Most people think gardening ends when winter arrives — but it doesn’t have to.

With the right setup, you can grow radishes, lettuce, chard, and herbs all winter long, even when it’s freezing outside. The secret is combining protected growing space with a self-watering terracotta olla system that delivers perfect moisture to plant roots 24/7.

That’s exactly what we’re doing inside our greenhouse — and it works just as well in sunrooms, patios, enclosed porches, and even bright indoor spaces.

Let’s break it down.

Our greenhouse stays productive year-round because we never let temperatures drop below freezing.

We use:

• Propane tanks

• A greenhouse heater

• Insulated growing space

That combination creates a stable, plant-friendly environment — but the real magic happens below the soil.

Even the best heated greenhouse won’t help if plants dry out, get overwatered, or suffer root stress. That’s why we use a Thirsty Earth Olla Watering System instead of drip irrigation or hand watering.

Traditional watering doesn’t work well indoors or in winter:

• You forget to water

• Water runs off

• Roots stay wet and rot

• Soil dries out unevenly

An olla watering system fixes all of that.

Terracotta ollas slowly release moisture through their porous walls directly into the soil. The roots pull only the water they need, when they need it — no flooding, no drying out, no guesswork.

This is exactly how ancient farmers irrigated crops for thousands of years — and it’s still one of the most efficient watering methods on Earth.

This greenhouse bed had already gone through a full growing season, so before planting we gave it new life:

1. We added fresh compost

2. Mixed in new topsoil

3. Created a nutrient-rich growing base

Healthy soil + consistent moisture = explosive growth — even in winter.

We spaced the terracotta cups evenly across the bed and used a garden auger drill bit to dig clean holes.

Each olla gets buried so the rim stays above soil level. This keeps dirt out while allowing water to slowly seep through the clay walls into the root zone.

Then we assembled:

• Cap nuts

• Fittings

• Tubing

The system connects all the ollas to a single water source — meaning the entire bed waters itself automatically.

Once filled, the system keeps soil perfectly moist for days at a time.

No timers.
No electricity.
No drip lines to clog.

Just gravity and terracotta doing what they do best.

After just five weeks, this bed exploded with growth:

• Radishes

• Lettuce

• Swiss chard

• Nasturtium

All thriving in the middle of winter — without daily watering, without soggy soil, and without plant stress.

The roots grow toward the ollas, creating stronger plants and deeper root systems.

This is why gardeners who switch to ollas see:

• Faster growth

• Healthier plants

• Higher yields

• Less water use

You don’t need propane tanks or a full greenhouse.

You can grow like this in:

• Enclosed patios

• Sunrooms

• Garages with windows

• Indoor grow rooms

• Bright living spaces

With the Thirsty Earth Instant Garden Kit, you can set up a self-watering indoor garden that works all winter long — even when it’s snowing outside.

Just add:

• A container or raised bed

• Potting soil

• Your favorite greens or herbs

The olla system handles the rest.

Drip systems:

• Waste water

• Over-saturate soil

• Create fungus and mold

• Require timers and power

Olla irrigation:

• Uses up to 70% less water

• Prevents root rot

• Delivers moisture only where roots need it

• Works without electricity

It’s the most low-maintenance, high-yield way to grow food indoors.

Whether you’re growing inside a greenhouse or beside a sunny window, a terracotta olla watering system lets you grow fresh food year-round with almost no effort.

Install once.
Fill with water.
Grow for days.

If your plants deserve better than guessing with a watering can, it’s time to switch to Thirsty Earth.