Monthly Greenhouse Tips
Owning, using, and enjoying your own greenhouse can be fun and relaxing - but there are still "Things To Do" to keep it clean, healthly, and usable. For each month of the year we have gathered useful greenhouse tips and information from our customers, employees and friends like you to help you get even more enjoyment from your greenhouse.
We've gathered these greenhouse tips from a variety of sources, much of it has been over the years and is not known. Please feel free to send us some of your own ideas.
This will be the coldest month of the year for most areas around the country. But it is also prime time for many to start planting seeds for a spring/summer vegetable garden. Decide what vegetables you wish to grow. The book “All about Vegetables” will give you some good ideas if you are not sure where to begin. Once you have planned your garden, start by selecting your seeds. Choose disease resistant varieties if available and look for seeds dated for use in the current year. If you plan carefully, you can start harvesting salad greens and other quick germinating plants within a couple months.
Planting the Seeds
Carefully follow directions on the seed packet for planting depth and days to germination, and organize the seedling trays according to when the seeds will germinate. Make sure the planting medium is damp and compact. If using older seeds, plant two seeds per plug and pull the weaker sprout if both germinate. Place each tray in a black garbage bag (this holds in moisture and with our experience has proven to promote the fastest germination). Check for sprouting within a couple of days and continue to check daily. If the planting medium is starting to dry up, spray generously with a fine mist. Remove trays from plastic bag once the seeds begin to sprout and place trays in an area where they will get plenty of direct light to prevent the seedlings from getting leggy. Once the first set of “true leaves” has formed, water the seedlings with a spray of diluted fertilizer high in phosphorous and low in nitrogen.
Gardeners Tip
Don’t forget to plant some Marigolds when starting your seeds. Marigolds are an important companion plant in your garden. They attract several beneficial insects and repel some destructive ones. Plus the flowers add bold color to your garden.
ACCESSORY OF THE MONTH –
Garden Coil is PERFECT for watering delicate seedlings. Its’ lightweight, thirty-foot hose makes it convenient to water throughout the greenhouse and hanging baskets. Adjustable nozzle gives fine mist for delicate watering. Trigger Lock gives intermittent or continuous flow
Lets talk salad!!
It may seem far off now, but warmer days will soon be upon us. That gives us limited time to cultivate cool weather crops. This month is a good time to start some cool weather crops of lettuce, broccoli, and radish seeds.
Lettuce - Plant lettuce seeds in rich, well-drained soil and near the surface where they can get a little light (this helps trigger germination). Since lettuce has such shallow roots, transplanting can be cumbersome so plant lettuce in large container (why transplant if you donít have to?). Plant leaf lettuce and expect a crop in 50 to 80 days. According to The Greenhouse Gardeners Companion, a leaf lettuce variety called ìgreen iceî is well suited for growing in greenhouses. HINT: Plant sweet alyssum between lettuce rows to attract predatory insects that feed on aphids.
Radish - Plant radishes about 1/4" deep about 2 to 4" apart. Radishes need long periods of daylight for fast maturity so keep them under a fluorescent grow light. Keep the greenhouse temperature between 45ƒ and 50ƒ at night (temperatures that are too warm can lead to non-edible radishes). Did you know Radishes are high in vitamin C, fiber, and folate?
Broccoli - A great source of vitamins (especially vitamin C and calcium), broccoli takes about 2-3 months to mature. Harvest the central head before flowering and you will continue to get smaller side sprouts. Needs to be kept cool for bigger heads and to slow flowering. Vitamin C, calcium, vitamin A, potassium, folate, iron, and fiber are some of the wonderful benefits of this cool weather crop.
ACCESSORY OF THE MONTH:
Create longer days with our Fluorescent T5 Grow Light System. Complete 24" tall by 48" wide anodized aluminum structure includes two 48" T5 full spectrum fluorescent tubes. Easy pull cord system can adjust the height of the light to 2" above your plants to keep them short and sturdy.
