May'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
While your starts are growing in the greenhouse, take the time to plan the garden layout of your crops. Keep accurate, detailed records of your crops, when they are planted and eventually the total yield. Remember to systematically rotate crops to avoid soil depletion and specific pest infestations. Plant some friendly radishes, in anticipation of future crops. They are cold hardy, sprout quickly, will mark your rows and provide "water cavities" and expansion space when removed. Now is a good time to assess your soil. Dig an area one-foot square and six inches deep. If this piece has 10 earthworms, you should have good soil. Till dried, crushed eggshells into your garden bed to help eliminate harmful nematodes. If you have problems with rabbits, sprinkle cayenne pepper near their favorite plants in the morning after you water.
HERB THYMES
Try this delightfully refreshing mint facial cleanser: In blender place 2 1/4 c. fresh milk and 4 T. fresh, washed, dried mint (such as apple, orange or peppermint), blend well and set in refrigerator for about 12 hours. Strain and place in clean, sterile bottle. This will keep for a few days. Those with delicate skin will find this particularly beneficial.
JUNIOR GARDENER
Grow a giant pumpkin! (It takes 115 days or more.) Try Prizewinner which regularly exceeds 200 pounds. Plant 2 - 3 weeks before last expected frost. Select the three largest seeds. Plant pointed end down in 4"- 6" peat pot filled with sterile potting soil to within 1" of pot rim. Lightly firm 1/2" of soil over seeds. Cover this with 1/2" loose soil and water thoroughly. Place on warm surface to sprout. Water when surface is dry. After sprouting, place in greenhouse, using warm and cool fluorescent light if necessary. When three leaves have formed, snip off the two smaller plants. In garden select sunny, protected location, allowing 20' between plants. To the depth of 1' dig in fish emulsion, blood meal, bone meal, well-rotted manure and compost. Have this in at least a 6' radius. When all danger of frost is past and soil is at least 55ƒ, harden off plants for four days in partial shade during the day and take in at night. Then for four days place in full sun and leave outside in protected area overnight. Plant in prepared area, carefully removing the bottom of the peat pot. Cover soil around plant with black plastic and for the young plant, use a hot cap or row cover. Water daily in the morning over the entire vine area. When fruit appears, select 3 babies on separate runners 6'-10' from center. Try to have the stem at a 90 degree angle to the vine so it won't break off as it grows. Feed weekly with fish emulsion. When babies are 6" in diameter, select the best shape. Remove the others and pinch off the end of the vines. Place on cardboard or wood for a barrier against soil insects. Roll weekly to shape. Keep carefully weeded and watch for insect pests. When ready to harvest, cut off with a 2" stem. Let us know if you are a winner!
GREENHOUSE SCHEDULE
Seedlings need at least 6 hours of direct light. In low-light conditions, add fluorescent light 4"- 6" above starts or space plants farther apart. Keep temperature in greenhouse no lower than 60 degrees day temperature for cool weather plants and 70 degrees for warm weather plants. Water carefully so as not to cause injury to plants as this would invite insects and diseases. Also avoid splashing mud and keep hose off floor for good greenhouse sanitation. Keep the area inside and a strip around the outside of your greenhouse free of weeds. This will help keep down re-seeding, insect pest infestation and accompanying plant viruses.
Our Greenhousing "How-To" Resouce Guide
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