a peaceful environment with soothing sounds and art.
Spring is such an exciting time to be a gardener especially following months of winter gardening. Days are quickly getting longer, plants are growing faster, and everything is “springing into life”. Here at Growing Spaces, we celebrate spring by nurturing soil, ordering seeds, and getting loads of starts ready for transplanting. Follow along as we connect with Head Growing Dome Gardener, Heather Gray, review her must-do spring gardening tasks, and get a peek into our greenhouses on-site in Pagosa Springs, Colorado
Fruit trees can be a healthy addition to most dome greenhouse gardens above zone 3. They provide fresh fruit and shade in the summer with the bonus of attracting pollinators when flowering. Understanding a plant’s natural environment (tropical, subtropical, or temperate to continental) and how to stimulate it will help you grow a wide variety of plants from fruit trees to shrubs, which will give you more confidence in your dome gardening adventure.
Many seedlings grow quickly in the spring when the days get longer. Thinning seedlings is a necessity but can become slightly more difficult if you overseeded or if your old seed packets had a higher germination rate than you were expecting. In any case, overcrowding is common and seedlings will almost always benefit from careful thinning.
Any indoor growing space is more prone to dry soil and fertility loss simply because it is not getting as much water. The garden soil in a Growing Dome needs extra care to produce optimally year after year. This article will explain a simple process for every gardener to maintain healthy soil in the spring and summer and achieve ultimate success.
Fig trees are one of the best ways to achieve summer shade and stabilized temperatures in your Growing Dome Greenhouse. They are forgiving in depleted dry soil conditions, extreme heat or cold, and inadequate ventilation conditions. Fig trees are relatively disease and pest resistant. They produce broad leaves at the perfect time in the spring to provide natural shade for your plants and lose them just in time for fall when you need more sun. Figs thrive in full sun and make delicious fruit. It is hard to imagine a better fruit tree for dome greenhouse growing.
Nurture Your Soil to Keep Your Dome Greenhouse Garden Thriving All Year It is easy to forget that our garden’s soil is alive with organic matter even when there are not any plants growing in it. Soil provides moisture and nutrients to your plants. But to do so correctly, the soil requires a healthy level...
When the nights start to get cold, and all those fans and vents are working against your best greenhouse gardening efforts, it's time to adjust your dome for the changing weather. Of course, It's never a seamless shift from summer to winter, and temps can fluctuate quite a bit. We want to share some tips that will help you winterize your greenhouse. Helping you adapt to your specific environment and enjoy a flourishing winter garden.
Transplanting seedlings and direct sowing are the two main methods of introducing plants to your small garden. Transplanting is the process of planting a baby plant, or starts, into your garden. In comparison, direct sowing is the process of planting seeds in your garden.
Paula & Keith Rigby’s 26’ backyard greenhouse in Kamiah, Idaho sits on their retirement property nestled in between the new home they are building and Keith’s workshop. Yes, they did in fact build the greenhouse first.
Fall brings more than changing leaves and crisp air. It also brings changes in your Dome, switching out summer fruits for winter leaves and roots. Summer fruits require heat, light, and longer days to produce optimally.
Every Growing Dome greenhouse has micro-climates. Each micro-climate provides different optimal growing areas for different types of plants. Growing the right plants in the right location will help to ensure your gardening success. The zones vary depending on the size of your dome, your raised bed design, and your vent and fan locations. Generally speaking, they correspond with the North, East, South, and West sides of your dome.
Learn how to time the planting of your seasonal crops with our Growing Dome Planting Schedule.
The Elder's, Jerilyn, Jay, Maddog, and Samantha, got their 33' Growing Dome with the hopes of generating enough food for themselves and others in the community. In just a year, their Dome has become so much more than a year-round gardening space. The Dome has acted as a getaway location for the entire family during the pandemic. Jerilyn called the expanse "the perfect place to slow down and veg out." It is truly their dream greenhouse garden getaway.
Aphids are tiny soft shell bugs that usually attach themselves to the underside of leaves. They can spread disease and damage plants, mostly by weakening plants or trees. Aphids do not often kill plants unless they are very young sprouts. Aphids suck the sap from the plant and refine it into honey. There are many different reasons aphids develop, but luckily there are also plenty of ways to get rid of aphids.
