Done
All of the pre-soaked seeds are finally in the ground. Many of them have sprouted. It appears that I got 100% from the marigolds and almost that much from the broccoli. So far I am pretty well sold on the rockwool pads. They are so easy to plant. Enough of them have sprouted, that I am confident they will work. The final test will be how well the plants grow and how easily they transplant.
I have also solved the electrical capacity situation. I bought a little heater that mounts to the top of a propane tank. The 4-flat heating pads only take 107 watts of power. The electric heater takes a bunch. By eliminating the electric heater, I can plug in more pads. I probably don’t even need the heater; but it keeps me from worrying and it gives me a warm place to work.
The nights have been really cold with the afternoons warming up. The temperature is still dropping when I leave the house during the week. I can’t cut the heater off; so it burns all day. Propane is $18 + per tank. That’s my next problem to solve. Suggestions?
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Book Review: "Gardening Indoors"
Book Review: “Gardening Indoors”
This book by George Van Patten is subtitled “The Indoor Gardener’s Bible”. Like the Bible, this book requires fairly intensive interpretation and still lacks clarity. The author does a great job of impressing the reader with his extensive knowledge. Unfortunately he does little to share much of the practical portions of that knowledge.
There is a great deal of technical, chemical and biological information in the book. While it is interesting, it is not very useful. The useful information is left out. For example, it is strongly suggested that he gardener have a moisture meter (referred to in the book as a “water meter”). It does not give any indication anywhere about how much moisture should be in the soil for any purpose.
I do not mean to say there is no useful information in the book. I think there is enough knowledge to justify the $19.95 price. I am not sure there is enough useful information to justify the effort of separating the wheat from the chaff.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/.
This book by George Van Patten is subtitled “The Indoor Gardener’s Bible”. Like the Bible, this book requires fairly intensive interpretation and still lacks clarity. The author does a great job of impressing the reader with his extensive knowledge. Unfortunately he does little to share much of the practical portions of that knowledge.
There is a great deal of technical, chemical and biological information in the book. While it is interesting, it is not very useful. The useful information is left out. For example, it is strongly suggested that he gardener have a moisture meter (referred to in the book as a “water meter”). It does not give any indication anywhere about how much moisture should be in the soil for any purpose.
I do not mean to say there is no useful information in the book. I think there is enough knowledge to justify the $19.95 price. I am not sure there is enough useful information to justify the effort of separating the wheat from the chaff.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Learning from Experience
Learning from Experience
I have really learned a lot in the last few days. A high learning curve can be painful. Soaking seeds over night in water is stupid. You will not believe how hard it is to take them out and lay them on paper towels to soak them for germination. That is stupid too. They are really hard to pick up and put into the planting system.
About planting systems… I have used potting soil and cups in the past. It is cheap and the cups are really easy to label with a permanent marker. Planting the pre-germinated seeds in the little cups is a lot of work. Every cup has to be labeled and filled. The seeds have to be picked up with tweezers and put into the cups. The whole thing has to be covered with a little bit of potting soil and tamped. They can be bottom watered; but the wicking is really slow.
Jiffy cubes are better. They are really easy to plant. They are virtually impossible to label. Just put them in water until they swell up. Put the seed in the little hole and smash the cube a little to cover the seed. The seeds do not really need to be germinated in advance. The jiffy cube is a great germinating place. Jiffy cubes cost $.16 each. Rockwool comes in 98 cube sheets that fit inside a flat. Just soak the rockwool for a few hours and put the seed in the hole. Break off a little piece of rockwool from somewhere to plug the hole. The seeds do not need to be pre-germinated. I have already germinated way more seeds than I really need to plant. What a mess.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/.
I have really learned a lot in the last few days. A high learning curve can be painful. Soaking seeds over night in water is stupid. You will not believe how hard it is to take them out and lay them on paper towels to soak them for germination. That is stupid too. They are really hard to pick up and put into the planting system.
About planting systems… I have used potting soil and cups in the past. It is cheap and the cups are really easy to label with a permanent marker. Planting the pre-germinated seeds in the little cups is a lot of work. Every cup has to be labeled and filled. The seeds have to be picked up with tweezers and put into the cups. The whole thing has to be covered with a little bit of potting soil and tamped. They can be bottom watered; but the wicking is really slow.
