One Alaskans greenhouse

[heirloomgal]

Artichokes, Rosemary, Stevia, Self Heal and Peppers are what i call “long starts” and i’ve been nursing this group from right after the first of the year. There’s a tray of mint starts in there as well which are voracious this year; so much so that im cutting them back and will just dry it like i would later in the year.
Up above these i’ve got 4 10/20’s of Asparagus, Celery, Parsley and Tomato’s.
Next week is a big week for starts which will include Cabbage, Cukes, Broccoli, Kale, and several Pole/Bush beans. Each week following has it’s group of starts too and this continues until Mid April when i can move it all out to the greenhouse, and beyond!
It’s here and I’m loving it!

This group will move over the the “White House” with more room and bigger lights next week, to make room for the new stuff.

What do you use the Self Heal for? That is a low growing plant with small purple flowers, right? I think my front lawn has a lot of it.

How did the cardoons go for you last year?

 

[Alasgun]

The Cardoon was way too bitter for us. These sorts of things are more a diversion for us and im back to Artichokes again, another diversion!

Self heal is easy and beneficial so we grow it, dry it and drink the tea. I also start some seed in the fall to have a plant we can scalp thru the winter.
The first year it’s more of a creeper, very low growing. Once it comes the second year it’ll get 18 inches tall and fairly bushy. With the half dozen i started in the fall i’ll be up to a dozen or so little “patches”.

This is just one of many articles off the net.

Self Heal

Medical Medium: Self Heal - now at www.medicalmedium.com

www.medicalmedium.com

 

[Alasgun]

Today was a big day with a lot of seed going in starters and some things being up-potted. The White house light system was commissioned and all the big stuff was moved over, under the L.E.D’s.

This is my first year using a commercial medium all by itself. Happy Frog is working very well as both a seed starting mix and a potting soil. I’m especially fond of the texture and handling ability when transplanting.

No shortage of stuff to do right now!

 

[heirloomgal]

The Cardoon was way too bitter for us. These sorts of things are more a diversion for us and im back to Artichokes again, another diversion!

Self heal is easy and beneficial so we grow it, dry it and drink the tea. I also start some seed in the fall to have a plant we can scalp thru the winter.
The first year it’s more of a creeper, very low growing. Once it comes the second year it’ll get 18 inches tall and fairly bushy. With the half dozen i started in the fall i’ll be up to a dozen or so little “patches”.

This is just one of many articles off the net.

Self Heal

Medical Medium: Self Heal - now at www.medicalmedium.com

www.medicalmedium.com

In my cardoon adventure I realized a) how big they get and how little room I had b) that they need to be blanched for weeks before harvest to lose the bitterness and then cooked for a really long time, so I let them go. They are beautiful, but a lot of work to make palatable it seems.

 

[Alasgun]

Today i got the framing done over my salad bed. For now i’ll have a poly roof, back and 2 sides With an open/screen front. In time i might go poly all over but until i get an idea how the venting will go; i want it fool proof.

 

[AMKuska]

Wow, still a lot of snow on the ground I see! I guess it is Alaska.

 

[Rhodie Ranch]

Nice height too!

 

[Alasgun]

Another round of starts are up and looking fine, one more big flush of starts and the remainder will be direct seeded.

 

[Alasgun]

Last fall i mounted these louvers to the roof in time for the silicon to cure before freezing weather. A couple days ago i made the window cutout and fashioned some Rube Goldberg window adjusters, and i’m ecstatic with the outcome. These louvers came with fully automatic closers which would add too much complication with the heating system. My adaption’s are very user friendly, strong as an ox and match the existing decor?
I also purchased an attic gable fan which will be mounted at ground level on the shaded side of the greenhouse and im hoping this arrangement will do a better job of moderating internal temps than the current system. Currently the greenhouse has an 18 inch exhaust fan mounted 3-4 feet below the top, in the end of the building and relies on the door being open to move air thru. It works, sorta; but during the heat of the summer the fan runs solid for over 12 hours a day! My goal is to move the hottest air out by simple opening the vents and be able to bring in cooler air when needed from below. I’m amazed at how much air movement i now have even without the second fan running, and am excited for how this season will grow.

 

[Alasgun]

The end of indoor planting was today.
The next big thing will be moving into the greenhouse in 2 weeks then Then direct seeded stuff, outside in another 6 weeks.

Surely there will be up-potting to occupy my time directly, that’s when i have to get creative with shelf space.

This is “the old tub grow”.