Hi everybody
I built a little 6x8' greenhouse this summer in order to get a jump on my gardening next spring. I've installed started beds, but I'm wondering when next year I can start to plant my herb seeds. Should I germinate them in my house first?
I guess since I'm close to Critter, that would put me in Zone 6b
TIA
Greenhouse gardening
Heya, Jefe! Your new greenhouse sounds wonderful! I think the answer to your timing question depends partly on how warm your greenhouse will be... for example, tomatoes should be OK if it gets down to 40, but peppers will sulk. However, I have no experience with greenhouses, other than with the little plastic-covered portable ones I use to harden off seedlings.
Since some things like warmth to germinate (basil and pepper seeds, for example, I start on a heat mat set to 80 degrees) , I'd say, yes, you'll want to start some seedlings in your house. You might think about starting seeds in seed-starting trays (I use plastic salad containers, with holes in the tops and bottoms) and then moving the seedlings into your greenhouse after you've transplanted them into little pots or cell packs.
I hope you'll find somebody in this forum who can give you greenhouse advice, but I'm thinking you might get more input over in the greenhouse forum. It looks like there's a ton of information and good links over in the resource "sticky" at the top of the forum, http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/580529/
thank you, critter. I'm excited about getting an early start next season. I love your idea using a heat pad. I'll do some reading on greenhouse gardening. I do have a couple of books to get me started.
ps I bought both Concord and Mars grape plants at benhky's (sp) Sunday, got em homw before I realized they were seedless.
oops
Hi Jefe,
I start everything in my solar greenhouse. I think Maryland and Virginia have about the same climate and temperature.
March 15th is when I sow the seeds of herb plants. Cooler season herbs will sprout right away, example: lemon balm, parsley. I wait until April 1st to sow seeds of basil, dill, cilantro. April 1st is a good time to sow pepper and tomato seeds. I use the black plastic trays with the high clear domes. You can buy those from Pinetree Seed Company, and they last for years. I do use solar mats to place the trays on, and these mats heat up during the day and keep the trays warm at night. April is actually a better month for most seed. If you start the 1st week in April, the plants will be ready for the garden toward the end of May. May is a great month for planting. The frost is gone [ around here] and the soil is warm, and the sun is at it's peak. What you could do is start something March, April and May. A old farmer once told me this [ he was my grandpa, and he loved gardening] "If you don't lose something to heat or frost, then you either started the seeds too late or too early". That's good advice. So start something each month. Most of it will survive, and you'll have a jump start on planting. Good luck with your greenhouse. I have enjoyed mine over the years.
Hey Arias.
Thank you for all of your suggestions. I will try your Grandfather's too. I 've added some raised bedding to the back of my garden. I know I need to be careful when to plant seedlings there. For now, I have some caulking to do to help keep the cold out of my greenhouse.
Thanks you your advise.
jefe