Jiffy cubes are better. They are really easy to plant. They are virtually impossible to label. Just put them in water until they swell up. Put the seed in the little hole and smash the cube a little to cover the seed. The seeds do not really need to be germinated in advance. The jiffy cube is a great germinating place. Jiffy cubes cost $.16 each. Rockwool comes in 98 cube sheets that fit inside a flat. Just soak the rockwool for a few hours and put the seed in the hole. Break off a little piece of rockwool from somewhere to plug the hole. The seeds do not need to be pre-germinated. I have already germinated way more seeds than I really need to plant. What a mess.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Colder Still
Colder Still
Yesterday was so cold that I just worked in town instead of going home and working in the greenhouse. I did take a few minutes to go down to the “Be Well Gardening Center”. I bought a pad of rockwool that fits in a flat and has 98 holes for seeds. I am going to try this at the same time as the “Jiffy Cubes”. “Jiffy Cubes” cost $.16 each. The rockwool plugs are only about $.10 each.
Today is warmer; but the weather man is calling for rain. That should mean it will be dry. I forgot to bring my gym bag to town; so maybe I can go home early and work in the greenhouse. This is also the day that Blum’s says to plant root crops. I have a few potato eyes from potatoes I put in the beans yesterday. They will keep in the ground as well as anywhere else, if the squirrels or mice don’t find them.
I went to Renfrow’s hardware Saturday. I really love going in there. It is like stepping back in time. The had some pads that will heat 4 flats. I don’t know why I did not buy one while I was there. They also have clear plastic covers for flats. I will go by on my way home today. With heating pad and covered flats, the greenhouse may be just a little redundant. I’m not sure my wife would let me have all of that mess in the house though.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/.
Yesterday was so cold that I just worked in town instead of going home and working in the greenhouse. I did take a few minutes to go down to the “Be Well Gardening Center”. I bought a pad of rockwool that fits in a flat and has 98 holes for seeds. I am going to try this at the same time as the “Jiffy Cubes”. “Jiffy Cubes” cost $.16 each. The rockwool plugs are only about $.10 each.
Today is warmer; but the weather man is calling for rain. That should mean it will be dry. I forgot to bring my gym bag to town; so maybe I can go home early and work in the greenhouse. This is also the day that Blum’s says to plant root crops. I have a few potato eyes from potatoes I put in the beans yesterday. They will keep in the ground as well as anywhere else, if the squirrels or mice don’t find them.
I went to Renfrow’s hardware Saturday. I really love going in there. It is like stepping back in time. The had some pads that will heat 4 flats. I don’t know why I did not buy one while I was there. They also have clear plastic covers for flats. I will go by on my way home today. With heating pad and covered flats, the greenhouse may be just a little redundant. I’m not sure my wife would let me have all of that mess in the house though.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/.
Monday, January 21, 2008
More Hard Freezes
More Hard Freezes
We got down to 24 degrees the night of the 17th. My first out-of-the-house action that morning was to check the greenhouse. It was nice and toasty. Since then we have had sub-freezing temperatures almost every night. Last night it went to 17 degrees. I did not go out this morning because I leave for work at 0 dark 30.
Saturday the weatherman called for snow starting at 2:00 in the AM. It did not happen. Saturday morning I put all of the seeds to be started into cups of warm water to start the germination process. My “Indoor Gardening” book (I will give the references and a review in a later blog) said not to leave them there over 24 hours. I took them out Sunday morning. By the way it did finally start snowing Saturday morning; but it never got cold enough to stick.
I put the seeds between labeled sheets of paper towels and layered them in a flat. I put the flat on a heating pad in the greenhouse and soaked the paper towels with warm water. I will check them every day and when they start to sprout they are planted in cups, peat pots or jiffy cubes. I bought 50 jiffy cubes to give them a try. I will let you know how they work.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com/ , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/.
We got down to 24 degrees the night of the 17th. My first out-of-the-house action that morning was to check the greenhouse. It was nice and toasty. Since then we have had sub-freezing temperatures almost every night. Last night it went to 17 degrees. I did not go out this morning because I leave for work at 0 dark 30.
