One Alaskans greenhouse

[Zeedman]

The tree hive wintered fine and they are quite active right now. This is my first experience with the Carnolians, as i’ve always used Italian‘s or Buckfast in the past.

A lot of study went into my hive body which emulates a large hollow tree section and is designed to be Bee friendly, not beekeeper friendly. I’d mentioned previously, i don’t intend to take any honey from them.

they started as a 4 lb package last spring and built enough comb on starter strips (no foundation) AND loaded it with sufficient stores to make it thru the Alaskan winter!

With this kind of activity, i’ll have to make another hive section before the middle of July!
the hive is 20 inch diameter and 24 inches tall.

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So you move your hives into shelter over the winter? A bee keeping friend here pulls the hives into his unheated pole building for the winter, and swears by the process. It would probably make even greater sense in a place where bears were in the vicinity.

 

[Alasgun]

@Zeedman , i simply put two wraps of reflective insulation around it with a bungee to keep it in place. The walls are quite thick, emulating a hollow tree.
there’s no top board above the upper super and my top bars only have 1/8th spacing and won’t allow bees to pass. Above that is a large open area and attic vents in the roof for ventilation.
It’s kind of a collection of compromise and my interpretation of several designs that have been proven over the years.
AND it’s my first attempt at something so “un-conventional” so im quite pleased with the results!

 

[Alasgun]

Today was a good day! The compost got the top scratched up a bit and a half gallon of Lacto bacillus serum spread around then dug in a couple inches. Once everything thaws i’ll turn this one.
While puttering in the greenhouse i found blossoms on both summer squash and pole beans. It’s unusual to have pole beans first, half of the bean crop are the Sychilles strain. It’s new to me and a trial comparing it to the old standard Blue Lake Pole.

 

[Alasgun]

Then this afternoon i put some black ag fabric on the garden beds hoping to warm / thaw them a bit. Everything’s still solid down 3-4 inches!
While doing all this i was entertained by the Sand Hill Cranes as they meander north.

 

[Zeedman]

While puttering in the greenhouse i found blossoms on both summer squash and pole beans. It’s unusual to have pole beans first, half of the bean crop are the Sychilles strain. It’s new to me and a trial comparing it to the old standard Blue Lake Pole.

Did you mean Seychelles bean? That is a fairly new variety, so I am looking forward to hear how it performs.

 

[Alasgun]

@Zeedman yes, pardon the spelling! I usually grow the Blue Lake’s in a pole and bush variety but this year decided to trial these as well. They’re running away from the Blue Lakes and im as impressed as you can be this early on And looking forward to the production capabilities.
I have 3 hills of each in the same conditions so it will be a fair trial. I’m looking for something a little cleaner late in the season and of course good flavor.
They can be seen in post #104, the first hill on the left and the two on the right, the remainder are the Blue Lakes.

 

[heirloomgal]

@Zeedman yes, pardon the spelling! I usually grow the Blue Lake’s in a pole and bush variety but this year decided to trial these as well. They’re running away from the Blue Lakes and im as impressed as you can be this early on And looking forward to the production capabilities.
I have 3 hills of each in the same conditions so it will be a fair trial. I’m looking for something a little cleaner late in the season and of course good flavor.
They can be seen in post #104, the first hill on the left and the two on the right, the remainder are the Blue Lakes.

That;s a really nice set up you have there @Alasgun. It looks like a smooth operation that will produce a lot of good food. I have a shorter season too, not quite as short as yours I don't think, but still it can be a challenge with the pole beans for me. I've had really good luck with a variety called 'Rattlesnake', it also goes by the name 'Preacher' pole bean. It is amazingly early for me, even earlier than any of the poles I've tried with the word 'Early' somewhere in the name. It's so early I can very easily save my own seed too. Its also outproduced almost every other pole except maybe Jiminez and one or two others. Delicious and tender as well.

 

[Alasgun]

Thanks, @heirloomgal i’ve seen the Rattlesnake beans thru the years and just never tried them. I’ll give them a try!

 

[digitS']

Ed Hume seeds (western WA State) may be available at your garden centers, Alasgun.

I didn't know about the "Preacher" name but see it on their website. "Cascade Giant type" is also on the information.

Seed purchased 10 or 12 years ago went into my garden and I've saved seed and had that variety ever since.

Steve

 

[Alasgun]

After my biggest customer (my Daughter) came and picked up her 5 tray’s of starts, it’s starting to look better in here. Still 3 weeks before the remainder can go out though.

First mosquito’s are showing up and this time of year they’re big and slow; slow enough a 70 yr. old can catch them.

So impressed with the Rabbit Wine that i started another 5 thru the ferment process!

2 of the 3 cucumber varieties are begining to flower too.