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Re: DIY greenhouse - $30 maybe
Cleaned out the big greenhouse today & moved seedlings out there
I have 7 pepper seedlings that are doing great-only maybe 5-6" tall I have 34 TM seedlings now, a few more sprouted I planted a few in large containers in the greenhouse The rest I've moved to larger pots in the GH Outside I've planted the 1st batch of peas in the upper garden Time to start more seeds in the indoor GH: cukes, pumpkins, summer squash, zucchini, pumpkin plus more pepper & tomato seeds I'll be planting more peas, some beans & carrots in 1 upper garden soon I also planted a Cardinal Clematis in the front garden on a new trellis  And another tree: Japanese Stewertia -only 18" tall right now, can reach 40' Nice bark detail as it gets older, plus foliage changes lots of colors & it flowers   |
Re: DIY greenhouse - $30 maybe
All the plants are doing great so far
About 60 Tomato plants, about a dozen of these already have tomatoes growing 8 Pepper plants all flowering & some have peppers growing I ate the 1st peas from the garden, asparagus too Summer squash, zucchini, cukes, Pumpkins & more plants growing Hoping for a good year...& no more Ground hogs But I'm ready if any show up :nanertank: |
Re: DIY greenhouse - $30 maybe
Turns out there is another ground hog prowling around
I found his hidey hole & destroyed it...poured gas down it & lit it up ....sadly he was not home Also cleared out the whole area of brush/wood that I can burn in the wood stove Cleared out a 10'x48' area by the woods & extended the fence around it Saw him the next day & he took off before I could get a bead on him Pumpkins did not take off this year -too shaded now where I used to grow them So I need more real estate for the garden Plenty of cukes/tomatoes/summer squash & zucchini Peppers never do all that great...maybe w/more room I can have them in one area They always seem to get shaded out |
Re: DIY greenhouse - $30 maybe
Started the seedlings in the indoor greenhouse on the 20th
A lot of them are coming up already...too many I ended up with some seeds from someone that date back to 2004/2005 I planted some & they are growing So I'm going to have more seedlings then I planned on Last year I started the seeds & a Blizzard blew in.....same thing this year |
Re: DIY greenhouse - $30 maybe
Upgrade to a slightly larger greenhouse for this year
Just one more shelf but I need the extra room I also turned it to face South, more light Also picked up (2) 12x12 LED grow lights  |
Re: DIY greenhouse - $30 maybe
Started to separate the tomato seedlings into single pots, pepper plants can wait
Last year I had 33 Tomato & 8 pepper seedlings for an early start This year I have around 40 pepper seedlings growing I'm getting peppers a month earlier by starting them indoors And over 200 Tomato seedlings ....oops...  I can't move them to the big greenhouse until the end of March I'll have to setup the old indoor greenhouse in the addition I may also try setting up cold frames outside w/sliding glass doors I have |
Re: DIY greenhouse - $30 maybe
Moved the 1st batch of seedlings out to the big greenhouse over the last week
I have about 80 good Tomato seedlings, ~10 peppers Then a bunch of others that are still growing -but were shaded out in the small indoor greenhouse With more sun they are all starting to take off Pics from Sunday when I moved the last of the seedlings out & watered everything I filled almost every empty tray that you can see 2nd batch of seedlings germinating inside now   |
Re: DIY greenhouse - $30 maybe
I setup a raised cold frame out in the new garden (kids old sand box)
Nothing special, just sort of tossed it together....April 13th Planted 9 TM plants, still had freezing temps....lost 2....rest are OK They did not grow any bigger then the ones in the greenhouse But they are definitely more hardy then the other plants April 30th I removed the roof to the cold frame & replaced the 2 TM plants that died I have one TM in the greenhouse (Early Girl) that is already flowering --I planted this one in a big container, 3 more in other containers/1 in the ground Ive read to shake the plants to let them self pollinate, I also gently squeezed the flower together Hoping to get some early TM as a result Not enough wind in the greenhouse for pollination, still keeping it closed to keep it warm -so no bees  |
Re: DIY greenhouse - $30 maybe
Hey, I pollinated many many tomato flowers, end of last year, in my GH! I used an electric toothbrush but, I have heard many people just 'shake' the stem lightly... same with peppers.