Saturday the weatherman called for snow starting at 2:00 in the AM. It did not happen. Saturday morning I put all of the seeds to be started into cups of warm water to start the germination process. My “Indoor Gardening” book (I will give the references and a review in a later blog) said not to leave them there over 24 hours. I took them out Sunday morning. By the way it did finally start snowing Saturday morning; but it never got cold enough to stick.
I put the seeds between labeled sheets of paper towels and layered them in a flat. I put the flat on a heating pad in the greenhouse and soaked the paper towels with warm water. I will check them every day and when they start to sprout they are planted in cups, peat pots or jiffy cubes. I bought 50 jiffy cubes to give them a try. I will let you know how they work.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com/ , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Recent Activity in the Garden
Recent Activity in the Garden
Some people think that a garden has to just sit around between the first and last freezes of winter. This is just not so. You probably will not get everything your table requires during this time; but you can get something. Better still, you can play in the dirt and prepare the garden for the next season.
On the 7th I planted potatoes, beets, carrots and radishes. The potatoes will not come up until the soil warms in the spring. On the 8th I planted lettuce, spinach and turnips. I plant these things at regular intervals all winter long. Usually we have a little something fresh from the garden to supplement the store-bought and canned goods. Arugula, for example, only suffers for a few days from each hard freeze. It makes really great salads and the freezing actually seems to enhance the flavor. Collards don’t seem to even freeze. Turnips and mustard greens wilt and then send out new leaves. Broccoli slows down a little; but it keeps growing.
On the 9th I tilled the last part of the garden that did not get tilled at the end of the season. The soil was a little damper than I like (between 5 and 6 on the moisture meter); but rain was called for last night. I knew it would be a while before it could be worked and I wanted to lay out the beds and cover them with leaves. That will be my next task in the garden.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com/ , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/.
Some people think that a garden has to just sit around between the first and last freezes of winter. This is just not so. You probably will not get everything your table requires during this time; but you can get something. Better still, you can play in the dirt and prepare the garden for the next season.
On the 7th I planted potatoes, beets, carrots and radishes. The potatoes will not come up until the soil warms in the spring. On the 8th I planted lettuce, spinach and turnips. I plant these things at regular intervals all winter long. Usually we have a little something fresh from the garden to supplement the store-bought and canned goods. Arugula, for example, only suffers for a few days from each hard freeze. It makes really great salads and the freezing actually seems to enhance the flavor. Collards don’t seem to even freeze. Turnips and mustard greens wilt and then send out new leaves. Broccoli slows down a little; but it keeps growing.
On the 9th I tilled the last part of the garden that did not get tilled at the end of the season. The soil was a little damper than I like (between 5 and 6 on the moisture meter); but rain was called for last night. I knew it would be a while before it could be worked and I wanted to lay out the beds and cover them with leaves. That will be my next task in the garden.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com/ , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Why the Frozen Greenhouse?
Why the Frozen Greenhouse?
I was really puzzled about the greenhouse freezing. The little block heater worked during the coldest part of last year when the greenhouse was not nearly as tight as it is now. I took home an extra block heater and bought a pad to go under a couple of flats.
When I got home, I went to work in the greenhouse. I noticed that there was no heat coming from the block heater. It was cut off. Duh!!!!! I vaguely remember my son commenting that I had forgotten and left the greenhouse plugged in all day. I told him that I didn’t forget. I left it on purposely. I had no idea that he had turned the heater off. The broccoli plants did not seem to have been killed. They may have been stunted though.
Today (1/7/08) is the day for root crops according to Blum’s http://www.blumsalmanac.com/ . I will be planting radish, carrots, beets and potatoes. Yesterday I cut the eyes out of potatoes that we are planning on cooking. They are laid out on a piece of paper to “cure”. This makes them more rot resistant when they are planted. This will be the second planting of potatoes. They will not come up until the ground warms some.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com/ , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/.
I was really puzzled about the greenhouse freezing. The little block heater worked during the coldest part of last year when the greenhouse was not nearly as tight as it is now. I took home an extra block heater and bought a pad to go under a couple of flats.
