Without water, the west has a number of problems. We need to be thinking about the “new normal”, the best ways that we can conserve water, and how we can stabilize our own food systems. Our proposed solution is to go back to our roots, bring back the kitchen garden, and fight food insecurity in our own backyards.
What is Vermiculture? Vermiculture, also known as worm composting or vermicomposting, uses worms to convert organic waste into nutrient-rich compost for plants. This is a great way to reduce waste, improve soil health, and create a sustainable gardening practice. This blog post will discuss the basics of vermiculture, how to set up a worm bin,...
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.
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.
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.
We often stress the importance of proper ventilation in Dome Greenhouses. This is because ventilation is the main component in a healthy, happy greenhouse garden. Without it, your greenhouse and plants will be exposed to a multitude of problems.
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.
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.
April 2020 Dome of the Month – Rod 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 of 2014 to experiment with plants he can’t usually grow. The 15′ Growing Dome...
Floating Island Plants for your Pond Maintaining a healthy water tank in our domes depends on numerous factors. One of the most common questions we are asked pertains to controlling the algae growth in the water tank. Why do I have more algae in the winter? It is important to understand that algae develop primarily...
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....
Stories From Growing Domes Across the Globe 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...
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....
Laura & Dwane’s Lush Alaskan Greenhouse Getaway Novembers’s Dome of the Month features a 22′ growing dome in Wrangell, Alaska. Laura and Dwane decided to purchase their Alaska greenhouse a little over a year and a half ago due to the lack of good quality produce where they live and Laura’s passion for organic gardening....
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...
Ways to nourish your body and your Growing Dome during the Summer Solstice The Summer Solstice of 2019 is upon us, bringing with it a time of intensity physically, emotionally, and environmentally. As we all know, the Solstice marks the day of the year with the most hours of sunlight. On this day, that number...
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.
Mountain Goats Call Bed and Breakfast Home A Bed and Breakfast Complete with Goats and a Growing Dome® Mountain Goat Lodge might be the most unique bed and breakfast you’ve ever seen. Outside Salida, Colorado, on a stretch of Highway 285, lives a goat sanctuary disguised as a Bed and Breakfast. Mountain Goat Lodge: Bed...
The Growing Dome® is not your run-of-the-mill “regular” greenhouse. In the world of greenhouses, it’s completely unique and leads the field in a new paradigm of year round gardening, a net zero energy greenhouse. Why is it Different, or Superior, to a Regular Greenhouse? Regular Greenhouse vs the Growing Dome Regular Greenhouse vs the Growing Dome...
Boost Immunity and Beat the Flu with these Powerful Medicines Found in Your Kitchen, Window-Shelf Pot, or Year Round Growing Dome® Garden.
As I think about my experience shopping yesterday, as everyone prepares for the holidays in our town, I am struck by the Holiday energy, thoughts about ending 2017, and affirming what will be healthy for the New Year. The offer of a “21 Day Pilates Holiday Slimdown” reminds me of the urge to improve in...
It’s the middle of November, and I walk outside into the crisp coldness that reminds me winter is closer than it appears. Our backyard has Growing Domes and entering one of these is like transporting yourself into another world. It’s warm and a bit humid inside, completely opposite from the outer world I just left....
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 supposed to make my garden amazing. I hear it’s easy. So what is it? It’s worms. And worm poop. Before you say gross...
“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...
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...
It is the Spring Equinox for 2017….traditionally symbolizing the breaking out of the darkness of winter and the return of light. It’s time for longer days and an “emerging” as birds sing and buds return from sleep to waking. In my world, it is especially significant this year, due to the symbolic darkness of this...
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...
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 shovels… 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 “Dont 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. If you sow in...
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...
Keep Your Greenhouse Cool In Summer 7 Ways to Cool Your Growing Dome You can keep your greenhouse cool…even in the heat of summer. A greenhouse is designed to trap heat. They are bound to get hot, but you don’t want them to get too hot. What is too hot for a greenhouse? How does...
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...
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.