Plants grown in greenhouses are more susceptible to powdery mildew and a range of other fungal infections due to a variety of factors. I would like to explain and share several methods to prevent it and enjoy your greenhouse garden year-round.
Michael and Susan are both educators committed to making the world a better place whenever they can. In June of 2013, they purchased an 18' Growing Dome. Their dream was to create a sustainable greenhouse that balances natural and man-made environments while growing food year-round.
Pill Bugs or roly poly bugs are hard-shell crustaceans and decomposers. They exist everywhere and are part of the group of creatures that break down dead organic matter into soil. They can become destructive. Here are a few ways to get roly poly bugs under control and enjoy a healthy thriving garden
Daunelle and Weldon have always enjoyed gardening, but the weather in Lake Tahoe left them with very little time to enjoy it. Seven years ago, they decided to make the short move from Lake Tahoe to Gardnerville, Nevada. Located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains at approximately 4,751 ft their valley is known for it's thermal winds. The climate is similar to Tahoe; but "hotter and windier."
Healthy soil contains organic matter that retains moisture longer, even in extreme climates or weather conditions, unlike Hydrophobic soil, which is dry soil that does not want to take in water. This happens when the bacteria and fungal life in your soil die off from lack of moisture. There are many different degrees of hydrophobic soil and many ways to fix it.
At the end of 2010, Deb's doctor diagnosed her with an autoimmune disorder and recommended she make a lifestyle change and consume a more nutrient-dense diet. So, in January of 2011, Reg and Deb Miller packed up their city life in Alberta and left to start a new adventure semi-retiring in Anglemont, British Columbia.
Sorrel is a small edible green plant from the Polygonaceae family, which also includes buckwheat and rhubarb. The French translation of sour (“sorrel”) is spot-on.
It is time to get those spring and summer crops planted. The Growing Dome Community is especially excited this year to swap out winter crops for the spring season. The first aspect to consider is whether you will be direct seeding or transplanting starts.
My husband, Rex Inman, and I own Fogwood Food, LLC. We specialize in growing specialty crops, things like asparagus, ghost peppers, oyster mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, and baby ginger...but, particularly Shiitake mushrooms.
Daniel and Kerry Branagan use their 26' Growing Dome a little differently than most. Instead of growing food or flowers, their greenhouse is filled with beautiful lush succulents of all shapes and sizes. Kerry's love for succulents came about as a child at her grandmas when she saw her first hen and chick succulent. She was fascinated by it.
The question of whether or not to grow sage is pretty cut-and-dry (pun totally intended) because it's got so many uses. Beyond its beauty in the garden, sage is a sacred plant, a valued seasoning, and an herb with therapeutic properties. Learn more about how to grow sage.
Optimize micronutrients by eating fruits and vegetables immediately after harvest. There are so many benefits to eating vegetables fresh from the earth. Taste, nutritional value and saving trips to the grocery store. Food travels hundreds, if not thousands, of miles before it makes it to the grocery store shelves and loses critical nutrients along the way.
Calendula is a versatile and low maintenance plant that can add beauty and utility to any greenhouse or outdoor garden. This plant is not only attractive to pollinators, but it also has numerous medicinal and culinary uses. From its high flavonoid content to its ability to attract beneficial insects and act as a trap crop, calendula is an excellent addition to any garden. In this blog post, we will explore how to grow calendula, companion planting options, and how to harvest and use this incredible plant.
April 2020 Dome of the Month – Rob and Barb Rodney Hoffman and Barb Smith do everything they can to live more sustainably. Their 18′ Growing Dome, located 8,000ft above sea level in Conifer, Colorado, is a 100% solar-powered greenhouse. They even gather rainwater to keep the tank full. The Dome was initially supposed to be...
Winter or early Spring is a great time to clean your panels as vegetation is generally reduced, allowing easy access to the polycarbonate surfaces. According to Claudia Stover, long-time Growing Spaces dome owner and greenhouse gardening teacher, not only does regular cleaning of the polycarbonate panels increase the sanitation of the greenhouse but “keeping the dome panels clear of pollen and plant debris also helps reduce disease and pest pressure on your plants.”