BOOK OF THE MONTH:
An excellent book for all your greenhouse needs is the Greenhouse Gardeners Companion. It gives you an overview of the greenhouse environment and describes how to assess your greenhouse situation & needs. Includes advice on selecting and propagating plants and setting up your greenhouse as well as providing environmentally friendly ideas and economical suggestions. The book also features an alphabetical listing of more than 300 flowers, fruits, vegetable & herbs. Nearly 500 Pages!
Spring fever is here!
March is the beginning of the spring gardening season. Most bedding and potted plants grow very well in your Farm Wholesale Greenhouse. Some seeds like Tomato, Melon, and Cucumber need an extra heat source, while others such as Antirrhinum, Lobelia, and Petunia do not. Spring softwood cuttings can now be taken. If you have seedlings from an earlier sowing, they should now be transplanted to bigger pots. Established plants have begun to grow more actively and watering needs to take place on a more regular basis.
Feed growing plants with liquid fertilizer. Do not overfeed young plants. Use a fertilizer with a higher percentage of nitrogen to phosphate & potash for leaf growth. For flowering plants use a fertilizer high in potash. This will increase flowering at the expense of leaf growth.
Insects can become a problem this month. Keep on the lookout for greenfly, whitefly, and red spider mite. Spray with a greenhouse insecticide such as derris or permethrin before the problems get out of hand.
STARTING YOUR SEEDS
1. Start with good quality seed. Buy from a reputable supplier and donít open the packet until you are ready to plant the seeds.
2. Use a container that has good drainage. Avoid wooden trays as they can harbor disease organisms that are difficult to wash out. Plastic trays tend to be the best option.
3. Fill your container with compost or place directly in CocoLite planting medium. The surface should be about 1" below the top of the container. Sprinkle the surface with water the day before sowing. The surface should be moist but not wet. Scatter the seeds thinly over the surface. Larger seeds can be sown in rows.
4. Do not cover the fine seed with planting material. Other seeds should be covered to a depth that is twice the diameter of the seed in an even layer (follow the directions on your seed packet). Gently firm the layer with a board. Most but not all seeds need darkness to successfully germinate. Cover your seeds with a black plastic bag or a brown paper bag and place in your greenhouse for warmth. Do not use black plastic or a brown paper bag for seeds that need light to germinate such as Antirrhinum, Alyssum, Mimulus, Impatiens, Nicotiana, and Begonia.
5. Most seeds require a temperature between 65-70f degrees. Generally, you should germinate the seed at a temperature 10 degrees higher than the recommended temperature for growing the plant.
6. Once the seedlings break through the surface, remove the paper or black plastic. You may want to cover with a piece of glass or clear plastic for extra warmth & ambient moisture. Never let the compost or CocoLite medium dry out. Use a fine mister to water.
7. Once the first set of true leaves has opened the seedlings should be transplanted to trays or small pots with multi-purpose compost. Set the seedlings so the seed leaves are just above the surface. Handle the plants by the leaves - not the stems. Set seedlings 1-1 1/2" apart. Water as necessary and keep in temperatures between 50-55 degrees.
8. Seedlings destined for the outdoors must be hardened off to prepare them for life in the garden. Move the plants to the coldest part of the greenhouse and then to a cold frame. Set the plants outside during the daytime for a few days before planting in the garden.
Reference Hessayon, Dr. D.G. The Greenhouse Expert. New York: Sterling, 1988.
ACCESSORY OF THE MONTH
Garden Coil is PERFECT for watering delicate seedlings. Its' light-weight thirty-foot hose makes it convenient to water throughout the greenhouse and hanging baskets. Adjustable nozzle gives fine mist or delicate watering. Trigger Lock gives intermittent or continuous flow.
BOOKWORM CORNER
Now that the majority of the gardening season is over, you might want to take time to read through The Greenhouse Expert. It will be of benefit for those who do not yet have their dream greenhouse as well as those who already are experienced in greenhousing. The book begins with choosing structure, equipment and the greenhouse site. From there on much of this volume is devoted to beautiful color photographs of flowers and vegetables with descriptions of each and suggestions for care and trouble-shooting. One especially useful feature is the monthly calendar which outlines care and maintenance specific to each month.
