For a while now I have been considering sharing some of the ins and outs of my greenhouse. I am often asked what to do each month and why...so I thought I would put together a series of Monthly posts that will share what I do as each month passes...and prompt those who need a bit of a reminder!
I will be posting January today...and, since it is February right now, Tomorrow I will share February with you. In March...I will post the March tasks...and so on and so on...and well...you get the picture! Once the entire year has been posted...I will put them all together and add them to the menu bar at the top of this site! I suppose the best place to begin is the beginning...and there is nothing more fresh and first than January...so lets get started!
Many greenhouse growers use their greenhouses for a short period during the warmer months of the year, but there are a small percentage of us that grow year round! This month by month outline will share what tasks may need to be done year round. Keeping in mind that I garden in a harsh climate in Alberta Canada, (zone 2) the outdoor growing season is from mid to the end of May until the hard frosts take my gardens in mid to late September or early October. If your climate is a bit milder than mine, you can adjust your greenhouse schedule to suit your climate. This schedule is made for a plan to plant outdoors in Mid to late May.
JANUARY.
January is the start of a whole new year! It is a good month to take a look at what you have growing in your greenhouse, take inventory of your supplies, and begin to plan for the coming summer months. In the cooler climates, the greenhouse will already have been insulated and inspected for the cold temps of the winter, but this is a good time to take a quick look to make sure that all the equipment, heaters, fans, and thermometers are in good working order. It is a great time to begin to plan for your gardens for the upcoming garden season!
In January I prepare MY greenhouse by:
*making sure the greenhouse is well insulated, and that all drafts are plugged. Take extra care to look especially round the doors, eaves and vents.
* make sure all snow is removed from the roof as soon as it falls, to not only ease the pressure on the roof, but to allow more light to enter the growing area.
*set up my water system. I do not have running water in my greenhouse, therefore I use large clean garbage cans. I clean and fill my water cans, so that they are ready for the upcoming months, and that I have a water supply for the rest of winter.
* keep garden hose on hand for the filling of the cans, so that it is not frozen.
*purchase several bales of potting soil
* on a “warm” day, I prune and/or re-pot and then bring all the tropical houseplants that I house over the fall and early winter months into the house to make room for the upcoming spring plants.
*order seeds for the upcoming spring crop
* remove all dead leaves from plants that are remaining in the greenhouse, prune and/or re-pot.
* clean and tidy up the greenhouse- including washing the walls/windows and all shelving
*spray for pests (If necessary I will use a mild insecticide to make sure the environment is ‘clean’ for the young seedlings to come
*test the heat, thermostat, thermometers and fan system.
*plan for extra/supplemental heat sources if necessary. The temps can fall rapidly and harsh cold is common in Alberta in the winter months. -37C is not uncommon.
Set Up Shelving In January
*set up the shelving (staging) in the greenhouse
*begin to fill pots and line trays for the seeds to be sown in
*it is a good idea to begin a greenhouse journal, either by hand or on your computer to track your activities for future reference, and for the planning/scheduling stages
* start to get excited for the spring seeds to arrive and get plans made for the gardens this year.
What greenhouse tasks do you do in your area in the first month of the year?
I will see you again in February!
Until then, Happy Gardening!
(¯`v´¯)
`*.¸.*´Glenda/Tootsie
¸.•´¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´ .•´ ¸¸.•¨¯`•.
12 comments:
I am so envious of your greenhouse setup! Wow! Wow!
You're making me miss my greenhouse more and more! I used to love to get everything ready for the growing season. But oh, I don't miss the heating bills-lol!!
Have a great week, Tootsie!
Gosh, reading all of that tired me out! Growing in a greenhouse seems like a lot of work but I'm sure once you get the hang of doing things routinely and love it as much as you do, it's not work, it's a labor of love and the end result is worth it.
Do you think if there will be any adjustments to make in the greenhouse temps compared to where you had lived before?
Do hope you and the kids are feeling better now and are over that horrible virus bug.
You are one busy woman!
Kubota Man does all the mechanical stuff the first week of February. Heat on in the smallest greenhouse(2000 sq. ft) Feb15. Started plants come once a week for 5 weeks from different suppliers. Seeding started Feb 18--a different agenda every week till May 15.
Today I'm getting spikes, citrosa and some pot stuffers and herb started plants. Wednesday all the Zonal Geraniums and 400 pot stuffers.
I'm glad the computer knows what I'm seeding on Thurs and Fri, because I forgot.
We garden in two different worlds, Tootsie.
Your greenhouse in a very cold climate is so well organized. Mine mostly offers shelter from occasional freezes for plants that can stand temps just above freezing for short periods.
My pest control crew is a bunch of anoles and tree frogs and a fat kitty. I don't have much of a schedule, but it all gets done.
My new goal is more edibles.
Hi Tootsie,
Thank you for sharing your greenhouse information with us. When I was a little girl we use to have a greenhouse - I miss those days.
This is such a great idea to give us a step by step - month by month instruction on a greenhouse! One of these days I am going to have it and will know exactly how to set it up thanks to you friend!!
How is the rest of the house coming?
Today was a day that I had off but am feeling so funky that I haven't gotten much accomplished besides the laundry.
bee blessed
mary
23 days to spring and counting can not wait...was like a spring day here today went out to see what was peeping through my dirt...and it looks promising..i have been busy re-doing some trash to treasure ..hope to be here for friday flaunt your flowers..
In case you didn't notice - :) I'm reading these backwards lol. I am so ready for spring... actually, we're getting temps in the upper 60's low 70's this week and things are popping up all over. Unfortunately, we are leaving for vacation in the south at the end of the week and I'll miss all of this loveliness. I'm so tempted to take leaves off of everything, but I'm concerned with the little bunnies eating all of the fresh green. Wish my little plants a lot of luck to make it 2 weeks til I get back.
I'm reading these backwards :) Our weather has broke this week and we have 60's and 70's - of course we're planning on leaving for two weeks this weekend and I'm going to miss all of this loveliness :( Hope my fresh green stuff manages to make it til we get back. Why do I have to go on vacation? lol Oh yeah, to go to warmer weather lol
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