Cool setup. |
Re: DIY greenhouse - $30 maybe
Thanks, I'm going to rebuild the cold frame this fall
I have grooved wood to hold the side windows, they will then be fastened in place & sealed I'll then build a removable roof frame for the 2 roof panels The glass door panel against the fence will also be re-framed & sealed to the sides So the roof & front panels will be removed once the weather warms up I also want to build an irrigation system so I can water the plants without removing the roof panels We had the coldest Spring in a while, big GH had freezing temps to March 27th Prior to this year the last freeze date in the big GH was Feb 27th Anything to get an early start up here I have over 60 TM plants in the ground in my gardens At least another 60 growing in the greenhouse....10 varieties all together |
Re: DIY greenhouse - $30 maybe
Thanks for the update. I gardened just outside of DC and know how important early starts are so you can catch the most of the season. (This year must be really brutal.) Feel better. My tomatoes are frying here but at least I know my old seeds are viable. Or were this "spring"--fall? maybe not. Matters not. I'll find some to replace them--probably not in FL--if there's a Cherokee Purple or Green Zebra growing here I have yet to find one. And even the ones turning pink in the garden look like greenhouse junk and will probably taste the same. A yellow pepper's fruit appears leathery to me. Makes no darned sense at all. Must keep studying the climate and conditions--this is a very odd place to garden.
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Re: DIY greenhouse - $30 maybe
Squeezing the TM flower together works, I have maybe 3 dozen TM growing
Largest one in the GH is starting to change colors/ripen I ended up with well over 200 TM planted all over my gardens...everywhere I was out front by the driveway/electric meter & thought I had to weed by the meter Then I realized I planted 6 TM plants by the meter I planted another dozen along an 8' chain link fence I gave away the last 30 TM plants to a co-worker whose boyfriend was just starting TM from seed I gave away another dozen to other people I put black tarps down out back in all of the veggie gardens this year That took care of the weeds & will save me a lot of time over the years I put one down 2 years ago in one area & it has greatly reduced the weeds Its degraded so water goes right thru the tarp, I cut holes where I want to plant Downside is I can't turn over the garden areas, but never really did that anyways I'm going to work on more composting, maybe a 55g barrel in addition to the large 5x11' compost area I cleaned out the 5x11' compost bin this year w/new raised garden & new garden area I ended up with maybe a 1' of soil.....and learned a lesson Do NOT put rose bush branches in the compost bin !! Or any branch for that matter, they simply do not "rot" fast enough I still have a pile of compost near the opening of the bin that I can use I'll start filling it up again this fall -mostly leaves I did have at least 2 TM plants chewed down to the ground -that's a 1st I've never had anything chew on a TM plant....new animal ?? The peas, which seemed to be a ground hog favorite -are untouched I'm running a network cable out to my pool cabana this year I plan on installing a cheapo security camera just so I can see whats going thru the garden |
Re: DIY greenhouse - $30 maybe
1st Tomato ended up w/end rot -tossed out
Still tons growing, just not ripe yet Peas, asparagus & strawberries are ready -strawberries are everbearing Picked the 1st Zucchini Saturday, more will be ready over the next few days Summer squash are growing, 1st ready maybe this week Cukes & peppers are growing I've ordered 50 more strawberry plants & 8 Blueberry plants Planning on building more raised gardens - TM in the raised garden are doing better then any others I may also build a raised planter for the strawberries, some animal likes them I've already killed one rabbit -that was the culprit that chewed up a bunch of TM plants I have 2 feral cats that are hanging out near the garden They seem to be keeping the chipmunks away |
Re: DIY greenhouse - $30 maybe
Killed another Ground Hog that was in the garden
And another chipmunk...as he made off with one of my strawberries No TM yet, Zucchini & Summer squash are coming in now |
Re: DIY greenhouse - $30 maybe
Happiness is seeing a dead ground hog on the Main street
Also bagged another one that was in my garden |
Re: DIY greenhouse - $30 maybe
4th ground hog dead....this one walked into a HavaHart trap
I had no Hart Bumper crop on Zucchini =64 so far, more then the past 2 years combined Summer squash already have the same number as all of last year |
Re: DIY greenhouse - $30 maybe
HavaHart trap caught another varmit...a skunk
I noticed this as I was standing next to the trap & glanced down I quickly exited the area....he ded now Garden is doing great, planted WAY too much... Without multiple ground hogs everything is growing Plus I had a bumper seedling crop with all the old seeds that germinated Closing in on 2,000 cocktail tomatoes = 3-4 different varieties Over 100 Zucchini, 150+ reg Tomatoes -just picked the 1st 3 Black Krim *EDIT* Make that 9 Black Krim 60+ Summer squash & 60+ cucumbers, 1st pumpkins are ripe Also have over a dozen 4-5 oz yellow tomatoes -nice size for slicing --these are just starting to get going Already planning on expanding again for next year --pumpkins need growing room Also planning on building more raised gardens for next year I'll collect all the PT wood I have & build as many as I can Could be the fresh dirt, the compost or the raised garden - but the raised garden did great this year Plus I don't have to bend down as much to harvest stuff :ha: I need to connect with my cousin who has a Dairy Farm for some cow manure |
Re: DIY greenhouse - $30 maybe
Picked up a PT sandbox someone was getting rid of
Its about 8' square & I think 12" tall...new raised garden !! I'll add this in the new expansion area once I set that up It was starting to cool off already -very cool August -mid 70's, low 80's Not that many 90 degree days this year..only 4 so far Next 2 days are supposed to be upper 80's close to 90 Probably won't expand the garden until after everything dies --Late Sept or into October I'd rather do the work in the Fall VS Spring =too much to do in the Spring I have another tarp to put down over all the weeds That will save me time in the Spring = No weeding :) |
Re: DIY greenhouse - $30 maybe
Garden is winding down, not much rain this year & Sept has been dry
Tomatoes still coming in, haven't had a freeze yet Over 130 Zucchini this year (10 last year), 70+ Summer squash, 80+ cukes, lost count on TM Picked up another sand box to build another raised bed - maybe 6x6' I'm going to extend the garden again, out another 8-10' & maybe 48' in length Basically adding on another 8-10' of width to the new area that I started this Spring: Current area w/raised garden -had a cold frame over this: I'll be expanding 8-12' to the left, all depends upon fencing I can find/have  |
Re: DIY greenhouse - $30 maybe
looking good my friend. i'm dealing with squirrels down here. scratching up my papayas while they're still developing. i gotta grab one of those havaheart traps.
