The Saga Begins - putting up the greenhouse

10x20' landscape cloth

The journey begins. I didn't know how hard it would be. After about four hours in the cold and wet trying to put the greenhouse together today - I am exhausted.Vicki was great - she was the organizer - getting us parts and pawing through the boxes for parts. Pam was a trouper, not having done anything like this before, she was intimidated a bit. I was the mover - saying "no, let me do it", but, after all the work we got one half of one end wall done and the two dutch doors.

First, we measured out the landscape cloth and put it into the ground with landscape staples - big 6-8" u-shaped pieces of thick wire. Then we opened all the long boxes, looking for the instructions. No writing, just diagrams.

Vicki pawing through the cartons

Vicki went to work - took the instructions and set about finding the parts for the first project. It began to drizzle, a steady, cold rain. It was about 45 degrees but felt more like 35. We all set to work, with one putting together while another found parts, while another worked the instructions. Glad we had as many people as we did. I'd still be opening the cartons had I done this alone.

Pam putting together parts.

Mug shot : Margaret

Mug shot: Pam

Mug shot: Vicki

We finished the doors and I deemed it time for a coffee break. Above are all our "Mug Shots"... After the coffee break - me with wet knees and all of us getting tired and soggy, we went about assembling the end wall. After what seemed like a lot of trial and error. We finally snapped together the last piece of half of the end wall. We now need to open up the boxes of panels and start inserting those. We decided to call it a day, glad we did as when Pam and I drove home it began to rain in earnest. Whew! What a day. Pam and I will be back at it on Wednesday and I hope experience has taught us a bit and it will get a tad easier.

Planting Greenhouse Garden Bed #2

17 varieties of vegetables

Last night Vicki and I went to the greenhouse and planted up the new garden bed #58. Vicki was all tired from work and fighting an infection so I wanted to make it easy for her. We made labels out of popsicle sticks for our 17 varieties of greens and vegetables and set about planting in the bed. I am excited I think family and friends will be having a great harvest this winter.

Vicki planted the entire package of snap peas. Four rows of the delicious little fellows. We did carrots, scallions, beets, bush pickling cucumbers, radishes, kohlrabi, greens galore and five kinds of lettuces. We'll be eating well this long, cold winter.

Then I sent Vicki home to get some dinner and relax while I watered and watered the bed. It still is so dry. Beth, the greenhouse manager also pointed out to me that the greenhouse is having a few pest problems and I had noticed that something was nibbling on the pak choi but couldn't see the culprit. Beth pointed out a baby green caterpillar hidden among the foliage munching happily along. That didn't last long as I applied the squish method of control. I asked Beth if I can spray some BT - a bacterium that paralyses the gut of leaf eating caterpillars. I know she'll get back to me soon.

Aphids are also sucking the lifeblood out of the plants and a leaf miner is tunneling around on another plot's spinach plants. The greenhouse program is to try and spray proactively on Sunday night - when it is closed with Mycotrol - an insecticide and Actinovate  - a fungicide. These materials are non-toxic and I think are approved for use in organic plots.

5 varieties of lettuces

two kinds of radishes

lots of peas and carrots

Harvested a bit of the baby Kale and the arugula in my plot #51. Yum - I am determined to make myself get a taste for Kale this year and baby size it is tender and flavorful but not overpowering. The arugula - one of my favorites - is sweet and nutty - best harvested small before it gets too hot and spicy. With all the watering we've been doing, I think the veg and greens will stay nice and tender and won't get too bitter.

Wow. Whirlwind two days at the nursery and in the gardens. Looking forward to winter when I can just collapse and vegetate!