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
 

Not fair .......you are getting all the snow!!!

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.

Re: DIY greenhouse - $30 maybe
 

Yeah they are still on at nite, helps the snow melt until I can take them down
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