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Re: DIY greenhouse - $30 maybe
Still looking for more fencing to extend the garden
Several have been on craigslist, but other people snagged them Gardens winding down now, but we haven't had a freeze yet Still some TM growing in the greenhouse |
Re: DIY greenhouse - $30 maybe
Picked the last cucumber & the last pepper today
And the last pumpkin from the garden...growing under vines by the new raised garden I knew it was getting big, but it was really bigger then I thought Weighed it & it was 50 lbs = 2x the weight of the last one (on right) Will carve the 50 lb'r tomorrow. Kids carved these Expanding the garden for next year.....need more room for pumpkins   |
Re: DIY greenhouse - $30 maybe
Time to start cleaning out the small greenhouse in the sunroom
Its 20 out side right now, it was -4f the other morning. The big greenhouse had dipped to 20 degrees Last year I started the indoor seedlings on Jan 20th...I was thinking Feb I'll have to go thru my seeds & see what I still need to order for 2015 Local stores never have them in stock in time for my planting schedule I'll start planting about the same time this year All depends upon my work schedule & how the Patriots do in the playoffs :goteam: |
Re: DIY greenhouse - $30 maybe
Started some seedlings in the Indoor GH today
....and for the 3rd year in a row a snowstorm blows in Just starting: Peppers: 2 types, 24 seeds Tomatoes: 8 types, 6 seeds of each I used to try starting Cukes, Pumpkins, Zucchini, Summer squash inside But as it turns out they grow just as well (better) with direct sowing them Last year I germinated some indoors early, once they broke the soil I put them in the garden 45w Heat matt will be on from 4pm to 11pm Same timer I have a 12"x12" LED grow light -mainly so I will remember to water them ...and so I have some light to check on their progress Gotta love some of the names they give the Tomatoes: 4th of July, Early Crisp, Bloody Butcher, Soloar Power, Big Daddy & Tangerine Mama |
Re: DIY greenhouse - $30 maybe
Must be the seeds....they attract snow
Tonite we have a Blizzard blowing in Expecting anywhere from 1-3' of snow Most likely 18-30" depending upon how it tracks Everything is shutting down, schools already closed tomorrow + work Time to hunker down |
Re: DIY greenhouse - $30 maybe
10 Tomato seedlings coming up ....just 6 days
About the same time to start germinating as last year I have some Red Bud seeds I'm going to try to germinate this year They've been in the fridge for a while....Feb 14th I start on those |
Re: DIY greenhouse - $30 maybe
Up to 24 Tomato seedlings as of today
Another snowstorm coming in tonite & tomorrow I switched the heat mat on 24x7 until enough germinate Last year that was 19 days, then I switch to maybe 4-5 hours on each nite It takes approx 10 days for the peppers seeds to germinate The Black Krim are the fastest to germinate so far - I think all of them are growing Its 80 days to harvest on those so nice to get an early start I think last year it was Late July or into August before I had my 1st Krim I was still getting rid of Ground Hogs last year...into July (4 dead) So we'll see if there are any left this year I have a 2nd old sand box (8x8 maybe) to assemble this year as a 2nd raised garden Still looking for fencing to extend the garden out another 10x40' But with less seedlings this year I'm hoping to give them all more growing room |
Re: DIY greenhouse - $30 maybe
1st 7 Pepper seedlings are coming up today
And another ~12" of snow.....  |
Re: DIY greenhouse - $30 maybe
Up to 20 Pepper seeds germinated & 42 Tomato germinated & all growing
And another 28" of snow dumped on us Another storm coming in on Thurs Mass Transit shut down at 7pm in Boston & will not be running tomorrow Closing in on 7' of snow in a month |
Re: DIY greenhouse - $30 maybe
Quote:
In the Natti we are getting all the cold, without the snow. |
Re: DIY greenhouse - $30 maybe
More then Happy to give up some snow
This is before I went out again w/snow-blower & added to the pile Its still snowing, started w/flurries on Friday   |
Re: DIY greenhouse - $30 maybe
Looks like the Germination phase is finished
Changed the heat mat & LED grow light from 24x7 to 5-10p at nite I don't want the seedlings growing too fast & getting leggy Last year I moved the 1st 3 TM plants to the outside greenhouse March 15th We had a cold dip & March 18th 2 of the 3 were dead I waited until March 29th to move the next batch I also waited until April 5th last year to start my 2nd batch of seedlings I'm going to start them earlier this year Always have to change things.....see how the weather goes this year |
