Cricket's Greenhouse

March 18th
Putting up Greenhouse #2
Its not as long as Greenhouse #1
Its only 16x84

Seedlings Today

close up pic of tomatoes i sowed Mar 11
They will be ready to transplant Mar 27

transplanted the vinca, coleus, impatiens, salvia.
havent done the petunias yet . Thats todays agenda.

I been transplanting my produce tomatoes in between working on other stuff . It gives me a break from doing the same thing over and over.

Big Beef

slowly but surely

Where do you get those grow bags,Cricket? I saw something like that in a catalog for tree growers but they were like the 15 gal and up sizes.

P

I order the grow bags by bulk.
http://www.hydro-gardens.com
500 bags for $126 after shipping.
You can use them several times.

Cricket

You can also buy smaller grow bags. If you look at the Index at hydro gardens-----select Poly Grow Bags.

Greenhouses:
I like the 16 foot wide hoop houses.
I dont like the big ones. Easier to work on the smaller ones.
I also only grow a certain amount of tomato plants in them for produce. And I grow 3 differant crops. By using differant greenhouses instead of one big one---i can keep any diseases from one set of plants from spreading to another crop.
I have seen a Big huge greenhouse(64x70 fiber glass structure) company that started all her crops in one greenhouse. AFter she started the 3rd crop she had diseases on the frist crop and since they were all in the same greenhouse structure--it spread to all her plants. It was a huge disaster.

Cricket

Looked in Park Wholesale catalog and found they have Knox E-Z pots. You can buy a pallet of 156 /10 ct trays(3"pots) already charged so factoring in and crunching all the figures,it seems like a good solution for a small one woman operation to me...even if I'm only using them for new perennial seedlings. Have to check shiping before I jump into them. Freight being what it is,that may shoot that idea down.


I only have the two greenhouses. The #2 greenhouse next to my shop for selling from and #1 greenhouse where plants that need more growing off or to hold bigger plants for transplanting,no public allowed in that one.. Both are about 20x40...just about as much as this one ole girl can handle. Your pictures are great but they make me tired....LOL

I've never been able to get comfortable trying to sit and pot up. Only sit to prune so I wind up hurting by the end of a long day.


P

Bigred-you should see if there is a local greenhouse/landscaper/farm supplier near you that will deliver or you pickup. Often times they carry pots and flats as well as dirt and fertilizer. I get all my dirt/chemicals/fert and pots/flats from them and they deliver

Wish we had local supplier. I have to drive 3 hours in any direction to get supplies.

The strangest couple visited here yesterday. I met them in a garden group. They live about 45 min from here.
They want to start a tree nursery. They came here to ask me questions about where I get my supplies. Other than promix---I have to get my supplies at walmart cause there is no wholesale greenhouse supplier around here. I told them that I was goin to have to order my pro mix by bulk directly shipped. They don't even use promix cause they are dealing with trees.
He asked if I would be interested in traveling with them to pick up soil supplies- and containers--split the cost of fuel. I never said No, but was trying to tell the man we dont need the same supplies. And It normally takes me 3 trips picking up promix and thats why i need it shipped on 18wheeler. And he just couldnt accept the fact that i had to buy my growing soils like peat moss and compost manure from walmart at retail price. It was just a weird conversation. I was uneasy about it. And it just wouldnt register in his brain that Even if we went together to pick up soils---I dont have room for extras. I pick it up by the pick up loads. Trying to peice together the scrambled conversation---i figured out that they only have a jeep--and one little boxed in uhaul type trailer. I think they needed my truck or something. NOT.
Then they were asking --I dont want to get nosey or anything but do you make any money doin this? I said yes. He said thats all I wanted to know.
NOw if he is just wanting to start a tree nursery---why would he want to know if my type greenhouse business was making money? And during this entire 45 minute visit--his wife was making notes. Which thats fine but i had no tree nursery information to offer. And even when i didnt have information for her to write down--she was looking at the my plants, and baskets and still making notes. So anyway. It was just a weird visit.
Or maybe I am the weird one.

Cricket

There's a wholesale supplier about 30 minutes from here. I mix my own potting mixes so I do buy from them all but the peat because their biggest bale is only 3.8 and I can get 5.5 bales from Wal Mart and come out cheaper.

These pots from Parks are 10 ct. trays. Since I wholesale only to small independants,I thought it might work out cheaper for than 15-18 ct. trays so they could have more of a budget to try different varieties. Don't know yet. I tried to post question on freight to Park webpage but kept getting system error so I'll have to call them Mon.

