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Post by Jim on Dec 20, 2007 21:29:50 GMT -5
I have a greenhouse question. I was just informed that my flippin awesome wife just bought me a greenhouse for christmas. Its the larger one that totally tomatoes. When can I plant seedlings in it and not worry about it freezing? Im in zone 5b. I'd love to get some stuff started as soon as possible....I'm f*cking stoked right now....pardon my french.......
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Post by Alan on Dec 20, 2007 23:18:37 GMT -5
Excellent and congratulations. What type of greenhouse is it exactly and that will give us a better idea of when you can put some stuff in it and what time you can put it in. What size is it? Will you heat it?
If you aren't going to heat it, you should definetly look into some heating pads to start your plants indoors and then latter move the plants outside to harden off, but without knowing what kind of greenhouse and the material it is made from it's hard to say when it is safe. Let me know and I'll do my best to answer.
-Alan
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Post by Jim on Dec 21, 2007 7:25:42 GMT -5
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Post by Jim on Dec 21, 2007 10:10:05 GMT -5
I'm thinking if I get some black 5 gallon pales of water in it to help even out the temps I'll be able to get seedlings out there earlier.
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Post by Jim on Dec 22, 2007 15:00:33 GMT -5
thoughts?
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Post by Alan on Dec 22, 2007 17:13:29 GMT -5
Sorry it took me so long to get back to you. Is it the garden starter greenhouse? The link you posted didn't work for me for some reason. Anyhow, if it is the garden starter greenhouse then you could probably definetly heat it a bit with some black five gallon bucketts full of water, another thing you could look at for a back up heat source is one of those little rectangular electric space heaters that they sell at hardware stores, usually for about $20 and a nice long extension cord. That way you would at least have a backup system for heating if it got really cold. I don't think I would put anything out in it earlier that 6 weeks prior to your first frost just in case, though that estimate might be a bit conservative, you could probably get away with a bit more as long as you keep an eye on things and have a heat backup just in case.
Let us know how it does this year, I hope I helped a little. Congrats, you've got a great wife if she buys you things like that!
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Post by Jim on Dec 22, 2007 17:29:41 GMT -5
if you copy the text after the link i posted with the link and paste it into the browser it will work.
Yeh my wife is awesome. She got me this little greenhouse and 3 cedar arbors that she wants me to trellis the cukes and tigger melons on...so cool.
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Post by sandbar on Dec 22, 2007 23:21:56 GMT -5
Hey ClarkBar, when I copy the text and paste it into my browser, TotallyTomato.com responds with: "The product specified does not exist"
Am not sure what I'm missing in the link ...
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Post by Jim on Dec 23, 2007 7:44:34 GMT -5
52968 - Garden Starter Greenhouse An economical way to grow your favorite vegetables and flowers. A double zippered doorway provides easy access to two tiers of shelving (included) on either side. Steel framework assembles quickly and easily. Velcro fasteners attach the UV-reinforced PVC cover to the frame. Ground stakes are included. Easy to take apart and store. 4'6"Wx6'3"Hx4'6"L. I'll try to post a photobucket picture.  |
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Post by Jim on Dec 23, 2007 7:47:21 GMT -5
great succes
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Post by ohiorganic on Dec 24, 2007 6:39:27 GMT -5
You will need either a heater in there or heating pads to start anything now. Water buckets will not provide enough heat for seedlings.
frankly, we start next to nothing in our unheated hoop houses (which is basically what you have) because they are not warm enough (especially overnight) for most seedlings. Onions and leeks would probably do just fine and perhaps spinach, arugula (though, those 2 like being direct seeded). we do all our seedlings indoors under lights including the alliums because we can't really afford to lose them and most seedlings germinate best between 65F and 85F and no unheated greenhouse can give you those temps if you are north of zone 7 in winter.
But wotta a great Christmas present! ;D
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Post by MawkHawk on Dec 24, 2007 8:06:08 GMT -5
Jim, I have a 6x8 Weatherguard up here. I start my tomatoes, pepper and eggplants indoors under lights around March 15 or so, then I move to the greenhouse within the first 2 weeks of April, depending on the temps. But even then I usually have to heat it at night for a while with a little electric space heater.
But this gives me a nice jump on the season. I mainly use it to grow peppers and eggplants tho.
Having a greenhouse is a blast.
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Post by Jim on Dec 24, 2007 10:24:45 GMT -5
Thanks everyone.
Mark thats the plan I think. I will start the seedlings inside and move them out to the greenhouse in April as well. I will do the spaceheater option as well. It makes sense. I have a feeling this is the beginning of another obsesion...
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Post by ohiorganic on Dec 25, 2007 6:08:10 GMT -5
Clarkbar, soon enough you will be building your 1000+ sq ft greenhouse off of the south side of your house. The place that will always be summery in winter where you can grow anything your heart desires. And the space will help to heat your house.
Oh wait that's my dream...
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Post by Jim on Dec 25, 2007 8:59:36 GMT -5
that would be sweet..
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