SEASONAL OPPORTUNITIES
Birds are looking for nesting materials these days. You could help them by putting out a "suet feeder" filled with cotton balls, dryer lint, string and thread. Now is an excellent time to test your soil's ph, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Testing can be done with kits available through garden centers. The preferred ph for crops is 5.5 - 6.5 which is slightly acidic. Areas with plentiful rainfall tend to have more acidic soil, while drier climates would have more alkaline soil. To amend acidity, add lime, and to decrease alkalinity, add sulphur. Another amendment that helps produce vigorous growth and abundant blossoms is greensand. Don't forget to till in your vegetable scraps for the worms, which eat and cast out more than their body weight everyday, leaving behind aerated, fertilized soil.
HERB THYMES
Springtime means storing away winter woolens. Try this French Moth Preventative: 2 pts lavender, 2 pts southernwood, 1 pt rosemary, 1 pt pennyroyal, 1 pt wormwood. Add one tablespoon ground cloves to each two cups of dry herbs, mixing well.
JUNIOR GARDENER
Color your Easter eggs with these common dye-producing vegetables: shredded red cabbage (dark teal blue), spinach (pale green), grape juice (deep lavender), paprika (light orange). Use 6 uncooked eggs, 2 cups fresh vegetable material per quart of water or 2 teaspoons ground spices per cup of water. Add one teaspoon vinegar for every cup of water. Bring to a gentle boil and simmer 15 minutes. To change color, add 1/4 teaspoon baking soda per cup of water. For deeper colors, let eggs cool in the dye. Refrigerate if the eggs are to be eaten.
GREEN THUMB QUESTION: What is a good organic antidote for cutworms? (See *)
GREENHOUSE SCHEDULE
By now you may be starting seedlings for your yard and garden. The temperature in the greenhouse should be kept between 65ƒ and 75ƒ during the daytime and 55ƒ to 65ƒ at night. They need 14-16 hours of light. If artificial light is used, keep it within 2" to 4" of the seedlings. Incandescent light is not recommended as it has an incomplete light spectrum and will encourage "stretching". Fertilize twice a week with 1/2 strength liquid fertilizer. If you have not yet planted, you might want to try "planting by the moon" for a higher yield. During the first quarter of the moon, seed crops that have leaves and seeds. For the second quarter, plant annuals and crops that have seeds inside. Biennials, bulbs and roots can be planted during the third quarter. The fourth quarter can be used to weed, cultivate and control pests.
*ANSWER: Cardboard collars around seedlings, a small stick next to seedling stem or grass clippings around them.
SEASONAL OPPORTUNITIES
While your starts are growing in the greenhouse, take the time to plan the garden layout of your crops. Keep accurate, detailed records of your crops, when they are planted and eventually the total yield. Remember to systematically rotate crops to avoid soil depletion and specific pest infestations. Plant some friendly radishes, in anticipation of future crops. They are cold hardy, sprout quickly, will mark your rows and provide "water cavities" and expansion space when removed. Now is a good time to assess your soil. Dig an area one-foot square and six inches deep. If this piece has 10 earthworms, you should have good soil. Till dried, crushed eggshells into your garden bed to help eliminate harmful nematodes. If you have problems with rabbits, sprinkle cayenne pepper near their favorite plants in the morning after you water.
HERB THYMES
Try this delightfully refreshing mint facial cleanser: In blender place 2 1/4 c. fresh milk and 4 T. fresh, washed, dried mint (such as apple, orange or peppermint), blend well and set in refrigerator for about 12 hours. Strain and place in clean, sterile bottle. This will keep for a few days. Those with delicate skin will find this particularly beneficial.
