Cleaning out the Greenhouse in Preparation for Seed Starting

My greenhouse has been up and running for 2 years so it allows me to grow more plants from seed. When the gardening bug bit me 25 years ago, I would order hundreds of seed each year! I will never be able to physically manage the constant gardening that I enjoyed long ago so many more controls are in place to stop me from completely going overboard with seed buying My main interest in seed buying has turned toward vegetable growing.

We always battle critters in our garden because I have a no kill policy when it comes to critter control as I do believe nature is smarter than me and will generally work out a balance (for the exception of imported Stink bugs and Japanese beetles). We had been losing sunlight in our garden space each year as trees matured so Anthony moved a part of the garden more into the sun which gave us some successes last year in growing crops. I'm a fan of cherry tomatoes and sweet peppers but my neighbor gave me some fun hot peppers that I enjoyed viewing but not eating. Thai peppers are quite ornamental and I will be growing them again this year from collected seed.

It has been fun researching online as to the current best varieties to order based on disease resistance, performance, and taste. I lean toward open pollinated seed (true to seed = allows you to collect the seed annually and replant). Hybridized seed will not come true to seed and you have to purchase seed each year to produce the same crop.

Long ago I gave up growing beans as they are a critter favorite. I'm focusing on veggies that I eat the most often so Squash is top of the list. We attempted several varieties last year. A patio zucchini in the greenhouse which never flowered so I moved it outside and it flowered but we only harvested one and then it became diseased. We tried a baseball sized zucchini and it was a total failure. All fruit rotting before forming. I believe it was too covered up by the volunteer Butternut squash which went nuts and we harvested 25 squash from several plants. I'm going to try Lemon squash and several zucchini again. I had some luck with Thousandhead Kale that wasn't as huge as described but it was bigger than most so I'll toss that out again this year. I will again try mini watermelon and melon in the sun this year as they were also in the shady section of the garden and did not do well.

I had to put toilet paper collars around all my plants last year when I set them out because something was hacking the stems off! Could have been cutworms or rabbits. Hoping to beat the heat, disease, and the critters!

The variety of cucumber I picked for the greenhouse last year was terrible. It rarely developed any female flowers, which means you don't get any fruit! I was so disappointed because my first year of growing cucumbers in the greenhouse was great success (Burpee Garden Sweet). I'm trying 2 open pollinated varieties; one that self pollinates (Beit Alpha) and one that produces mountains of cucumbers (Suyo Long) in hopes to keep them going from May - December. 

Part of growing plants from seed is that you can pick the recommended winners and really see if they are all they claim to be! It's fun experimenting and growing varieties that you have never tried.

I just finished Spring cleaning out the greenhouse. This Winter I moved most of my plants indoors to save on heating expense (it cost me an extra $200 to run heat in the greenhouse last year). As a precaution I will apply 3 treatments of BTI to my greenhouse planter box (another exception to the critter control rules). It is a selective bacteria that attacks mainly mosquito, black fly, and gnat larva. Working indoors in a greenhouse is very different than outside as far as insect management.

Cheers to kicking off the Spring growing season!

~Rebecca

Seed Deals

It's that time of year again to plan your vegetable garden or grow a few flowers!  It's quite difficult to not notice all the colorful seed packets that have once again appeared at your local hardware or home improvement store.

I discovered a few good seed deals this week.  Walgreen's has 5 packets of American Seed for $1.00.  You can't go wrong with that.  I purchased Zucchini, Chives, Zinnia, Radish, and Cilantro.  I also stopped in Kmart to find some Vermiculite (which they didn't have) and noticed 40% off all NK Seeds.  They have a bizillion varieties.  Lots of herbs, wildflower mixes and more unusual varieties.  It's all I can do to not buy more seed.  I have a big stash from the Monticello Fall Harvest seed exchange.  I have plenty - MAKE ME STOP.  I have to really rein it in.  There is no way I can manage all these plants!

I'm an addict.

Bad Chicken !

Happy Spring - apparently it is HERE... 70 degrees today.  Off to try and stop my Little Moltie (the roaming chicken) from digging up my front flower bed!!!!  At least I have replacement seed on hand.

-Rebecca

Seed Starting - Oh Boy Oh Boy

It's that wonderful time of year again when I inventory of all the seed packs I've accumulated the prior year or even longer!  I have this growing "seed hoarder" collection that I just can not toss out.  Each year I take a glob of old seed and broadcast it over my garden in hopes that something will come up.  There have been some successes but typically germination has been poor.

Last year I was fortunate to find some free seeds and end of season discounted seed.  There were several seed exchanges around Charlottesville and I snagged some from Monticello. 

My seed growing began 20 years ago and it is definitely an annual vigil.  A week prior to planting I write down my seed inventory list and contemplate ordering anything that is missing.  I label all my carefully cut yogurt container tags with the name on each seed packet.  I sterilize with a bleach/water mix the seed growing containers which spent their previous lives as bottoms of Tidy Cat containers or Milk Jugs.  I tape up my seed incubator that falls apart a little more with each passing year, but still is effective at germinating seed.


An amazing array of seeds.



The key I have found to effective seed germination is a warm spot with bottom heat.  I used to use a heating pad, which works just fine but the mini seed incubator or greenhouse works great because it holds in the moisture and makes it cozy and warm for the seeds.



Packing down the topcoat of soil.

I do this all in my basement that has a window beside the little greenhouse and a south facing exposure.

Some key elements:  You must get sterile potting soil.  I always cover my seedlings with vermiculite.  I was told long ago that it helps with keeping damping off disease away.  You do not want to over water.  This is death to seedlings.  You want to bottom water only (I cut holes in my seed trays).  You only water when the trays become dry.

It's only been 4 days and they are up and running already!

I hope this motivates you to give it a try.  It's so much fun!  I can't wait to post some photos as the little babies grow... let's hope all goes well... fingers crossed. 
-Rebecca