SQUEEE!!!!!!! I'm gonna have a green house, a real glass greenhouse!! As in been dancing around singing "I got a golden ticket" but with got a greenhouse in the lyrics, hehehehe. I just gotta figure out about building it, lol.
So, today I was chatting with the neighbor.. Warm weather has come and so has the time for him to get the barn cleared out. And we were talking about what I might want or not, what he needs to get rid of, and so on.. there's a lot of stuff packed into the barn. Random house construction stuff, and furniture, big stuff, little stuff, boxes of stuff.. lol. A couple lifetimes of stuff stacked up.
While wandering around the bays of the barn, he pointed out some windows- and told me I could make a greenhouse with them. There are several scattered around the barn. And I told him yes, please, I've often thought about the windows he has stored in our pole barn and dreamed about such a thing... his response was "My windows? Heck, the're your windows now." He got them over years of doing houses and has no room to store them anymore, especially since the barn is ours now too.
Between what I know is in the pole barn and I've been dreaming over for years and what I've seen so far in the barn... I'm going to be able to build a decent sized greenhouse with all of it. And I got a couple spots to choose from- and right now could pull out some panes to quick set up for cold frame action if I wanted to. How darn keen is that?
Originally when we got here I started using the kennels and surround for gardens, and often thought it would be awesome to have a greenhouse where the kennels are. Nice cement pad, good posts. Been using it for years, and more recently in fall 2016 my sis and I wrapped and capped it in plastic for a greenhouse. It was freaking awesome. It was freaking awesome though this winter too. Though the roof was off, the walls made a great shelter for plants from the winds. But this spring shows damage to the plastic, and I want to start taking down garden side walls anyway to use the walls as trellis space this year.
Now, I could still do that, but I'm already converting front yard over into more perennial and floral spaces to a great extent. And I have been thinking about the back 40 for the last 3 years or so while we were paying off and securing the property.
Since the early days, we have closed on the back 40, and now I have the stable and stable yard that is going to be the location of the new big garden. Already knew I was going to be taking over that area for the future garden. It's already fenced in, with gates, and nothing but horse poop stomped down for years in the whole area. And today after being just flat out given all the glass in the pole barn and whatever is in the barn.. and touring around the stable for real a bit today. And really took in how big the actual stableyard is..
Whew. Think maybe the future greenhouse really will be in the garden. There's a lot of yard and a lot of glass around.
And also, perhaps a buildup of scrap and such wood-wise that might be had too. Or other odds and ends.
So.. what to do with greenhouse action? After this unexpected windfall of having the glass costs covered... now comes the time to think about foundation.....
And I've been dreaming about greenhouses for years. We could do a rabbit hutch floor, or a blast furnace system.. or perhaps a hybrid. I need to pull together some information, and plans, and such.. a 2019 glass raising might not be too out of the question.
The yard.. looking out over it today I kind of thing it might be too much garden.. but then again, maybe not.
Welcome to Growbox Hill
Welcome to Growbox HIll!
Sunday, March 18, 2018
Tuesday, March 13, 2018
And months go by..
So life has been going on over the last couple months. Not much worth chattering about, unsurprisingly and happily enough.
The deep snow for the weeks melted off, the extra deep cold went away. Then some more- then a couple weeks ago we got some record flooding around here. Today has a light white blanket and green stuff poking through the snow... should melt off soon enough.
The swans returned to their island a week or two ago, nice to see them back. I didn't do any suet cakes this year, but I did fill the seed feeder for the first time a day or two ago- haven't been eaten much yet, but that will change soon enough, lol.
Gardening has been going on for weeks of course- I started setting up set up in late January. This year is going to be a big pepper year- I'm comparing several varieties from over the years as well as a few new ones added into the mix. Since I had such a nice bumper crop of Aji Limon and Tobagao seasoning peppers last year that I still have a large stock of, I decided not to grow those this year.
So, right now under the lights and growing well..