JUNIOR GARDENER
Grow a giant pumpkin! (It takes 115 days or more.) Try Prizewinner which regularly exceeds 200 pounds. Plant 2 - 3 weeks before last expected frost. Select the three largest seeds. Plant pointed end down in 4"- 6" peat pot filled with sterile potting soil to within 1" of pot rim. Lightly firm 1/2" of soil over seeds. Cover this with 1/2" loose soil and water thoroughly. Place on warm surface to sprout. Water when surface is dry. After sprouting, place in greenhouse, using warm and cool fluorescent light if necessary. When three leaves have formed, snip off the two smaller plants. In garden select sunny, protected location, allowing 20' between plants. To the depth of 1' dig in fish emulsion, blood meal, bone meal, well-rotted manure and compost. Have this in at least a 6' radius. When all danger of frost is past and soil is at least 55ƒ, harden off plants for four days in partial shade during the day and take in at night. Then for four days place in full sun and leave outside in protected area overnight. Plant in prepared area, carefully removing the bottom of the peat pot. Cover soil around plant with black plastic and for the young plant, use a hot cap or row cover. Water daily in the morning over the entire vine area. When fruit appears, select 3 babies on separate runners 6'-10' from center. Try to have the stem at a 90 degree angle to the vine so it won't break off as it grows. Feed weekly with fish emulsion. When babies are 6" in diameter, select the best shape. Remove the others and pinch off the end of the vines. Place on cardboard or wood for a barrier against soil insects. Roll weekly to shape. Keep carefully weeded and watch for insect pests. When ready to harvest, cut off with a 2" stem. Let us know if you are a winner!
GREENHOUSE SCHEDULE
Seedlings need at least 6 hours of direct light. In low-light conditions, add fluorescent light 4"- 6" above starts or space plants farther apart. Keep temperature in greenhouse no lower than 60 degrees day temperature for cool weather plants and 70 degrees for warm weather plants. Water carefully so as not to cause injury to plants as this would invite insects and diseases. Also avoid splashing mud and keep hose off floor for good greenhouse sanitation. Keep the area inside and a strip around the outside of your greenhouse free of weeds. This will help keep down re-seeding, insect pest infestation and accompanying plant viruses.
Seasonal Opportunities
When you are able to set out your tomato plants, remove the lower leaves and bury in a trench, leaving the top tuft of leaves showing. This gives the plant additional roots and strength. Remember that planting seeds in cold soil can promote disease and slow germination. Plant new starts inside a black plastic pot that has the bottom cut out and is half buried in soil to protect the plant from cutworms and warm the soil. Everything grows very fast as the weather warms, so keep the your garden spot weeded to give your crop optimum water and nutrients. Stressed or sickly plants invite pests and diseases. Seed fast-maturing crops every two weeks now for a continual harvest. This is also an excellent time to take cuttings for the greenhouse. Root cuttings in coconut coir on your heating mat.
Herb Thymes
Give yourself a special treat this summer by adding the beauty, color and flavor of flowers to your summer salads, ice cubes and cool drinks. Some flowers to have growing in your garden for this purpose are borage (cucumber flavor), nasturtiums (sweet & spicy), chive blossoms (sweet, subtle onion flavor), calendula (saffron color), rose petals (fragrant, calming), and common orange daylily (fresh green bean flavor). Also try honeysuckle, daisies, pansies, carnations, cornflowers, gladioli and geraniums. Pick fresh each day. Rinse quickly under cold water and remove pistils, stamens and white base before adding to your finished dish. Young violet leaves can also be used. They contain three times the vitamin A of spinach and five times the vitamin C of orange juice! Enjoy!
The Junior Gardener
Want to create your own rainbow garden? Try these unique garden varieties: red lettuce (Red Sails) or red corn (Ruby Queen); orange beets (Burpee's Golden) or orange bell pepper (Mandarin Hybrid), yellow carrots (Sweet Sunshine) or yellow tomato (Taxi); green eggplant (Green Goddess); blue potatoes (All Blue) and purple bush beans (Sequoia). Some seed companies to call toll-free for catalog: Burpee, (800) 888-1447, Park, (800) 845-3369, Tomato Grower's Supply, (888) 478-7333
Greenhouse Schedule
Start broccoli now for a fall crop and fragrant Nicotiana for your fall garden. Cooling the greenhouse can be done by using a shade cloth, placing a couple of black buckets of water inside for evaporation cooling as well as spraying plants and walkways. Also our greenhouse can be picked up and moved into the shade. If you are closing the greenhouse for the summer, this would be a perfect time to empty, clean, disinfect, sterilize soil and do repairs. Review previous winter/spring season and related expenses. Plan and buy supplies for the coming fall and winter season. Have you outgrown your greenhouse? Now would be the perfect time to add an extension.
