This is the second winter coming since my husband (sweetie) built my greenhouse.
This is how it has looked pretty much through all of the time I have had it. Which has caused me much frustration. In the hot west Texas summer, it is too hot for plants to be in....which is fine, since I place them all outside anyhow.....I have only been able to use it about 2 months in the spring. The past winter, I lost most of my plants to the extreme cold weather
because there are so many gaps where the house is put together. The plastic walls let in a lot of cold air. So I am only able to use it in the late fall for about 6 weeks. 
I have a lot of plants inside of it now, and I am determined to be able to keep my plants in it this winter as well as sprout seeds. After much research and talking with a friend who once owned a professional greenhouse......I am armed and ready.
I have purchased plastic sheeting to put over and seal the greenhouse. I also have purchased a small utility heater. I am supposed to keep the heat to 55 degrees to keep the plants from going dormant. So I am also armed with a lot of hope and faith that this will work. Hopefully, I will be able to show you my progress as the winter comes along.
Even though it's almost November, the flowers along the grounds are all in full bloom. My chrysanthemums have flourished this year in beautiful fall colors.
And cheery colors as well.
My zinnia garden is still putting on blooms. I have gathered so much seed and I am already planning on the zinnia garden for next year! My question to youdo any of you have a greenhouse like mine? If so, are you able to use it more and do you heat it as well? I would love any information you have! This week, I have many flower beds to clean out and prepare for the cold season that will soon come. Do any of you mulch? Or do any of you dig up tubers or plants to protect them for the winter?Are you already planning on next year's planting? I would love to hear.
22 comments:
We have always wanted a greenhouse. I can sure see where you do need to do a few things to be able to use your greenhouse . I would not know what you should do so it is good you have friends / acquaintances to help out.
Your zinnia garden is so pretty. Have you grown zinnias for many years using your own seed? Do you sell zinnias or their seed?
My husband saves seeds and plants them the following year, but our winters are usually not too harsh and most plants winter over very well where they are planted with a bit of mulch.
Looking forward to seeing your greenhouse success story this winter.
Hello Kathleen,
Boy...the raccoons around here would have a blast shredding the plastic cover! I have 2 groups of 4 young ones that come to my main level porch (which is the second story)...they come right up on the porch and sit there and east nuts and seeds that I put out for the birds and squirrels..they will come to the window and press their nose on the glass to Miss Morgan..of course, she goes totally bonkers over it..LOL
I do wish you luck....I've always wanted a small greenhouse like that but now I'm not sure it would survive the wildlife that I have. I've decided in order to ever plant and bring to harvest anything that I'd need to build a house frame and cover it in hardware cloth..hehe...
I have three fox that gather at the tree at one corner of our land every morning around 9 am...the crows always let me know they are there because they want to run them off.
I'll watch for the progress...I'll bet you can make it work with a little trial and error.
Hugs, Steph
Best wishes with your greenhouse. I have always wanted one! We use a lot of mulch, both pinestraw and pine bark, here in Georgia. One of my favorite past times is planning the garden/plants for the next year. Keeps me busy on cold, rainy days! Like KathyB, I am curious if you sell zinnias in a cutting garden?
Kathleen,
Hubby just finished building mine Thursday. It too is heavy plastic.
Like you, I really only need for days below 32 degrees, which aren't many. I mainly wanted it for seed starting and to winter my tropical baskets and pots.We do intend to use a heater if the temp is below 32. We'll see how it goes! I'm going to post on it tomorrow! :)
Kathleen, Sorry I can't help much with your greenhouse questions, altho I'll be reading what others tell you. I can see that I'm going to be needing a greenhouse in the coming years, and I don't have a clue where to start. We have hot summers like you, mild falls and springs, & only just a few really cold freezes. But I have to buy seedlings already started or wait until the ground is warmer to plant.
I love your zinnias! They are beautiful! I have to have some of those next year. What are your favorite varieties? Are they all the same height? Do they bloom all summer long? I want to incorporate some different flowers in my garden areas for a cottage garden feel and I think those would be a good choice for our hot weather here. Beautiful!
I don't have a greenhouse and doubt the husband would tolerate one more project on the neverending list! BUT I do know friends here in Texas who use shade cloth over at least part of their greenhouse to reduce the heat gain during the warm months - that plus a plain old box fan to keep the air moving. Looks like a great project and it'll be fun watching how it works for you
So many people have a little greenhouse here because we can't plant anything til June 1rst. and sometimes it still freezes after that! I don't have one but sure would like one. Most of the light plastic ones here get blown away with spring winds! Good luck~
Come say hi :D
I have never had a greenhouse. I think all the animals would shred any plastic. I know the plastic over the woodpile always has "things" hiding in it. I think we made a greenhouse box once that held several plants inside. Now we settle for mostly tough herbs for our garden.
Judy
I hope your greenhouse works better this year! Trial and error, it's how we learn. Your flowers are so pretty! We had a cold snap, so it's nice to see pretty flowers!
Glad you are able to work on yours. Ours is on hold for now although it is still on the to-do list. I was glad to get the new rain guttering on the house this year :-0
The last freeze got all my zinnias, my favorite flower. we should have a few nice days this week, I will be cleaning up. Some things still look pretty good. Sometime you will have to tell me if you have Magellans, I really love them. It will be fun to hear about your greenhouse as you experiment with it I bring a few things in to the basement, mostly foliage plants that are expensive to buy.
Its way too cold up here to use during the winter. Your flowers are lovely!
Love your zinna garden. I too have wanted a greenhouse, but don't have one yet. We have a frame but have never covered it up.
Irma :)
i just may work!
yet, i don't know a thing about green houses i am still hopeful in your experiement.
Enjoy your greenhouse! Your flowers and plants are beautiful. I wish I had a green thumb but can't keep a plant alive for too long, unfortunately. Have a blessed day!
Oh! Lucky you! We are rainy here, all our leaves are gone.
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
Kathleen, Love your greenhouse - you'll have a bit of summer all year! My husband is busy planting bulbs - daffodils and tulips here. We've not done that before so should be fun to see if they come up. Will be thrilled if they multiply:) Wish I could get back to gardening. But I only have to hope over here and see what you're doing:) Bless you!
Oh, Miss Kathleen!
I just love your greenhouse; I'm sorry to hear that the weather is making it so difficult to use.
I hope that your heater and plastic sheeting will cure all!
I sure loved seeing those cotton fields! I remember growing up, they were all around, but they disappeared quickly for strip malls. When we moved to the other side of the state 8 years ago, there were a few and I was estatic! I told the children to enjoy the beauty for they would probably be gone soon....sadly, I was right.
Blessings,
Julie
I love your greenhouse Kathleen- I hope you can get some more use out of it though...
Everything looks so beautiful and colorful!
Such gorgeous flowers, Kathleen. I hope you get your greenhouse fixed so that you can use it more.
Will look forward to reading about your adventures in greenhouse gardening. I dream of having one of those, someday...
what part of texas are you in ? i'm in the panhandle my first winter with a greenhouse and i just lost all my plants to a freeze so sad
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