Peach Habinaro, for 1 plant. I needed to replenish my dehydrated stock on this on this year
Mako Akokasrade, for 1 plant. I've grown this one before, and it made it onto the keeper list
Trinidad Perfume, for 1 plant. I grew it last year, but I think the growing conditions might have jacked it's scoville all weird or it might have been off seed, so I'm trying it again this year to find out.
Fish, for 3 plant. I've grown this one before, made the keeper list. But it wasn't a very heavy producer, so I'm doing extra plants this year.
Urfa Beiber, for 3 plants. Grew it last year, and it was wonderful, needed to grow more.
Bulgarian Carrot, for 1 plant. I've grown this one before, made the keeper list
Fresno, for 1 plant. New to the list this year.
Red Hot Cherry, for 4 plants. Specifically for pickling, the local markets don't always have enough for a good round of pickling.
Farmers Jalapeno, for 1 plant. Tried it last year, but had a seedling failure, so retrying
Feher Ozon Paprika, for 4 plants. New to the list this year, and the only true sweet on the list. For fresh eating and drying.
Black Hungarian, for 1 plant. Grown in previous years, and a keeper
Santa Fe Grande and Costeno Amarillo- 1 plant. I somehow managed to tag 2 pots with Costeno, and don't seem to have a Santa though I have it on my written list. Only 1 of the pots sprouted 1 seedling, so we will see what it actually is when it starts producing fruit. They are very different, so the mix up could have been worse. Haven't grown the Santa before, and have grown the Costeno before.
I will likely pick up a couple weapons grade peppers from a local nursery depending on how it strikes my fancy- I am out of dried peppers for garden use, but didn't feel like growing out a bunch from seed, wanted to concentrate on the seasoning peppers this time around. Finding them fresh in season around here can be kind of hit or miss. The shop usually doesn't have them, but the big nursery almost always does. Too bad the closest nursery turned out to be such a crappy place to work with and finding out about their bad plant management practices causing some problems- it has really crashed badly since that lady manager took over the place.
Anywho.. on to tomatoes :) Keeping it fairly small this year, just like I did last year. Two raised beds- a 6 pack of shorties and a pair of towers, and a snacker on the corner of the porch. This year I'm growing varieties of a bit longer maturity so I started them about 10 days earlier than I did last year- I think part of my Roman Candle crappy was I shorted it on time. The Speckled Romans made it onto the keeper list though. Just started the seeds last week. I decided to completely skip a cherry comparison year- we just don't ever eat cherries on that scale, and just the one snacker a year is plenty. So went to culling off a few of the oddities and final stuff on the list instead.
Wasipinicon Peach- for the snacker tub. It's a large cherry/saladette size, and has a slight fuzz to the skin. New for this year.
Riesentomate- one of the two towers. A weird cluster tomato, growing it for novelty pretty much. Hope it really grows as the cluster tomato and it isn't mislabled and actually the small bracketed tomato.
Coure di Bue- one of the two towers. Big meaty heart- new this year, keeping it in mind against last years Speckled Roman.
And in the 6 pack is a pair each of..
Dwarf Wild Fred- had to source out new seed for this year, but of course Freds are on the list
Moonglow- an orange to see how it faires, going up against the Juane Flame notes of previous years
Inca Jewels- a red plum, picked up a random packet of it last year, but the only kind of interesting shorty I have left on the list that isn't too short.
Kind of have the rest of the garden plans for the year too. This year is another year of trying to control the squash bugs with careful planting and use of the bug spray. And I'd like to start securing the stable and stable yard for future garden action. Get all the potted trees and fruits planted in out back. Planning on taking down the garden-sides of the greenhouse this year to use the walls for trellis action this year- and making the porch nicer for hanging out. Get a couple rolls of mesh to make some new cages and enclose the big lasagna bed.