Accessory Of The Month
The Shade Cloth is perfect now. Our 73% shade cloths come in 8' X 4', 10', 12' & 16'. We also have 12' X 12' or 12' X 16'. Custom sizes can be ordered at the same price per square foot. All edges are reinforced and have grommets.
Also available is our Water Supply Kit. Customize to your greenhouse needs with jets for spray or tubes and emitters for drip irrigation.
SEASONAL OPPORTUNITIES
With summer heating up, watering becomes an issue. If you want to replace delicate blooms for drought hardy stock, choose marigolds, lavender, salvia or native flowers. Water for the birds and a mud puddle for butterflies would also be much appreciated. Those who have allergies will be glad to know that there are flowers that do not yield nearly the pollen that many others do. Some allergy friendly flowers are fuchsias, snapdragons, petunias, pansies, delphinium, day lilies, peonies and hollyhocks. Mulch to keep weeds down, retain moisture, protect plants from heat and control erosion. Leave mulch 2"- 4" away from base of plant. Mulching is also the best form of fertilization as it is balanced, slow release and soil-web friendly. Trellis plants for less weeding, easier harvest, more yield per square foot, easier monitoring of pests and elimination of fruit loss. Place tall trellises on the north to prevent shading of lower plants.
HERB THYMES
It's BBQ season. Why not try rosemary or sage sprigs for skewers to give extra flavor! Warmer weather means more insects, pests included. Try this recipe for a proven insect spray. (It has also been known to keep barnacles off ships, dissuade moose and grizzlies, deter deer and repel termites!) Simply puree 1 large hot chili in a blender full of water. Let stand a couple of hours, strain out fiber and put liquid in a spray bottle. Use as needed in your greenhouse and garden. Do not get this on your skin, as it will burn. If you do, neutralize it with oil.
THE JUNIOR GARDENER
A vine-shaded teepee will make summer an adventure. To make this special house, take 6- 8' bamboo poles and about 60' of sturdy cord. With about 10' of the cord, bind the top of the poles together, wrapping cord around several times and then weave the remaining cord between each pole and over the wrapped cord. Secure cord ends. Set up poles, spacing evenly apart, leaving room for the door opening. Beginning at the door, take about 80' of sturdy clothesline and tie horizontally to each pole, continuing around to the other side of the door opening. Do this at 1' intervals to form the covering of the teepee. For added support, attach two or three lengths of sturdy cord to the poles, vertically, tying these to the clothesline between each two support poles. Plant fast-growing vines around the outside of the teepee. Use Morning Glory for heavenly blue flowers or Scarlet Runner Bean for eating later! GREEN THUMB QUESTION: How do you know when corn is ripe? (See*)
GREENHOUSE SCHEDULE
Set out transplants. Remove any diseased leaves or branches of greenhouse plants. (DO NOT COMPOST!) Water in the morning, gently, onto the soil. Splashed mud, dirty hoses and high-pressure watering all promote plant damage, pests and disease. Trellis greenhouse tomatoes. Keep evenly moist and warm but not hot (80 to 85 degrees). Mulch and feed weekly with lime and micro-nutrients. Do not use much nitrogen.
ACCESSORY OF THE MONTH
Closeable Base Vents offer you another way to get additional air flow and reduce summer heat in the greenhouse. Place these high quality ABS polymer air vents at the base of your greenhouse for natural ìground-upî cross -ventilation. Close during colder weather.
