Starting seeds in greenhouses is possible anytime due to the controlled environment. However, if you plan to transplant plants outdoors in the spring, start them six to eight weeks before the last expected frost date for your location. The seed starting chart helps determine when and where to start seeds, with some seeds starting indoors and others directly sown outside. To ensure a successful start, watch the forecast for cold weather and bring compost for sowing or potting into the greenhouse several days before use to prevent chilling.
In February, get ahead for spring by sowing early, as most seeds germinate at 60-70 degrees Fahrenheit. Most seed packets provide a growing zone-based guide. Spring planting season, from March 14th to late April, is the time to add, split, or transplant hardy plants to your garden. Hardy plants can be transplanted when they have just two sets of leaves upwards, usually when they are 2-4 weeks old.
Starting seeds indoors before early March is not necessary, as many growers wait until late March or early April to start seeds indoors. The arrival of spring is an exciting time for greenhouse gardeners, as it’s time to plant a fresh crop of flowers and greenery. Perennials can be started now (mid-August) for perennials to have time to grow/root before frost, which will return in the spring.
The key to growing annual spring flowers is timing, sowing flowers about 6-8 weeks before the expected first frost date in trays or directly in the ground. There are plenty of flower seed varieties to inspire your garden during any month of the year, such as Marigolds in May, Antirrhinums in August, and even non-flower seeds.
📹 A Complete Guide on How & When to Seed Start Annual Garden Flowers Indoors: Save Money!
I cover how to determine when to start different annual flower varieties indoors. I show you how to plant small, medium and larger …
When to sow seeds in an unheated greenhouse?
Seedlings can germinate in an unheated greenhouse during colder months, such as late winter to early spring. They can be placed in their seed starting trays or pots when they are still tiny, and can be transplanted when they have just two sets of leaves upwards, usually 2-4 weeks old. The ideal temperature for starting seedlings in an unheated greenhouse is around 18 degrees Celsius or 65 Fahrenheit, with a nighttime temperature of around 10 degrees Celsius or 50 Fahrenheit. Too much temperature drop can hinder seedling development, and anything over 24 degrees Celsius or 75 Fahrenheit is considered too warm.
What month do you start seeds in a greenhouse?
Plants grow quickly in greenhouses, so it’s not advisable to start seeds indoors before early March or early April. Plants will reach for light, which can be a problem for some growers. To prevent this, they should start seeds under a clear plastic cover and remove it when the seeds sprout. It’s also important to ensure that the growing tips are within 15 cm of LED or fluorescent lights to prevent stretching.
Plants grow faster and taller in warm conditions, especially under grow-lights indoors. The heat is higher than in natural conditions outside, so indoor grow-lights are ideal. If temperature adjustments aren’t possible, adding wind can strengthen stems and keep them shorter. A small fan can help move air around plants, strengthening them and keeping them shorter. Add a fan to your indoor grow-op or greenhouse growing area immediately.
When should you start seeds for spring planting?
Starting seeds for different plants is crucial for their growth and development. Cold weather crops like broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and lettuce require an early start, ten weeks before the last frost date. Summer crops like tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant require seven weeks, while cucumbers, squash, and melons should be started four weeks ahead of the last frost. To germinate seeds indoors, use a quality seed starting mix and follow the planting depth recommended on the seed packet. After planting, place the containers in a warm location, as most summer crops require temperatures around 60 degrees F., while cold weather crops usually need less heat.
Do seeds germinate better in a greenhouse?
Starting seeds in a greenhouse offers several benefits, including controlling temperature and environment, allowing for earlier planting in spring, providing a stable environment for seedlings, and allowing for plants to grow in areas that wouldn’t normally survive outdoors. Greenhouses also offer protection against pests, diseases, and harsh weather conditions, allowing for more diverse plant varieties.
To ensure successful seed germination, choose high-quality seeds from reputable sources, consider factors like climate, desired harvest time, and gardening experience, and research the specific needs of each plant, including ideal planting time, depth, light requirements, and pre-treatment needs. Use a well-draining, sterile seed starting mix, and avoid using garden soil directly, as it can be too dense and harbor pathogens.
In summary, starting seeds in a greenhouse offers several advantages, including better control over temperature, environment, and plant variety, as well as the ability to grow plants that thrive in specific climates.
How many days do spring seeds take to grow?
Spring Seeds, a seven-day-maturing seed in Stardew Valley, are a reward from the Community Center and can be crafted at Foraging Level 1 using Wild Seeds (Sp).
What not to grow in a greenhouse?