Growing Dome® Known to Withstand Hurricane Force Winds The strong, wind resistant structure of a geodesic dome greenhouse is inherently wind proof, which is why the Growing Dome is the best greenhouse for wind and extreme weather, hands down! Google best greenhouse for wind and you’ll find best practices and conventional wisdom for protecting your...
Polycarbonate glazing has proven to be the Best Greenhouse for Hail, Wind, Snow and Cold Temperatures Impact Resistance 200 Times Greater Than Glass People claim the weather is unpredictable these days, especially in the Rocky Mountains. I call shenanigans. It is predictable; in its unpredictability. It will hail, it will snow, it will get windy and that’s...
“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...
As I consider the “Return of the Light” as signified by the Spring Equinox, Easter and even the Lunar Eclipse this week, I have to say… “It is welcome!” I have been very moved by the troubles we see and hear about globally, as we enter the next season. Growing Spaces® mission “to help personal...
What do you need to consider when you are dreaming of having a greenhouse? We have put together a list of questions you might ask yourself, and we try to provide some thought provoking ideas for you to ruminate on. Things to consider when buying a greenhouse How much space do I have? How many...
Winter gardening. Can it really be productive? Well, how about growing 20 varieties of food plants at the beginning of January? In the midst of a Rocky Mountain winter? Claudia Stover, a Growing Dome® owner of 10 years, had a visit this past weekend from Growing Spaces® owners, Puja and Udgar Parsons. In this video,...
The Winter Solstice: A time to celebrate, a time of re-affirmation, and a time of courage. In the Northern Hemisphere, the December Solstice is the Winter Solstice, and the shortest day of the year. Although winter is the season of dormancy, darkness and cold, the December Solstice marks the “turning of the Sun.” The days slowly...
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
Tips and techniques on organic pest control and the pill bug in your garden or greenhouse Strawberries and sandboxes and what is the difference between a Pill bug and Sow bug? And more importantly, are they harmful to your garden? And what organic pest control methods work for Pill bugs? As a child I spent...
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 Attractive Improve water quality (acts as filter of unwanted substances)...
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…. should you mulch should you not mulch what type of mulch should you use Well, we...
Just over a week ago, Pagosa Springs received some much needed snow. Overnight, more than a foot of wet snow blanketed trees and mountains surrounding our little town. It’s unusual for Colorado to receive such wet, heavy snow, and much of the town actually shut down for a snow day! Although county employees and teachers...
The Snow and Cold are Here! Until a few weeks ago, the Growing Spaces team and all of Pagosa Springs, CO was still waiting for our first big winter snow. Impatience for this important seasonal event ended just a few days before the Christmas holiday when the clouds finally dumped a good amount of fluffy...
It’s winter vegetable harvest time, and we hope to make it a holiday tradition. The long awaited snow and winter cold has finally arrived in Southwest Colorado, but our lush garden in the 15′ Growing Dome continues to produce yummy, nutrient-rich greens. The longer season crops we planted in October are also coming along nicely,...
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,...
Welcome back to the 15′ Growing Dome! We are glad you’ve decided to join us again. Following along with our project will continue to provide you with valuable gardening tips and information, as well as show how, really, anyone can grow fresh, nutritious food in a Growing Dome, all year round! Thinning vegetable crops is...
Welcome back to the 15′ Growing Dome! The Growing Spaces team is excited to share how well all of our cool season crops are growing, even as the weather continues to get colder and the days get shorter here in Pagosa Springs, CO. November is the time of year when most everyone is putting...
It’s October 1st, and we’re planting seeds! At the beginning of our new project in the 15′ Growing Dome, we heavily amended the soil in the outer growing beds, where we direct seeded many greens and vegetables. As we constructed a new interior bed to increase growing space with the goal of maximizing production in...
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 containers, pots or flats while you are still harvesting mature crops from the raised...
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 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 heat...
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 Stover...
In this day and age of the deluge of bad news, everyone does their best to filter out the pertinent information about what will affect their health and safety. In this article we’re going to do some filtering for you and walk through important new information about the safety of your fresh fruits and vegetables....