P

Cricket, awesome setup you have going there! It sounds like the couple was maybe seeing what the competition was.
:) Donna

I have never used the 10ct flat inserts. I always used the 18 because I was always short on space. I needed more per flat.
I would love to do perennials. I just don't know what is most popular around here. If I don't think its popular then i dont sell it. I cannot afford to have alot of extra unsaleable plants.

I am tired and need a break but cannot. We got Greenhouse #2 up and covered. I still have to transplant 166 flats of tomatoes today and tomorrow and I still haven't finished mixing and filling my grow bags for the produce tomato plants. They are extremely ready to be transplanted. And I still have to transplant the 6" tomato plants too and some touch-me-nots. By the end of the week I will have 200 Hardy Hibiscus to transplant. Pink and White ones. I don't expect them to sell well this year but they will next year when they are bigger and bushier and blomming in the pots.


Now is the time to decide if I want to grow Mums for Fall sales. But will they sell well out here on the busy back roads. HMMM.
And how many should I grow? hmmm.
I know how to grow and pinch mums to make them bushy. What I want to do is use a large pot and put 3 cuttings in the pot so I have large bushy pots to offer.
What I do not know is whats the best MUM to grow to get that attractive look. And I don't know how much to charge for the pot. Mums are big sellers here by the 1st of October and Very big sellers as Halloween gets here for the Halloween yard decorations or Fall Festive decorations. Its a shame I cannot grow and offer all the Fall attractions like colored corn and pumpkins, mini pumpkins, etc........... Maybe I should just give it a try.

I guess I am thinking aloud too much.

happy gardening
Cricket

Greenhouse #2

Have to add the Resting Zone: the Summer Party Zone.
8x64 deck with 8x12 side addition where i will take my breaks. Needs an umbrella.
This entire deck took 4 days of labor to get it up and finished. Work Spreaded out over several week ends.
I want to put a few Water Fountains on the deck. Some Dinner plate dahlias in planters. The deck is landscaped with pacasandra bushes. Will put in some Azeleas too.
Next to the 8x12 deck I am putting in a a small fish pond. With Koi and gold fish and only one water lily.
Hope i didnt offend anyone by posting out of Thread.

Cricket , have at it girl. It's your thread ...... heee

I love reading all your posts.

Shirley

Aw thanks.

I only transplanted 75 flats and 130 6" pots today.
I had to go hunt down some pallets before i went any further. I sit the flats and pots on the pallets so they dont root through the gravel.

No pics today. forgot.
The commotion of hubby getting a fish hook caught in his neck kinda through me off.
How did he get it out---well dear brave son cut his skin with a razer blade so he could pull the 3 sided hook out.
Lovely!!!!huh.

bought 2 packs of dinner plate dahlias at walmart today.
there was 3 in each pack for $4.92. compared to Parks catalog at $7.95 each. You do get to pick what color you want from specialized companies. From walmart you get MIxed. ?surprise!!!! Thats fun too.

happy gardening

Cricket

Cricket, I don't know how you manage to accomplish so much transplanting etc. Makes my back ache to see and hear how much you do. I am not much slower than I used to be.I did do a little transplanting today, some early tomatoes and peppers, but just a few, just for my own use.

DonnaS

I think it has everything to do with how convient you set up your work station as to how much you can get transplanted quickly.
I could of transplanted a whole lot more if I didnt have to go hunt down pallets.
OR run around behind my husband with that fishhook in his neck.

I fill my flats. I wet them down. Then I wet them down again as I use them with liquid fertilizer--hose sprayer. I set my flats on my Pallet Table. Then I transplant--quickly. I stand up while I am transplanting. So the worst ache I have at the end of the day is my feet. Then I tag the flats. Then i set them on the pallets. Then i give them one more spray of liquid fertlizer. Over and Over and Over.
Walmart has the best Hose Fertilizer/insect sprayer.
It lets you set it by a dial. 1 tsp , 2 tsp, 1 tbs, 1/2oz. etc...
I guess I been doing this for so long that I just do it fast.

Cricket

Cricket I am also a pallet person! I use them outside when I bring out the plants in the spring. Just started to bring them out yesterday and it couldn't have been soon enough. My greenhouses are full to the brim and I really need the room in there.

We had to cover the lantana and setcreasea because it was going down to maybe 38 last night and I didn't want frost on them. I will be bringing the begonias out today-about 500 flats worth and man, is that going to be giving me some room! Am so excited lol.

heres a picture of one of the greenhouses a week or so ago-its fuller now!

weird- I just got this camera and still learning how to use it. This greenhouse is 100 ft long, but this picture makes it look on 50 ft? Did I use a closeup or something?

looks great tiger. You are way ahead of me.