A 15′ Greenhouse in Ontario, Canada March Dome of the Month – Ron Cole March’s Dome of the Month features a 15′ Growing Dome in Ontario, Canada. Ron Cole built his greenhouse with our 15′ Geodesic Dome Greenhouse Kit in October 0f 2014 to experiment with plants he can’t usually grow. The 15′ Growing Dome...
Floating Island Plants for Your Pond Maintaining a healthy above ground pond in our domes depends on numerous factors. One of the most common questions we are asked pertains to controlling the algae growth in the pond garden. Floating pond planters are a perfect way to keep the algae away and add beauty! Why do...
February 2020 Dome of the Month Veteran Jerry Bailey’s Montana Greenhouse February’s Dome of the Month features a 15′ Growing Dome in Philipsburg, Montana. Jerry Bailey, a US Army veteran, and avid outdoorsman built his greenhouse with our 15′ Geodesic Dome Greenhouse Kit in May of last year to become more self-sufficient. The 15′ Growing...
Stories From Growing Domes Across the Globe Andrew Trujillo – Green Thumb Daddy The Growing Spaces team often refers to Andrew as the face of Growing Dome Greenhouses. Although he doesn’t work for Growing Spaces, he is one of our biggest supporters and provides outstanding feedback, content and wonderful pictures on our social media channels....
Matt & Christie’s New Mexico Mountain Greenhouse is growing beautiful tropical flowers year-round If you are an avid user of the Growing Spaces Facebook Group “Growing Dome Enthusiasts”, then you are no doubt familiar with our December Growing Dome of the Month owner, Matt Larson. He often posts pictures of his extraordinary flowers in his...
With help from our customers, Growing Spaces has developed an ROI calculator to determine when your greenhouse financing will be paid off! How can a Growing Dome geodesic greenhouse save you money and provide a return on your investment? The number one concern we get from gardeners interested in a Growing Dome is the cost....
Seed saving as a means to restore and promote the regenerative agricultural movement Seed saving has saved my relationship with the land. A few years into my gardening journey I felt helpless as to how my work was impacting the environment. Sure, I was growing my own produce, lowering my carbon footprint, and sharing an...
Blog for incorporating organic pest management into your Growing Dome Greenhouse routine.
Blog: Soil composition is the most important, yet most misunderstood factor for many home growers. The health of your soil is crucial to the vitality of the plants you choose to grow in your greenhouse. But what is makes up soil composition? How does it differ from dirt?
Blog: If you want to ensure the longevity of your garden beds, soil amendment is crucial. Ideally, if you’re keeping up with cover cropping and crop rotation you won’t need to do soil amendment too often.
Blog post on how to properly add soil to your garden beds to ensure optimal plant health.
Boost Immunity and Beat the Flu with these Powerful Medicines Found in Your Kitchen, Window-Shelf Pot, or Year Round Growing Dome® Garden.
We are experts these days. Please click here to see our latest article on vermicompost. We think you will like it even more! What is vermiculture? I wondered the same thing myself, because listening to garden podcasts and just talking to people about gardening in general I hear this term often. I know it is...
“We are grass farmers” is a quote from the famous Joel Salatin and I can’t seem to forget it. He explains that in order to grow great cattle, poultry, or pigs, you must have great food to give to them. (Sound familiar?) In order to grow that grass to feed those animals, you must have...
Sow your seeds in early fall to prepare for your Winter Garden: If you grow in a Growing Dome, or greenhouse, or even want to try to extend your season in an outdoor garden, the time has come to sow seeds for fall and winter gardening. If you sow in late August to early September,...
Gardening in a Growing Dome is rewarding. Upon entering the Growing Dome, we inflate our lungs with clean, fresh air, instantly melting away any fears or worries we had moments before. In this sanctuary we feed the fish, smell the blossoms, snack on some healthy treats along the way, and nourish the soil. Sowing seeds...