When I got home, I went to work in the greenhouse. I noticed that there was no heat coming from the block heater. It was cut off. Duh!!!!! I vaguely remember my son commenting that I had forgotten and left the greenhouse plugged in all day. I told him that I didn’t forget. I left it on purposely. I had no idea that he had turned the heater off. The broccoli plants did not seem to have been killed. They may have been stunted though.
Today (1/7/08) is the day for root crops according to Blum’s http://www.blumsalmanac.com/ . I will be planting radish, carrots, beets and potatoes. Yesterday I cut the eyes out of potatoes that we are planning on cooking. They are laid out on a piece of paper to “cure”. This makes them more rot resistant when they are planted. This will be the second planting of potatoes. They will not come up until the ground warms some.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com/ , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Frozen Greenhouse
Frozen Greenhouse
The temperature was supposed to go to 15 degrees last night. I don’t know whether it did on not. When I went into the greenhouse this morning there was ice on the dirt in the individual pots. The rain barrel had a thick enough layer of ice that it did not crack when I rapped it with my knuckles. I had a little block heater going full blast; but somehow it just wasn’t enough.
I have another block heater; but I don’t think that is really the answer. I bought a 2 flat heating pad to go under the flats. I can put everything that needs to start this early in 2 flats. The greenhouse itself may freeze. The plants should be ok. I will just throw away the broccoli plants that had already sprouted. It only took them 6 days to sprout and the sprouts were only 3 days old so I did not lose too much.
Blums almanac says the 20th is the next good day for planting seed beds. The Blum’s almanac weather forecast is pretty close:. Should I trust them on the planting signs?
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/.
The temperature was supposed to go to 15 degrees last night. I don’t know whether it did on not. When I went into the greenhouse this morning there was ice on the dirt in the individual pots. The rain barrel had a thick enough layer of ice that it did not crack when I rapped it with my knuckles. I had a little block heater going full blast; but somehow it just wasn’t enough.
I have another block heater; but I don’t think that is really the answer. I bought a 2 flat heating pad to go under the flats. I can put everything that needs to start this early in 2 flats. The greenhouse itself may freeze. The plants should be ok. I will just throw away the broccoli plants that had already sprouted. It only took them 6 days to sprout and the sprouts were only 3 days old so I did not lose too much.
Blums almanac says the 20th is the next good day for planting seed beds. The Blum’s almanac weather forecast is pretty close:. Should I trust them on the planting signs?
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Happy New Year
Happy New Year
My grandchildren are gone and icy weather is here. It got down to 19 degrees this morning and 17 is called for tonight. Yesterday was beautiful. The only thing I did outside was water the plants in the greenhouse. It was just toooo cold.
New Years day I got a lot done. I planted a garden hose to take water to the garden. I planted an electric cable to take power to the storage shed and greenhouse, I blew leave and with my grandson Reese’s help drug all of the leaves to the mulch pile at the back corner of the back yard.
I mentioned in an earlier blog that I was worried about not enough compost & mulch. The compost bins are all full. The fallow rows in the garden are mulched and I now have a big pile of leaves for use as mulch this summer.
The broccoli and Brussels sprouts that were planted on Christmas Eve came up on New Years day. I have a new book on “indoor gardening” and a new seed catalog. Life is good.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/.
My grandchildren are gone and icy weather is here. It got down to 19 degrees this morning and 17 is called for tonight. Yesterday was beautiful. The only thing I did outside was water the plants in the greenhouse. It was just toooo cold.
New Years day I got a lot done. I planted a garden hose to take water to the garden. I planted an electric cable to take power to the storage shed and greenhouse, I blew leave and with my grandson Reese’s help drug all of the leaves to the mulch pile at the back corner of the back yard.
I mentioned in an earlier blog that I was worried about not enough compost & mulch. The compost bins are all full. The fallow rows in the garden are mulched and I now have a big pile of leaves for use as mulch this summer.
The broccoli and Brussels sprouts that were planted on Christmas Eve came up on New Years day. I have a new book on “indoor gardening” and a new seed catalog. Life is good.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/.
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