*ANSWER: The silk will be brown
SEASONAL OPPORTUNITIES
These are the dog days of summer, so called by the Romans for Sirius, the Dog Star which is twice as large as our sun and comes close to the earth during this time. In Greek it means the scorcher. Remember to use sunscreen with UVA and UVB 15 to 30 sunblock. Outside gardening is best done before 11am or after 3pm. Guard your plants also with organic mulch to hold moisture, protect from heat, and keep down weeds. Keep them evenly moist, watering deeply once or twice weekly in the morning. Provide windbreaks to protect and help retain moisture. Check daily for pests, remove and destroy diseased plant material and compost the good. Keep bird baths clean and full. Plant cover crops now (green compost) on any bare garden to replenish nitrogen and nutrients into the soil. Some good choices are buckwheat, clover or vetch. Also plant fall crops such as broccoli, cauliflower, parsley, cabbage, spinach and fall flowers: calendula, dianthus, and pansies.
HERB THYMES
Lavender has been historically used for its heady scent and as a wash for its antiseptic qualities to bathe wounds burns (sunburns), acne, athleteís foot and other skin ailments. Its ability to relieve insomnia, tension, headaches and pain is from the chemical, linalool, which slows nerve impulses. Take 1 teaspoon dry lavender flowers or 1 tablespoon fresh flowers for tea, or a cup of flowers for a bath and steep in a cup of boiling water for ten minutes. Add the 1 cup concentrate to your tub-full of water. There are no known side effects to the use of lavender. If your pets are battling fleas, eucalyptus oil on a cloth collar will help. Refresh the oil twice weekly.
THE JUNIOR GARDNER
Did you know that scientists have used mustard greens to mine gold and corn to absorb nearly a ton of lead out of contaminated soil, while sunflowers cleaned up oil spills and radioactivity?! Have you ever grown your own popcorn? Why not plan to plant some pink or blue next year! (Remember to keep your popcorn at least 200 ft away from sweet corn so they will not cross-pollinate.)
GREENHOUSE SCHEDULE
Now make plans for next years greenhouse/garden crops. Time plantings early so as to avoid the most harmful stage of the pest season, choose pest resistant varieties. If your present plants have suffered in the heat, choose varieties that have red and/or hairy leaves, tropical plants that store water, Mediterranean herbs and your area natives. Some heat tolerant flowers are gold daylilies, coneflowers, sage, yarrow, pincushion flower, goldenrod, and fennel. Do not forget to rotate crop locations to avoid plant specific disease buildup. To bring down the temperature in the greenhouse now, use shade cloths, fans and evaporative coolers or misters.
ACCESSORIES OF THE MONTH
For the hot days of summer, the 12 inch Exhaust Fan with Thermostatic Control is a must. Louvers allow out-flow of heated air in summer, while remaining closed during cooler weather. Set thermostat to exact degree at which you want the fan to exhaust. Evaporation is another sure way to lower summer greenhouse temperatures.
BOOKWORM CORNER
The Greenhouse Gardeners Companion truly is the gardeners desktop encyclopedia of information. It covers environment, design, microclimates, plants, pollination, scheduling, specific plants, roots and pests.
Remember to take off your shade cloth in the fall before the first snowfall. Snow generally slides off the corrugated panels, especially if you are heating it. If it does begin to accumulate, brush it off with a broom.
Decide what you want to bring back into the greenhouse from the garden. Check to make sure the plants and pots are insect-free before you bring them in.
Start planning for food and gifts for the holiday. Plant cauliflower, sweet carrots, or mini-cucumber to add fresh vegetables to your Thanksgiving meal. Select flowers to decorate your holiday table.
If you want to keep your heating bill at a minimum, you might consider these Cool-Weather Crops: French Sorrell, Swiss Chard, Lettuce, Broccoli, Chives, Top Set Onions, Radishes, Carrots, Rosemary, Fennel, Dill, Cilantro, Pansies, and Snapdragons. They can all tolerate colder temperatures, even down to 26 degrees F. Plant now before the weather begins to chill.