Winter Gardens: The Only Suitable Response to Punxsutawney Phil The most wanted groundhog in America, maybe the most wanted groundhog in the history of mankind, makes a case for winter gardens. No other groundhog sees tens of thousands of people gathering to hear the final say on the conditions of their next six weeks. The crowds...
Winter Gardening 2017 Riding the Pineapple Express Well, welcome to winter gardening 2017. It’s in full swing. Here’s a picture of our most used gardening tools the past few weeks. An old beat up, but highly dependable, Chevy Silverado plow truck, an assortment of hand shovel and we’re going to peek into a Growing Dome® to...
These are some of the most popular crops that can thrive all winter in a Growing Dome Leafy greens Many different kinds of Lettuce, Spinach, Swiss chard, Tatsoi, Mizuna, Bok choi, Endive, Arugula, Radicchio Root vegetables Radish, Carrot , Turnips, Swede, Rutabaga, Daikon, Parsnip Members of the cabbage family Cabbage, Kale, Collards, Brussel Sprouts, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Kohlrabi Members of the onion family Onions, Garlic, Leeks Herbs Parsley, Sage, Thyme, Rosemary, Marjoram, Fennel,...
Sowing Seeds In Late Summer/Early Fall & Preparing For Winter “Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant.” Robert Louis Stevenson If you grow in a greenhouse or even if you have an outdoor garden threatened by winter snow, you should be sowing seeds for your winter crops...
Why Growing Dome® Gardening is Unique and Easy. Gardening in a Growing Dome is different. It’s different in a good way. It’s easy. It is not like growing outside, and compared to growing in a regular greenhouse, they are as different as night and day. Plants do grow easily in the Growing Dome. However, to...
Seed Starting For Fast and Consistent Germination Rates What are seeds and how do we best “start” them to ensure consistent germination rates? Why do they sprout when they do? Understanding the fundamentals of seeds and seed germination allows for designing optimal situations and practices for successful starts for your garden. Meet Roland. He is Growing...
Both frogs and toads are beneficial to the garden because they feed on many pests. A single frog can eat over 100 insects in one night. Attracting and keeping frogs and toads in your garden will help moderate pest populations without the need for chemical or natural pesticides.
“People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing everyday.” – Winnie the Pooh I was busy doing nothing the other day, when I realized; spring is here. The sun is returning. Plants are growing and delivering the promise of blossoms and fruit and long lazy days in the sun. How often do you have...
Claudia Stover, a Growing Dome® owner of 10 years, had a visit this past weekend from Growing Spaces® owners, Puja and Udgar Parsons. I’m pretty sure I counted almost 20 varieties of plant foods that she has growing, and thriving, in her Growing Dome right now, in early January. You probably caught that the outside...
Do you need to heat your Growing Dome® Greenhouse in the Winter? Before I share a few reasons why you might want to heat your Growing Dome in the winter, and what type of heaters we recommend, the short answer to the above question is: No. You do not need to heat your Growing Dome...
How to control thrips organically in your Growing Dome
AQUATIC PLANTS The growing capacity of your garden does not have to be limited to what can be grown in the soil. Aquatic plants not only add to the aesthetic appeal, they aid the overall functionality of the water tank. Advantages of Water Plants Types of Water Plants The advantages of investing in water plants...
Greenhouse Mulching You know you should be mulching, right? Or should you? This could be a contentious subject, so before you throw off your garden gloves, let me explain. There are a lot of opinions out there about mulching. Well, we just did a little greenhouse mulching experiment here at Growing Spaces in our 15′ Dome and...
Mold and mildew are both types of fungi that grow best in warm, humid environments. Most fungi reproduce and spread via spores. Spores emerge from fruiting bodies of fungi and are most commonly dispersed via breeze or transported by water. Much like plant seeds, spores can survive environmental conditions that aren’t conducive to fungi growth,...
The Growing Spaces team has started a new project here at our Pagosa Springs office, and we want you to join us in our pursuit! As the warm growing season came to a close here in the Rocky Mountains, the Growing Spaces team started to plan a winter garden for the 15′ Growing Dome greenhouse...
Transplanting vegetables is a great way to practice “time stacking” which increases yields and reduces or eliminates gaps in harvests. To maximize yield in the Growing Dome it is helpful to start some vegetable crops outside of the raised beds in pots, flats or containers while you are still harvesting mature crops from the raised beds....