Re: DIY greenhouse - $30 maybe
Another Blizzard has started....looking at 10-18" of snow on top of 6' that has fallen in a little over a month
Decided to start to try to Germinate my Red Bud seeds that I've collected from my trees I planted 4 Red Bud seedlings that I bought in the Spring of 2009.....1 Died I've planted 4 more Spring of 2014.....1 Died -which they will replace Rather then buy more I've decided to try to grow them from seed Process from Online: Collect seeds from pods, store them in a sealed jar in fridge. Around Valentine’s Day, remove seeds from fridge & rub them a bit between 2 pcs of sandpaper. This process will begin to remove tough outer layer & will aid in germination. Once you see some of outer layer has been sanded off seeds, they are ready for the next step. Boil some water in a pan, remove from heat, place sanded seeds in water. Allow them to soak in this water for 3-4 days. This step will soften seed coat & prepare seeds for germination. Once seeds have been treated, they can be planted a 1/4” deep in small containers of moist sand or potting soil. For 5-8 wks, planted seeds should be kept cool in fridge or an unheated garage. This chilling period acts as an imitation winter. If you live in an area with cold winters, seeds in their pots can be planted in the garden, providing soil is not yet frozen. If planting pots outdoors, cover them with wire mesh so critters cannot dig them up. After 5-8 wk chilling period, seeds may be placed outdoors & seeds will begin to germinate in spring. Once seedlings have produced their 1st set of leaves, trees may be planted in a permanent location in well draining soil. I may also try from Cuttings as that will give them a head start: In early June, after flowering and leaf production, select a healthy redbud tree with lateral branches at least 4 inches in diameter. Cut an 18-inch segment well above any branch junctions to ensure limb regeneration. Make as small an angled cut as possible. Clean the wound with an antifungal preparation to prevent infection. Divide the cutting into three sections, 6 inches long. Remove 1/2 inch of the bark at one tip of each section. Place these sections in a warm sandy soil, 72 degrees F (20 C), for 4 weeks. Cuttings from redbud trees will root quickly. Plant in potting medium when the roots appear. They need 4 more weeks in potting soil to develop strong tap roots. Plant shortly after full root development, to enable the long tap roots to stabilize before frost. I've been trimming the trees in some cases & throwing the cut-offs out :( |
Re: DIY greenhouse - $30 maybe
Houston we have a problem......another 14-16" of snow from this Blizzard
Another 2-8" predicted Tues-Wed depending upon how the storm tracks Then another storm lined up for Next Sunday Until next Sunday there aren't any Days they expect the Temp to go above freezing At Nite dipping down to near Zero or below I may not be able to get into my greenhouse until late March On the Plus side my son can now dunk a basketball easily   6'+ Pile on the back deck  View out the back window, greenhouse is under that pile of snow  Side view of the pile on the greenhouse  |
Re: DIY greenhouse - $30 maybe
OMG......wow.
Do you still keep the Christmas lights on at night......I would.:08: |
Re: DIY greenhouse - $30 maybe
Holy cow! That's something. My basketball goal blew over :( Nice pictures Thanks for sharing! I wish you the best of things.
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Re: DIY greenhouse - $30 maybe
Quote:
Funny thing is they create a hollow space as the snow melts away from them |
Re: DIY greenhouse - $30 maybe
Had to get the mound of snow off the greenhouse roof
Rain expected Sunday so that would increase the weight of the snow to the disaster point I think I intended to shovel the snow away from the front of the greenhouse to allow sun to warm it up That idea quickly buried under the mound of snow in front of the windows  I can see out the back window again -greenhouse below this window  Now I need to shovel off the deck Neighbor had his deck collapse from the weight  |
Re: DIY greenhouse - $30 maybe
Tomatoes have started their 2nd set of leaves
Usually takes around 2 weeks for the 2nd set of leaves, all depends upon how long I leave the heat mat on I'll let them grow for a while, then I shut the heat mat/lights off for about 3 weeks to let the stems thicken up & slow the growth How soon they go into the big greenhouse depends upon the weather & how soon the 7' of snow we have melts  |
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