SEASONAL OPPORTUNITIES
Cooler weather is back and hopefully your greenhouse is prepped and ready to protect your tender plants again. Before each plant is to be brought into the greenhouse, prune it back about 1/3, check for and remove any insect pests and repot into a light, airy potting mix if the soil is crusty and worn. To over-winter flower bulbs: clean, dry and spread on screen trays. Keep at about 40ƒ. Water lily bulbs can also be over-wintered. Remove them from their soil, wash, and place in a clean zip-top bag filled half full with moist sand. Store at about 50 to 55f degrees.
When all plants are removed from your garden, plant a cover crop of nitrogen-enriching legume crops, such as clover, vetch or rye. Donít forget to compost your vegetable scraps and coffee grounds (they attract beneficial worms!) Add dried, ground eggshells to boost calcium. Leaves, straw and sawdust will raise the beneficial carbon.
To prepare tools now for winter storage, remove dirt and wash. Sand wood and metal parts with very fine sandpaper. Sharpen cutting or digging edges, oil metal parts and rub sanded wooden handles with linseed oil.
To keep beneficial birds coming to your yard now, put out wild birdseed mix and suet.
HERB THYMES
Rose hips, a rich source of antioxidants, vitamins A, B complex, C, E, K and pectin are available now on bushes that have not been deadheaded. The best roses from which to gather these are Rugosa, Sweet Briar, Dog Rose, Cherokee and Damask. The rose hips can be used in jellies, jams and bread recipes. To do this, wash and trim them, cover with water, place in a covered, non-reactive glass or stainless steel pan and simmer for about 20 minutes. Strain and add to your favorite recipes. Dried rose hips can also add tang to a cup of tea. Pour a cup of boiling water over tea and 2 t. dried rose hips. Let steep for several minutes and then strain. Sweeten as desired.
THE JUNIOR GARDENER
If your junior gardener has a pet bird or cat, let them start a pot of grass for their pet to enjoy. For a bird, get the smallest size new clay pot. Fill the pot with potting soil to within 1/2" of the pots top. Press down firmly and add a good sprinkling of grass seed. Cover with a thin layer of soil and keep moist. When the grass is an inch or more high, it can be set into the cage. For a cat (or perhaps a dog), use a short, wide clay pot. Fill the same way to 1/2" of the top, seed, moisten and set in a sunny window until grass is about 2" to 3" high. Using a saucer, place the pot in a spot convenient for the pet and near the light. The pets will be glad to have the treat.
GREENHOUSE SCHEDULE
You can help insulate your greenhouse by surrounding it with bales of hay or other outer foundation cover. For additional solar heating, place milk jugs filled with water, RV antifreeze and black dye around the inside perimeter of the greenhouse. Remember that a tightly sealed greenhouse is a disadvantage to the plants as they will not get the necessary carbon dioxide and air circulation to prevent condensation. Add a circulation fan and base vents if necessary.
ACCESSORY OF THE MONTH
If you do not have a cold frame, there is still time to get one for fall growing of winter salad greens or be ready to set out starts in the spring. We offer three different models and sizes to fit you needs The 8' Gable, 4' x 8' and The Deluxe, 6' x 8'. Check our catalog for details.
BOOKWORM CORNER
The Greenhouse Expert is a brief and concise review of structure and equipment, specific plants, greenhouse operation, plant problems, a greenhouse calendar and a plant index. Perfect!
SEASONAL OPPORTUNITIES
As cold weather approaches some precautions should be taken with your outdoor accessories. Bring terra cotta pots and cement into a cool, dry place to avoid cracking from cold and moisture expansion. If these items are too large to be brought in, mulch container and wrap with burlap, filling the burlap with an insulator such as leaves. Plastic items and pots which become brittle should be brought inside. All pots must be emptied and washed with 10 to 1 water/bleach solution before storage. Wood items do best if cleaned, stained, sealed, and stored inside. Metal items should be cleaned, primed and covered with weather-resistant matched paint. Bring glass items inside or cover with a sturdy padding. Wash wicker with 3/4 c. bleach to 1 gallon water. Store hoses inside and cover faucet with insulation and/or Styrofoam cap-guards.