This new 33′ Growing Dome owner in Cody, WY got very creative with her greenhouse pond that comes as a part of the Growing Dome kit. She had a local artist, Mike Kopriva, paint the tank with a gorgeous underwater scene. If you follow the painting from left to right, you see that it starts...
To heat greenhouse in winter or not? The Growing Dome is a marvel of technology in its efficiency. With 25+ years of research we can tell you that it can be up to three times more efficient than a traditional greenhouse. Not only does the geodesic shape contribute to this efficiency, but the solar powered...
The results are in, and we got a bunch of votes (747) and a slew of comments (42) about Bernadette Dickinson’s photo of her bunches of grapes. It makes us want to take the short drive south to Ignacio just to be able to eat a handful out of Bernadette’s 22′ Growing Dome Greenhouse in...
Recently, our fish had grown so big that they began eating all of our aquatic plants in our water tanks! Rather than watch our plants dwindle to nothing, we got creative. Innovation is always happening here at Growing Spaces and we have so many brilliant members contributing. With some lovely input and guidance from Claudia...
Congratulations to Cate Graber on winning the Dome of the Month contest for May 2013. This fun pair of photos of her 26′ Growing Dome greenhouse in Trinidad, Colorado shows how quickly the weather can change in the Rocky Mountains. Her peach tree had just decided to start blooming above 6,400 feet. Then Mother Nature...
Reminding us of a season soon to pass…this beautiful photo from Kathy Pitts & John Stone of their 26′ Growing Dome Greenhouse in Northern California captures the essence of the winter solstice it was photographed on. One of the comments about the photo that was posted on Facebook sums it up best for us, “Lovely...
There are some terms we year-round gardeners throw around pretty easily and “catch crop” is one of them. It sounds complicated, but is actually very simple. A catch crop is a fast-growing, quickly maturing crop that can be grown between cold season (winter) and warm season (summer) crops. January is most definitely too early to...
Let’s start out by first acknowledging that gardening is an inherently Earth-friendly activity. The basic acts of turning the soil, sowing seeds, watering, and nurturing the plants literally consists of acting in a loving, gentle and kind way toward the Earth. Gardening is also eco-friendly in less direct but as conspicuous ways. The most obvious...
It’s been an especially cold winter for many parts of the country. We here in Colorado had the brunt of it during December and now the Midwest and Northeast are experiencing exceptionally cold temperatures. We’ve received a flood of questions about when and how to heat the Growing Dome. It largely depends on the amount...
Congratulations to Katja Wichland and Josh Rapaport on winning the January 2013 Dome of the Month with this lovely winter photo of their 26′ Growing Dome Greenhouse in Colorado. Protected by their adopted Chow Chow named Bella, they are at 9,000 feet elevation near Telluride and are coming up on their two-year anniversary of owning...
This Growing Dome Greenhouse in Oregon is flourishing in winter
This Growing Dome Greenhouse is flourishing on the Central Oregon Coast
On October 8th we hosted an “Ask the Gardening Experts” Interactive Workshop attended by over 50 students and presented by 5 panelists. It was an information packed day that offered many solutions for problems gardeners face. We will be releasing the full class on video for the public to purchase. Until then we wanted to...
Grand Traverse Academy in Michigan has been using aquaponic and hydroponic techniques in their Growing Dome garden for 2 years with great success. They are learning a lot along the way and continuing to increase their yield. Their fish species of choice does well in cold water and provides them with fertilized water for their...
This early spring has been a guilty pleasure for what it seems like everyone in the continental United States, but we’re all secretly wondering what this means. Are we in for a major drought? When will the strong winds and tornadoes die down? Is this what global warming looks like? We definitely can’t answer any...
This is the most exciting time of year to be involved in gardening and we can’t help but join in and share spring planting info. When the bug hits to get growing it’s hard to resist, but when REALLY is the best time to sow what seeds in spring? And is there a way to...
From time to time, we receive questions about the soil in the gardening beds of the Growing Dome. The question of soil, like many things in gardening, can be a life-long pursuit or can be a spontaneous leap of faith. Examining the interactions between micro-organisms, fungi, minerals, biomass and more keeps laboratories at the most...
