Haven't posted in a while and you can see why...Nothing much happening at the nursery, we're snowed in. It got sooo cold for a spell, the big greenhouse at Vicki's went down to 10F. There was no way I could heat it with the little space heater and Vicki's goofy electrical system, so I shut it down. The only casualties will be the gerberas and the brugmansias I carefully tended from seed - just no room for either in the little greenhouse. So live and learn. Think I will try and invest in a vent-free propane heater for the bigger greenhouse - that should put out enough BTUs to heat the space.
Rain and freezing rain predicted for the next several days. Hoping the nursery stock doesn't thaw out - that's what takes its toll - repeated freezing and thawing. Not much I can do, but stand by and watch.
Meanwhile, the Oakland County Greenhouse beds are doing remarkably well. We've had a bit of trouble with aphids and my strategy is once a plant gets 'em - out it goes. I found from last year that it just doesn't pay to spray to get rid of them as their numbers explode so rapidly. Pulled all the kale and braising greens, plus the radishes as they were growing slowly and were heavily infested. Today the arugula crop hit the compost pile. I'll try for another batch of it come January. The greenhouse managers did spray neem oil this week in an attempt to get a handle on the buggers but they really can goof up a greenhouse.
Have been scouting my greenhouse to see if my plants are clean - so far, so good. Potted up windowsill herbs today - peppermint, rosemary and sage. Already have thyme, parsley and catnip in the greenhouse, but due to the cold, light levels and the fact that I haven't fertilized - the plants are sitting still. Maybe since Saturday is solstice we'll get some more daylight in the coming weeks and growth will resume again.
Hope you are surviving and even thriving this busy holiday season. May you have a peaceful Christmas and a wonderful New Year.
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| Nasturtium 'Alaska' bloom |
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| Bed #1, the pole beans were removed after this pic was taken |
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| Pretty colors of baby greens in bed #2 |
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| Just starting to harvest this bed, new seedlings in the dark soil |
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| Pretty spinach crop - trying to keep it aphid free |
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| Bull's Blood Beet greens - deep red |
I guess it's too cold there for ladybugs? They are everywhere here, trying to come inside to a warm place.
ReplyDeleteLines of radishes around other greens as trap crops that can be quicklly pulled work sometimes. I hope the greenhouse gets them under control.