Excuses, too; or thinkin' won't get it dun.

[thistlebloom]

So you removed the bench and now have a bed where the bench was? Will you replace the bench for spring flats?
Today is such a sunny day the temps should be real cozy in there right now. Maybe they'll be inspired to grow a bit and not bolt.

 

[digitS']

The design of the greenhouse was just about the best I could think of 15 years ago - for flats of plants. I didn't feel that it was a good idea to have a floor but after awhile, I'm looking at the dirt . . .

Yes, by March I will have two benches to replace that decrepit, long thing that went to the dump. That is the way the smaller, front bench is made. I have moved it out of the way to grow basil in there during the summer months. It is a little bit of a bother and I've got the outdoor space for the basil.

Winter growing. Using the bed in the front is possible but, dang, I bet it gets cold near that plastic film south wall! This area is right in the middle of the greenhouse. I will put a tunnel over it and path on the right. The rosemary sits on some of that path and is covered anyway during cold nights/days. Why not put a plastic hoopie over the whole thing and see how plants in the ground do?

You know, chatting on TEG during the spring helps me pay attention to the temperatures out in the greenhouses then . I just went out and opened it a little more in all this sunshine! It was 28f here this morning.

Steve

 

[jackb]

As I thought about my greenhouse space, I realized that the center aisle was a waste of space. During the summer I have tomatoes on the right and peppers on the left and nothing in the center but walkway. There are large nutrient reservoirs on the shelves in the back, however, once filled they need little attention. Additionally, during the summer, the center aisle gets the best light, so I built small portable benches and placed them in the center aisle. It is a simple matter to pick them up and turn them sideways to make a narrow aisle to get to the back when necessary. My thinking was, why leave that prime space just to walk in once in a while? I may as well cram as many plants in there that I can. As for the temperature, I was really looking for cool temperatures for the olive trees. The temperature in the greenhouse during the day is sill in the 80s. with both vents and the door open, and in the mid 40s at night. So, I grab a book, chair and cool drink and enjoy the summer weather while it lasts.
JackB

 

[digitS']

See? See how efficient he is??

Well . . . I have 2 aisles in the greenhouse but the one you can just see in the picture is against the north wall. There really is no sunlight that falls on that insulated wall from mid-March on. That's because the summer sun is blocked by the insulated roof. Winter mid-day, the sunlight easily reaches about half way up that interior wall!

I'll put that picture of the little thing on here again. Nothing much has changed since I made that final revamping of it about 1998 except I built a little larger deck in front of the door.

I have little doubt that Jack would have this painted after those 15 short years . . .

Steve

 

[jackb]

"I have little doubt that Jack would have this painted after those 15 short years . . ."


Steve,

When it comes to chores like that my wife "inspires" me to get them finished.

JackB

 

[digitS']

It matches the cedar fence on the west side of the yard, Jack.

In fact, those are fence boards.

I used the same on the chicken coop. I'm not real happy with the old garage that is in the middle of this "cedarville." It is painted white. For a long time I couldn't identify the siding on the carport garage wall. It seemed to be some kind of square shingle idea but with no lapping. I finally had reason to cut thru one, with it's 1/4" layer of old, white paint. It's cedar too! I could probably strip that off . . .

Steve

 

[Smart Red]

Steve, my coop is made of recycled cedar boards from off a house we resided. Rather than strip the boards, DH turned them over, trimmed a bit off the high sides, and we nailed 'em up. Looks great! I did stain it to match other yard objects.

 

[digitS']

Stain? Sweat . . .

Well, I did it. Now, let it grow!

Mostly Choy Sum (because I've got lots of seed), Red Choy, and Maruba Santoh in there with the LuLan Bok Choy transplants. I've got lots of Maruba Santoh seed too but it is a real slow grower. It essentially fails as a crop on the harvested potato bed because it grows so slowly. Still, it is my favorite Asian green - seed is from Japan.

Probably the smartest thing would have been to plant more Twisted-stem Mustard but that one takes off like crazy in late summer! I'm tired of it . . . . . . It is an Asian green but the others sound more exotic, right?

Steve

 

[digitS']

 

[digitS']

No one comments on that miserable looking cucumber vine there beyond the bok choy . . ? (That is a basil plant nearest the camera in the 1st picture.)

I really need to take the cucumber out - bok choy doesn't have much trouble with mildew but still! There are 2 cukes just about big enuf to pick.

It was lovely before I ripped that bench out. I didn't think I was doing much to the vine but just messing around with it so much must have been too much.

I wish I'd had a couple hundred bok choys to move in instead of a couple of dozen. . . You can see the seed isn't coming up well. The red choy looks the best but I don't think any will have enuf time to grow before it begins freezing in there.

Steve