My family and I are in the first year with our 26′ Growing Dome. This winter we are not at full capacity because we didn’t have time to get all of the beds built before the soil we needed to bring into the greenhouse froze solid to the ground. Right now we’re growing in a...
“For Puja and I, everything is connected, and we are ever awed by the complexity and beauty of the natural world. Offering a product which helps people enjoy and support this beauty and the bountiful ways of nature – while growing an abundance of food – is very fulfilling for us.” – Udgar Parsons, Co-Owner...
When the summer sun provides a daily flush of fresh produce we are lulled into a happy, comfortable state. Then the daylight begins to escape us and the warmth dissipates. In the last month or so you may very well be asking yourself, “Why are the spider mites, aphids, and white flies having a heyday...
Would you like to be in a warm, green oasis when it’s snowing outside? The optimum time for sowing cool weather crops in the Growing Dome is by the END OF SEPTEMBER. This will allow you plenty of time to get your greens, carrots, beets, radish, leeks, garlic, onions, and more established before the winter...
If you haven’t been on our YouTube channel lately, we’d like the chance to share the episodes from this Summer’s Gardening Tips video series. Our favorite is the most recent Hand Flower Pollination video: Also check out these fun videos on cooling your greenhouse in the summer:
To follow the theme of the Growing Domes®, we like to promote “going local”. You can’t get any more local than growing your food at home and we support local gardeners as part of this movement. In 2010 Udgar Parsons, Growing Spaces Owner & Founder, taught at a “Gardening & Beyond” educational program that was...
Growing Dome Greenhouses in Alaska and Canada stay 30 deg. F warmer in the winter than outside
Whitefly infestations can be recognized when a plant is disturbed and a giant cloud of tiny flies fills the air. Although the Whitefly hatches and lives in the soil, it feeds on the undersides of foliage and often leaves a sticky residue. Unfortunately, this residue attracts aphids, and the aphid + residue combination attracts ants....
The difference between the inside and outside of the dome on a cold winter night depends on how many sunny days you are having. With the domes 7 unique features for heating and cooling, we are able to grow year-round, even in the Rocky Mountains, because we can keep the temperature at a decent level...
We have talked in our previous posts about sowing a batch of cool hardy seeds for our spring crops. A few words about how to sow your seeds may be appropriate here. The first thing to note is the size of the seed you are using, as they vary quite enormously. The average depth to...
Spring is a very fun time in our Growing Dome greenhouses. Usually all the winter crops that we have been harvesting and eating over the winter are starting to go to seed. Do not despair! A lot of these vegetables have edible flowers. For example, arugula, tatsoi, mizuna, and a lot of edible greens also...
I am excited this fall, because for once I don’t feel terribly behind on my winter crop plantings. I have 2 separate beds of my “greens mixture” beets, chard, kale, swiss chard and parsnips coming up, about 3 weeks apart, I have garlic sprouted about 4″ and more just breaking through the ground. Onions are...
So Richard Miller, our resident Master Gardener here at Growing Spaces, and I finally made it to my Growing Dome for a little gardening evaluation. Turns out that my concerns about my gardening skills have a lot less to do with the results this year in my Dome, than the soil or rather in this...
I spent a bit of time this weekend in my 26′ Dome getting it tidied and ready for a fall planting. We just had 3 weeks of monsoon rains and our temperatures have moderated somewhat, so I am hoping to get my fall crops planted this week. In so doing I am hoping to be...
Please share your input and/or experience with growing edible fish inside the Growing Dome water tank.
Good Morning, I am happy to share with you my personal Growing Dome experiences. In response to a recent question about where to place the Southern Burner Heater (Update: Southern Burner closed in 2019) inside the Growing Dome…you place it so the hot air is blowing on the water tank. This allows the tank to...
After a quick trip to our 26′ Growing Dome, I was thrilled to discover over 4 pounds of mixed salad greens and the first of our sugar snap peas ready to eat. What a treat! As our Dome is located 18 miles from where we now live, I only get to the Dome about once...