A bunch of beans- Painted Lady Runner on the kitchen porch for the hummingbirds and us to enjoy the blooms and fresh beans. Sunset Runner for blooms and fresh beans to grow with Marketmore cukes on the greenhouse trellis where I grew morning glories and peppers last year. Yard Long for fresh eating and pickling, and True Red Cranberry for dry use trying out on the back greenhouse wall. And enclosing the large lasagna bed with mesh to try to grow a couple kinds of edamame this year. Want to grow out the asparagus crowns in pots for another year to get bigger and get that bed set up with some fix before planting in 2019. Thinking about growing out some Bumblebee bush beans in the stair corner, but not for sure about that yet.
Needing new mesh for cages and panels- gonna cap the open ends of the kennel this year. And use towers on the posts. Jelly Melon, Eden's Gem Melon Rich Sweetness Melon, Golden Midget Watermelon, and Mexican Sour Gherkins are going to be growing up all that. I trying to be extra hardcore with the melons this year- I've had mostly poor luck over the years, so trying again. To finish out the kennel gardens will be greens, root veggies, nasts, and calendula. I'm doing all calendula instead of regular marigolds this year for medicinal reasons.
Rounding out the list is back at the kitchen garden. A second trellis panel next to the Painted Lady beans to trow Tatume squash- they are a vining squash that has small summer rounds and squash bugs are supposed to not like it. And a container zuke- Astia. Three kinds of winter squash made it onto the bed list- Winter Luxury Pumpkin, Kakai Hulless pumpkin for eating seeds, and Thelma Sanders.
Of course a few herbs and some flowers. I got a LOT of potted bulbs and irises to distribute around the yard this year too. Some of that is going out back around the gardens and trees.
The deep snow for the weeks melted off, the extra deep cold went away. Then some more- then a couple weeks ago we got some record flooding around here. Today has a light white blanket and green stuff poking through the snow... should melt off soon enough.
The swans returned to their island a week or two ago, nice to see them back. I didn't do any suet cakes this year, but I did fill the seed feeder for the first time a day or two ago- haven't been eaten much yet, but that will change soon enough, lol.
Gardening has been going on for weeks of course- I started setting up set up in late January. This year is going to be a big pepper year- I'm comparing several varieties from over the years as well as a few new ones added into the mix. Since I had such a nice bumper crop of Aji Limon and Tobagao seasoning peppers last year that I still have a large stock of, I decided not to grow those this year.
So, right now under the lights and growing well..
Peach Habinaro, for 1 plant. I needed to replenish my dehydrated stock on this on this year
Mako Akokasrade, for 1 plant. I've grown this one before, and it made it onto the keeper list
Trinidad Perfume, for 1 plant. I grew it last year, but I think the growing conditions might have jacked it's scoville all weird or it might have been off seed, so I'm trying it again this year to find out.
Fish, for 3 plant. I've grown this one before, made the keeper list. But it wasn't a very heavy producer, so I'm doing extra plants this year.
Urfa Beiber, for 3 plants. Grew it last year, and it was wonderful, needed to grow more.
Bulgarian Carrot, for 1 plant. I've grown this one before, made the keeper list
Fresno, for 1 plant. New to the list this year.
Red Hot Cherry, for 4 plants. Specifically for pickling, the local markets don't always have enough for a good round of pickling.
Farmers Jalapeno, for 1 plant. Tried it last year, but had a seedling failure, so retrying
Feher Ozon Paprika, for 4 plants. New to the list this year, and the only true sweet on the list. For fresh eating and drying.
Black Hungarian, for 1 plant. Grown in previous years, and a keeper
Santa Fe Grande and Costeno Amarillo- 1 plant. I somehow managed to tag 2 pots with Costeno, and don't seem to have a Santa though I have it on my written list. Only 1 of the pots sprouted 1 seedling, so we will see what it actually is when it starts producing fruit. They are very different, so the mix up could have been worse. Haven't grown the Santa before, and have grown the Costeno before.
