Tasks: The Greenhouse in March

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 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.

With the spring season almost right on top of us this month, we must be aware of the warmer temperatures and big fluctuations in temps outside with the weather.



My Greenhouse in March is LOADED to capacity with trays of sown seed, seedlings and some established plants. It is a very exciting time.

 *sow most of the seeds that will be the spring crop of annuals this month if they are not already sown.



* make sure all the air vents are working correctly, fan systems are operating properly and the thermostat is accurate. Proper ventilation will be important on warmer sunny days.
 
*continue to keep the heating system in working mode. March can be tricky as there is still the cold night temps…as well as warmer daytime highs.
 
*the seedlings have more than likely popped up in number…so watering systems must be operational…or in my case…the water containers must remain at full.



* it is about the time of year we begin to use fertilizer to feed established plants in the greenhouse, as well as on the seedlings. (be sure not to water seedlings with fertilizer until they have their second set of true leaves, and to ensure that the solution is not too strong- we wouldn’t want to burn our babies!)



* more sunny days mean more need for some sort of shade. For me this means hanging some fabric that will filter the sunlight. This will help ensure that the seedlings do not get burnt.



*inspecting the greenhouse plants for pests such as aphids, spider mites and others…is a must this month. If you find some treat immediately.

*watch for damping off disease in your seedlings…

*thin out some of the young plants that are sprouting up in your plant trays. Too many will cause issues and disease and threaten your entire crop.

*start any seeds that are left to be sown. There isn’t much time left before the spring plant!

*make sure you write the date that you sow seeds on the package that they came in for future reference and store empty seed packets in a waterproof container.

*continue to keep the greenhouse tidy and organized. It is filling up quickly now and regular cleaning is necessary.

*update your garden Journal regularly

* make sure that you have someone on standby to water your greenhouse if you are away from home.

*because heavy wet snow can fall in the month of March, make sure you or someone else is always ready to pull down snow that my fall and accumulate on the roof...we would not want to see your greenhouse fall down!

*you might consider starting some of your spring bulbs in the greenhouse this month to be transplanted into the garden in the months to come!

I will see you again in April with more greenhouse tasks!

What tasks did you do for the month of March in your greenhouse?

Until next time….Happy gardening!

 *)*)*)  Alway's appreciate what you have,never take them for granted and take advantage of them,one day it will be too late.

(¯`v´¯)
`*.¸.*´Glenda/Tootsie
¸.•´¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´ .•´ ¸¸.•¨¯`•.

Tasks: The Greenhouse In February

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 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.

In February, in my greenhouse I do the following tasks:
BRRRRRR! IT IS COLD OUTSIDE MY GREENHOUSE IN FEBRUARY!

*receive and sort my seed orders by type of plant, and when they will need to be sowed. (a seed bin is a good idea. I use a plastic one that has a lid that locks closed
*purchase permanent marker to label all plants as soon they are sown- do not trust your memory not to fail you! This is a busy time, and things can get mixed up very easily
*make sure to update the greenhouse journal


*continue to fill containers, pots and seed cells with soil in order to be prepared to sow

*Plant the Geraniums and any other seed that needs extra time to mature before planting outdoors

*maintain water levels in my water cans
*inspect remaining plants that were wintered in the greenhouse again to ensure no pests have hatched or arrived to threaten the tiny seedlings you are about to produce
* ensure that the greenhouse remains clean and organized…cleanliness is next to godliness in the greenhouse!
* maintain no less than 10C in the greenhouse and keep the air circulating to avoid disease or fungus! The temperatures in Alberta are often in the –30C or less range…heating is a necessity!
* prepare for extra heat sources if necessary (February can be a COLD month in Alberta)

* prepare for labels (I cut up cheap mini-blinds for this)

*prepare liners for the trays (they sometimes leak and when watering from below, you do not want to lose your water. I use plastic garbage bags cut to size)

*watch our newly planted seeds start to sprout up!
I will see you again in March with more greenhouse tasks!
Do you have a greenhouse journal of some sort? What tasks did you do for February in your greenhouse?
Until next time….Happy gardening!
(¯`v´¯)
`*.¸.*´Glenda/Tootsie
¸.•´¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´ .•´ ¸¸.•¨¯`•.

Tasks: The Greenhouse In January

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!

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
¸.•´¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´ .•´ ¸¸.•¨¯`•.