I put stuff outside on pallets too.
Just wish all the pallets were same size. Otherwise i have puzzle some together.
I like to put stuff outside when there is goin to be several days of partly cloudy skys. I need to put stuff outside now but too chicken ---we might get one more surprise frost.
I got such a late start this year. And next year is planning to be twice as much. I don't know if I can do it alone next year. I will have to put hubby and son to work next year. Transplanting.
I am hoping to have GH#3 up by mid summer. Hoping to use it for the Fall and Spring tomato produce crops and use GH #1#2 for all bedding and veggie plants. Thats the plan. We shall see. Then planning to have GH#4 up by March 2007 for a Second tomato produce house. Then fall again next year GH#5. And stopping there for several years. See what happens. I have high hopes and goals.

Cricket

Ok, I transplant more maters.
Then I transplanted some of my produce tomatoes.
After that, My back was hurting. took ibuprofen.
hurting so bad it was stuck in a bent over position.

Greenhouse maters---about 1/3 of what has to be done.

most of the maters in flats.

121 flats so far

Worked on a small parking area for the customers today.
I have a large circle drive but not much parking space.
this will park 5 cars. not much but will help on congestion.

Goin to out line the parking area with Cross Tie flower bed.

Todays progress

Tomatoes in greenhouse

And the parking area

These marigolds are so dark green and pretty.
French Janie Mixed.

Not a very productive day yesterday for me. Spent the day delivering and going to new places showing my wares. Today I have to run pick up more greenhouse supplies but tomorrow,it's back to slinging potting mix. Still have garden phlox,cat whiskers,bat face cuphea,fall blooming asters,foxgloves,hollyhocks,south african foxgloves,african daisies and other plugs to pot up.I need to sew more perennials but until I get some of these older seedlings potted and moved out...no room. Tomatoe sales have been brisk and I've been getting request for fall tomatoes...may do a few since I've run into problems with people requesting things then not coming back.

I'm on the fence too about fall florals. I've done them in the past with very little business from them but I did sell out last year on flowering kale and cabbages except 5 puny ones that I planted in one of my beds along the curb and they are still being oh'ed and aw'ed over so I'm doing 4 or five different varieties for this fall along with a small sellection of dianthus,snaps,unusual pansies and violas...not thse same swiss giants from Wally World. I don't see the attraction to those ugly things. I prefer the smaller flowered ones in less harsh colors.

P

i wanted to do pansies but read you need a cooling system in greenhouse to grow them for fall so that got rid of that idea.

I am not doin many perennials this year. Moving and setting up is hard enough. All I am doin is most popular annuals and few perennials.
I am not growin no where near what I will next year. Next year is a whole new ball game.

I have had customers to ask about Fall tomato plants too and when i grow them no one shows up for them so I am not growing Fall tomatoes this year. I was so flustrated last year. A wasted effort and money.

I might grow cole crops for Fall. Not sure yet. I don't think many folks grow it. I do personally.

I have about 5000 tomato seedlings to transplant next week and week after that i have 3000 peppers to transplant.
I have to transplant Touch me Nots today, some marigolds, and hibiscus. Gotta sow my own cucumbers, squash, cantaloupe, watermelons, and pumpkins.
Gotta Sow my own Marigold seeds too.

I have sowed 864 okra seed in 288plug flats for the garden. Will transplant from plug flat to garden in 3 weeks.


Updated GH pic.
Still young---but in another week it will be great. And just in time for Spring Gardens.

Cricket, I do a whole crop of pansies for the fall that I start in one of the greenhouses. I have to germinate in July-its about 90 or so during the day, but I don;t have a cooling system, and I get about 85-90% germ rate. I put several shadecloths over the greenhouse and pull them off as I finish the germ. Usually all the shadecloths are off by mid August. The seeds are under a misting system that is very easy to set up-mostly pvc and some mister heads.
If you are serious about doing a pansy crop let me know and I can tell you some stuff.

I guess I could give it a try. I wont do alot just incase i screw up.
So--I should start seed here in Alabama about mid July?
They require darkness to germinate?
Cover seeds lightly? thats hard to do.
I can grow them on under a shade tree with filtered sun to help keep them cool.
And who sales a good seed variety? I want blue, orange, black, purple, yellow.
YOu are welcome to suggestions.


My yard finally has green grass!!!!!!!!!!!

oh here is a before picture ---before we moved the trailer and greenhouses on property at end of Jan.2006.

another AFter pic---now today with greenhouses to the right of trailer mobile home.

I been trying to find out if I can grow my Giant Elephant Ears in my drive way ditch. It stays real wet during winter--rainy season. But should be great for the summer. The soil is rich and moist. They should go crazy. But worried the cold wet ground will make them die.

this is the ditch up close pic.

these are the elephant ears that need to be transplanted from old property to new property---of course they are up like this right now---still coming out of dormacy.