I will likely pick up a couple weapons grade peppers from a local nursery depending on how it strikes my fancy- I am out of dried peppers for garden use, but didn't feel like growing out a bunch from seed, wanted to concentrate on the seasoning peppers this time around. Finding them fresh in season around here can be kind of hit or miss. The shop usually doesn't have them, but the big nursery almost always does. Too bad the closest nursery turned out to be such a crappy place to work with and finding out about their bad plant management practices causing some problems- it has really crashed badly since that lady manager took over the place.
Anywho.. on to tomatoes :) Keeping it fairly small this year, just like I did last year. Two raised beds- a 6 pack of shorties and a pair of towers, and a snacker on the corner of the porch. This year I'm growing varieties of a bit longer maturity so I started them about 10 days earlier than I did last year- I think part of my Roman Candle crappy was I shorted it on time. The Speckled Romans made it onto the keeper list though. Just started the seeds last week. I decided to completely skip a cherry comparison year- we just don't ever eat cherries on that scale, and just the one snacker a year is plenty. So went to culling off a few of the oddities and final stuff on the list instead.
Wasipinicon Peach- for the snacker tub. It's a large cherry/saladette size, and has a slight fuzz to the skin. New for this year.
Riesentomate- one of the two towers. A weird cluster tomato, growing it for novelty pretty much. Hope it really grows as the cluster tomato and it isn't mislabled and actually the small bracketed tomato.
Coure di Bue- one of the two towers. Big meaty heart- new this year, keeping it in mind against last years Speckled Roman.
And in the 6 pack is a pair each of..
Dwarf Wild Fred- had to source out new seed for this year, but of course Freds are on the list
Moonglow- an orange to see how it faires, going up against the Juane Flame notes of previous years
Inca Jewels- a red plum, picked up a random packet of it last year, but the only kind of interesting shorty I have left on the list that isn't too short.
Kind of have the rest of the garden plans for the year too. This year is another year of trying to control the squash bugs with careful planting and use of the bug spray. And I'd like to start securing the stable and stable yard for future garden action. Get all the potted trees and fruits planted in out back. Planning on taking down the garden-sides of the greenhouse this year to use the walls for trellis action this year- and making the porch nicer for hanging out. Get a couple rolls of mesh to make some new cages and enclose the big lasagna bed.
A bunch of beans- Painted Lady Runner on the kitchen porch for the hummingbirds and us to enjoy the blooms and fresh beans. Sunset Runner for blooms and fresh beans to grow with Marketmore cukes on the greenhouse trellis where I grew morning glories and peppers last year. Yard Long for fresh eating and pickling, and True Red Cranberry for dry use trying out on the back greenhouse wall. And enclosing the large lasagna bed with mesh to try to grow a couple kinds of edamame this year. Want to grow out the asparagus crowns in pots for another year to get bigger and get that bed set up with some fix before planting in 2019. Thinking about growing out some Bumblebee bush beans in the stair corner, but not for sure about that yet.
Needing new mesh for cages and panels- gonna cap the open ends of the kennel this year. And use towers on the posts. Jelly Melon, Eden's Gem Melon Rich Sweetness Melon, Golden Midget Watermelon, and Mexican Sour Gherkins are going to be growing up all that. I trying to be extra hardcore with the melons this year- I've had mostly poor luck over the years, so trying again. To finish out the kennel gardens will be greens, root veggies, nasts, and calendula. I'm doing all calendula instead of regular marigolds this year for medicinal reasons.
Rounding out the list is back at the kitchen garden. A second trellis panel next to the Painted Lady beans to trow Tatume squash- they are a vining squash that has small summer rounds and squash bugs are supposed to not like it. And a container zuke- Astia. Three kinds of winter squash made it onto the bed list- Winter Luxury Pumpkin, Kakai Hulless pumpkin for eating seeds, and Thelma Sanders.
Of course a few herbs and some flowers. I got a LOT of potted bulbs and irises to distribute around the yard this year too. Some of that is going out back around the gardens and trees.
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