HERB THYMES
Try this rich flavored, heart-warming soup made from your own garden onions, garlic, shallots and leeks: 4 T. butter, 2 c. finely chopped onion, 4 large leeks (thinly sliced), 1/2 c. chopped shallots, 4 to 6 garlic cloves (minced), 4 c. chicken or vegetable stock, 2 t. dried thyme or 1 T. fresh (chopped), 1 bay leaf, salt and pepper, and 3 scallions (sliced into 1/4" pieces). Saute onion, garlic, shallots and leeks in melted butter until tender and golden. Add stock and season to taste. Bring to a boil, and simmer 20 minutes. Puree 2/3 of the solids and 1 c. of liquid in a blender. Return this to the stockpot, add scallions and simmer another 5 minutes. Serve hot with grated cheese, toasted French bread and fresh fruit. Bon Appetite!
The Junior Gardener
Get your kids involved in tackling greenhouse pest problems. Start by keeping a magnifying glass in the greenhouse. Hang a chart showing close up pictures of the common greenhouse pests. Your young sleuth can become an expert at spotting trouble before it gets out of hand. Be sure to look on the underside of the leaves!
GREENHOUSE SCHEDULE
With the onset of chilly weather, the greenhouse can be the perfect spot to force tulip bulbs for some winter cheer. To do this, choose large, heavy bulbs. Store in a paper bag at 48ƒ or below for 5 to 6 weeks. (If you do this in the refrigerator, keep the bulbs away from fresh fruit that gives off ethylene gas and hinders blooming.) Then plant bulbs close together, but not touching, in a new shallow pot with moistened potting mix. Store this in a cool, dark part of your greenhouse at 50ƒ to 55ƒ for about a month. After this, place the pot in a sunny location at 60ƒ - 65ƒ for blooming and display.
Accessory Corner
Chase away the winter chills with one of our efficient gas greenhouse heaters. Our newest blue flame heaters provide warm, moist heat. Design certified by the American Gas Association, this heater incorporates the latest safety features. The pilot light will automatically turn off if the oxygen level drops below the ANSI standards and if the pilot light is extinguished, the gas flow will automatically shut off. Automatic thermostat helps conserve gas, saving you money. Floor base included. Specify natural gas or propane. 10,000 BTU's per hour or 30,000 BTU's per hour.
SEASONAL OPPORTUNITIES
If you haven't already done so, now would be a good time to bring into the greenhouse all your half-hardy plants including tropicals, container gardens, bonsai, water lilies and citrus. If you have dug your tender bulbs, they also may be stored in the greenhouse, in containers of sawdust or vermiculite. Now is a good time to sharpen and sterilize your pruners, as dull pruners can cause unnecessary cell damage and disease can be carried from plant to plant by unsterilized tools.
GREENHOUSE CROPS
Mache (pronounced mosh), is a favorite salad green in Europe, with its velvety texture and nutty flavor. It thrives in cool weather, making it a perfect greenhouse plant. Start from seed in fall or spring in a location where it will get at least a half day of sunlight. Plant seeds 1/2" deep and about 1" apart. Thin to 4". Keep moist but not wet. It blends well with other salad greens, and as a bed for main dishes.
HERB THYMES
For a delightful variation in your holiday baking, try 1 to 2 tablespoons of lavender with the sugar called for in shortbreads or sugar cookies. For cake batters or custards steep 2 tablespoons lavender florets in warm milk for one hour. Then use as directed. Enjoy!
GREENHOUSE TASKS FOR DECEMBER
Keep the temperature between 42-45f at night and 55-60f daytime. If possible, open the greenhouse on drier days to ventilate. Use circulation fans to reduce condensation, but be careful of drafts and temperature drops. Water only as needed during mid-morning. Insulate greenhouse if needed. If parafin heaters are used, keep wicks trimmed to prevent fumes toxic to plants.
GREENHOUSE ACCESSORY OF THE MONTH
Seedling Mats are perfect for starting seeds early, as the soil needs to be warm in order for sprouting to occur. Our seedling mats raise rooting area temperature 10-20f over ambient temperature. Helpful hints are printed right on the mats. Sizes available in 10"x 20", 18"x 20", and 48" x 18".