Watch over 4.5 hours of video of Jerome Osentowski’s Growing Dome Garden Management workshop hosted at Growing Spaces in the summer of 2012. Do so at your leisure by streaming the video online. We captured the best parts of this information rich two-day course on how to build your own permaculture garden in a greenhouse....
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 plant...
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. It largely depends on the amount of sunshine you...
This Growing Dome Greenhouse is flourishing on the Central Oregon Coast
On October 8th we hosted a “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 hay-day...
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 with you 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...
View this brief introduction to our company and tour one of our Growing Domes. Also find out different resources that we offer to help you with gardening and living a more sustainable lifestyle.
Growing Dome Greenhouses in Alaska and Canada stay 30 deg. F warmer in the winter than outside
Over the next 6 months we will be offering a series of gardening videos on our You Tube channel
Many people are concerned that the Growing Dome® will be able to handle high winds. Basically the shape is such that the winds flow effortlessly around the Growing Dome®. They have been able to withstand recorded winds of 130 miles per hour in Browning, Montana, Alaska, and the front range of the Colorado Rockies. The...
Control Whitefly Infestation Naturally 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 +...
Many Dome owners frequently ask us questions regarding pest control. Here are some ideas for doing aphid control: 1. Is the Dome planted really densely? Thin the plants by pulling the most infested plants first. 2. Spray the entire plant with an insecticidal soap or a mixture of dish washing liquid and water. Joy and...
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...
We have talked in our previous posts about sowing a batch of cool hardy seeds for our spring crops. A few words about sowing 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 sow seeds is...
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...
SPRING time in the Growing Dome, check out hint #13 ! Click the link below https://growingspaces.com/greenhouse-gardening-hints/
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...
Here’s what I’ve learned lately from our 26′ Growing Dome. For a while there our life was pretty calm and I was getting to the Dome every Saturday and checking in on the plants. I’d harvest whatever was ready, clip the dead leaves or stems from the tomato and pepper plants, throw in a few...
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...
The 33′ Employee Dome at Growing Spaces and my personal 26′ Dome are in full harvest mode now and it’s a little tough for even the most enthusiastic veggie lover to consume as much produce as is ready to eat! For weeks now Richard Miller and I have had a little “co-op” going on, he...
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...
After punching in this morning I went out to the 33′ Dome here at Growing Spaces to check on the lettuce seedlings surrounding the new strawberry transplants. Once again it appears we have planted way too densely again, not hard to do with fine little lettuce seeds. So I spent about 10 minutes plucking out...
Look what the Dome has in store… After spending a few minutes in the domes – I had to grab my camera! We have tomatoes, grapes, artichokes, figs, bell pepper, and squash just to name a few of the wonderful things growing inside!! What types of things are growing in YOUR Dome?!
WATCH WHAT “CIDE” YOU’RE ON or … Maintaining a Healthy Garden in a World of Chemicals.. I don’t care what Punxsutawney Phil said, I’m dreaming of a green garden. I see fields of snow melting away to crocus and daffodils and emerging grasses, or are they weeds! Quick, to the herbicide. Ah, digging in the...
Can you guys believe we already have tomatoes sprouting in the Dome – in MID MARCH! – in Southern Colorado – from last years plants that have been ripped out!! You won’t see a single green leaf outside the Dome, for at least another month or two!! (We’ll be eating tomatoes from this plant by...
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 inside the Growing Dome… you place it so the hot air is blowing on the water tank. This allows the tank to become a greater thermal heat...
I have just planted peas, arugula, beets, and radishes in our 33′ Growing Dome. The peas are taking off they look fantastic! It is a wonderful 84 degrees Fahrenheit in the dome today!
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...
Planting Schedule: There are three main seasons for planting in the Growing Dome. The time to begin planting is in the spring, around mid-March, when the soil is warm enough for seeds of warm weather plants to germinate. To ensure proper germination, the soil needs to have an average temperature of 60 degrees Fahrenheit....
Everything’s happy inside our Dome! What I have found in my 22 foot Growing Dome is that there is a significant difference in the temperature at the outside edge of the growing bed and near the water tank. This can be as much as fifteen degrees warmer near the tank. What this means is that...
