The Greenhouse is up and running! Thanks to Barney, my wonderful and handy husband, we have a fully functioning, permanent greenhouse! Isn't she beautiful? I am absolutely loving it, and so are the plants!
The seedlings have been going out every morning and enjoying a full day of sun and warmth. And man, does it get hot in there! The first day, I didn't properly ventilate and the thermometer had it reading well over 100 degrees! By opening the door and lifting the hatch, however, the temperature is perfect. Since putting them out there, it seems that the plants have doubled in size. Most of the ones planted a few weeks ago already have their true leaves and I have begun the process of thinning. We still bring them in at night, as it has been going down into the low 30s.
The right light for seedlings is so important. Without it, seedlings become leggy and fall over trying to "reach for the sun". Even if you think you have a great window in your house, chances are that its not enough light. Plants get about 3 times the amount of sun outside or in a greenhouse on a rainy cloudy day as they do inside near a window on a bright sunny one. With this greenhouse, I can give these little ones all the light and warmth they need to grow!
If you look to the left, you will see the latest addition to the wall. A gutter garden! On the top I have transplanted some strawberries we had in a garden we were getting rid of. My dream is that these will grow and strawberries will be dripping over the edges. I hope it works! On the bottom row, I planted some herbs from seed. I labeled each area with chalk on the handy blackboard paint.
The seedlings have been going out every morning and enjoying a full day of sun and warmth. And man, does it get hot in there! The first day, I didn't properly ventilate and the thermometer had it reading well over 100 degrees! By opening the door and lifting the hatch, however, the temperature is perfect. Since putting them out there, it seems that the plants have doubled in size. Most of the ones planted a few weeks ago already have their true leaves and I have begun the process of thinning. We still bring them in at night, as it has been going down into the low 30s.
The right light for seedlings is so important. Without it, seedlings become leggy and fall over trying to "reach for the sun". Even if you think you have a great window in your house, chances are that its not enough light. Plants get about 3 times the amount of sun outside or in a greenhouse on a rainy cloudy day as they do inside near a window on a bright sunny one. With this greenhouse, I can give these little ones all the light and warmth they need to grow!
If you look to the left, you will see the latest addition to the wall. A gutter garden! On the top I have transplanted some strawberries we had in a garden we were getting rid of. My dream is that these will grow and strawberries will be dripping over the edges. I hope it works! On the bottom row, I planted some herbs from seed. I labeled each area with chalk on the handy blackboard paint.