osprey94's Blog

DONE
May 11, 2008 | 7:58 PM PST

Well, we finally have a greenhouse. At least the outside of one! D and I spent a little of Saturday and ALL day today (Sunday) working on it and finally finished by around 4pm. We still have to install the shelving and the cedar work surfaces. Plus, once the electrician comes, I'll have to install the lights, misting system, thermostat, etc.

Once we had it all together, we put the thermometer inside and watched the temp. rise. It was in the mid 50s outside and within maybe a half hour, it was 92 inside the greehouse! We opened the two gable vents and soon, the temp went down to the high seventies.

When the temp is in the 80s this summer, I am DEFINITELY going to need to put shade cloth over the thing and keep the vents open unless I want to fry the plants.

My next step is to find some really good books on greenhouse gardening and see what I can accomplish. D is already wondering if I can work some magic and grow oranges in there! I don't know a THING about growing fruit entirely in the greenhouse. It'd be nice to try growing all kinds of exotic fruits and plants, but I really don't know what's reasonably possible.

I managed to get a few more things accomplished even though the entire day was spent building. I RE-planted tomatoes, considering the frost a few nights ago killed mine right to the ground! I was all ready to cover them in case of threat of frost, but I just didn't check the weather the night before. I should've know better, because it was a clear night.

Oh well, I got three new tomatoes at Lowes and planted them nice and snug today. I half-covered them with plastic this time. I bought sun gold and husky cherry tomatoes and for a full-sized variety, I got Celebrity.

I gave Celebrity the majority of the room in the bed and then the other two (indeterminate) got a corner each and a tower each to support them. And, this time, I covered them for the night. Even if it doesn't freeze, they'll get a little protection. I just hope I can remember to uncover them before I leave for work. It'd be just my luck to freeze the first three and then cook the next 3.

 

 

 

Here are the 'maters inside the plastic sheeting "house".

I also planted two containers for the shady front porch. They each have astilbe, hosta and coral bells. Here's one of 'em:

And, that's about it. I'm SO ready for summer break. I have much to do and work just interferes!

Oh, yeah. Monday, I added a bunch of new plants to the deck bed. So, here are the plants just home from Bennie's Nursery.

They are...

3 Andromedas...

One each of...

One each of...(except the coral bells - I got one large one and 6 small ones.

The astilbe, hosta and coral bells went into those porch pots I just mentioned. The rest (except for that loosestrife) went into the deck bed...

I don't know where the tag for that grass went. I don't even remember what kind it is. Crap. It'll probably be my favorite and I'll never really know how to buy more.

The lady's mantle in this shot have been transplanted from another spot in my garden. I love lady's mantle.

The other project going on is a strip of wildflowers we sowed along the road.

They haven't germinated yet. I think we might have to replant. Don't know what went wrong, we've been watering regularly.

And, one last project update. The edging on the deck bed has been dug. Now I just need to fill the little trench with bark mulch:

Okay, now I'm done. Phew! Time to sleep.