November's Greenhouse Tips
Owning, using, and enjoying your own greenhouse can be fun and relaxing - but there are still "Things To Do" to keep it clean, healthly, and usable. For each month of the year we have gathered useful greenhouse tips and information from our customers, employees and friends like you to help you get even more enjoyment from your greenhouse.
We've gathered these greenhouse tips from a variety of sources, much of it has been over the years and is not known. Please feel free to send us some of your own ideas.
SEASONAL OPPORTUNITIES
As cold weather approaches some precautions should be taken with your outdoor accessories. Bring terra cotta pots and cement into a cool, dry place to avoid cracking from cold and moisture expansion. If these items are too large to be brought in, mulch container and wrap with burlap, filling the burlap with an insulator such as leaves. Plastic items and pots which become brittle should be brought inside. All pots must be emptied and washed with 10 to 1 water/bleach solution before storage. Wood items do best if cleaned, stained, sealed, and stored inside. Metal items should be cleaned, primed and covered with weather-resistant matched paint. Bring glass items inside or cover with a sturdy padding. Wash wicker with 3/4 c. bleach to 1 gallon water. Store hoses inside and cover faucet with insulation and/or Styrofoam cap-guards.
HERB THYMES
Try this rich flavored, heart-warming soup made from your own garden onions, garlic, shallots and leeks: 4 T. butter, 2 c. finely chopped onion, 4 large leeks (thinly sliced), 1/2 c. chopped shallots, 4 to 6 garlic cloves (minced), 4 c. chicken or vegetable stock, 2 t. dried thyme or 1 T. fresh (chopped), 1 bay leaf, salt and pepper, and 3 scallions (sliced into 1/4" pieces). Saute onion, garlic, shallots and leeks in melted butter until tender and golden. Add stock and season to taste. Bring to a boil, and simmer 20 minutes. Puree 2/3 of the solids and 1 c. of liquid in a blender. Return this to the stockpot, add scallions and simmer another 5 minutes. Serve hot with grated cheese, toasted French bread and fresh fruit. Bon Appetite!
The Junior Gardener
Get your kids involved in tackling greenhouse pest problems. Start by keeping a magnifying glass in the greenhouse. Hang a chart showing close up pictures of the common greenhouse pests. Your young sleuth can become an expert at spotting trouble before it gets out of hand. Be sure to look on the underside of the leaves!
GREENHOUSE SCHEDULE
With the onset of chilly weather, the greenhouse can be the perfect spot to force tulip bulbs for some winter cheer. To do this, choose large, heavy bulbs. Store in a paper bag at 48ƒ or below for 5 to 6 weeks. (If you do this in the refrigerator, keep the bulbs away from fresh fruit that gives off ethylene gas and hinders blooming.) Then plant bulbs close together, but not touching, in a new shallow pot with moistened potting mix. Store this in a cool, dark part of your greenhouse at 50ƒ to 55ƒ for about a month. After this, place the pot in a sunny location at 60ƒ - 65ƒ for blooming and display.
Accessory Corner
Chase away the winter chills with one of our efficient gas greenhouse heaters. Our newest blue flame heaters provide warm, moist heat. Design certified by the American Gas Association, this heater incorporates the latest safety features. The pilot light will automatically turn off if the oxygen level drops below the ANSI standards and if the pilot light is extinguished, the gas flow will automatically shut off. Automatic thermostat helps conserve gas, saving you money. Floor base included. Specify natural gas or propane. 10,000 BTU's per hour or 30,000 BTU's per hour.
Our Greenhousing "How-To" Resouce Guide
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