Greenhouses are ideal for gardeners as they provide controlled environments that extend growing seasons and protect plants from harsh weather. However, not all plants thrive in enclosed spaces. Some common mistakes to avoid include large trees and shrubs, which can outgrow containers and damage structures. Invasive plants, such as mint or certain ivy species, can quickly overtake other plants and become difficult to eradicate once established in a greenhouse.
To avoid these issues, it is recommended to reserve your greenhouse for compact or easily pruned plants. Additionally, plants with high temperature requirements, such as long-lived perennials, should be kept outside for easier control. By avoiding these common mistakes, you can save time, effort, and disappointment in your greenhouse gardening endeavors.
What are the best flowers to grow in a greenhouse?
Spring is a crucial time for greenhouse gardeners to plant fresh flowers and greenery, as it offers warm, sunny days and ideal conditions for cool-weather annuals, blooming bulbs, and hardy perennials. To prepare, clear dead growth, turn over the soil, and mix in compost or fertilizer. Popular annuals for spring planting include snapdragons, stocks, calendulas, violas, cheerful pansies, tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, foxgloves, columbines, and veronicas.
Summer is a challenging season for greenhouse gardeners due to heat and humidity, but with proper management, proper ventilation, shade control, and irrigation are essential. Open doors, windows, and vents on very hot days to allow excess heat to escape and prevent scorching. Install shade cloth, greenhouse paint, or window treatments to filter intense sunlight. Add fans to improve air circulation.
Colorful annuals like Zinnias, marigolds, petunias, geraniums, tropical plants like mandevilla, hibiscus, and orchids thrive in summer. Monitor soil moisture closely and water early daily to avoid foliar diseases. Misting and gravel trays can help increase humidity for plants that prefer a humid environment.
In fall, transition your greenhouse for cooler months to extend the growing season and continue harvesting fresh flowers and produce. Remove heat-loving annuals, keep vents open, plant autumn-blooming flowers like chrysanthemums, asters, and flowering kale, hardy herbs like parsley, sage, and thyme, and start seeds of cold-weather crops like spinach, lettuce, and broccoli. Provide extra insulation and heat, especially if overwintering tender plants, and stay vigilant about pests like aphids.
What month is the best time to sow seed?
Spring is the best time for direct sowing seeds, but some can be sown during summer and autumn. Seed packets provide recommended times for sowing outdoors. Seeds can be sown directly in drills or broadcast over the soil surface. Drill sowing is easier to distinguish, while broadcast sowing is suitable for small seeds or large areas. Mixing seeds with sand helps identify areas covered. Large seeds need wide spacing, so seeds can be inserted into the soil using a cane.
Do seeds grow faster in a greenhouse?
Plants require warmth, humidity, and light for growth. A greenhouse stabilizes the growing environment by buffering ambient temperature and protecting plants from extreme cold, extending the growing season and enabling early sowing and harvest. By sowing successionally, greenhouse growers can reap early harvests, especially by nurturing late-sown seedlings.
The greenhouse also protects plants from pests and diseases, allowing them to become an oasis free from flying pests like adult aphids and egg-laying butterflies. By implementing biological controls and limiting access to the greenhouse, pests can be minimized without toxic chemicals. This allows for organic produce for the family.
Tomatoes can be grown in a greenhouse environment to minimize plant diseases like blight. Fungal spores are less likely to reach plants, and the growing conditions inside the greenhouse are less conducive for fungi to infect them. By choosing blight-resistant varieties, tomato blight can be virtually eradicated, providing a significant advantage over growing outside.
How to start flowers in a greenhouse?
To plant flowers, follow the recommended sowing schedule for annuals and vegetables, typically in late winter or early spring for summer blooms or in the fall for spring flowering. For perennials, start with young plants from nurseries and transplant them into greenhouse beds according to their specific needs. Water gently after planting to avoid disturbing the roots and ensure they receive adequate light and warmth for germination and early growth stages. This will help ensure optimal germination and growth of your plants.
What is the best flower to plant in spring?
The 15 Best Flowers to Plant in the Spring include the Tuberous Begonia, Great Blue Lobelia, Lantana, Scaevola, Crocus, Lily of the Valley, Daffodils, and Tulips. If you’re considering upgrading your lone charcoal grill into a full outdoor kitchen, consider the following factors: running utility lines, choosing weatherproof furniture, and protecting your furniture from UV rays. Outdoor furniture is built to resist harsh weather conditions, but it’s possible to reduce their effects and prolong their life and appearance.
An outdoor spring cleaning checklist is created to refresh your home’s outdoor surfaces and fixtures, from windows to walls. These tips and techniques will help you maintain a presentable home, whether you’re preparing to sell or preparing for future events. By following these tips and techniques, you can enhance the beauty and functionality of your outdoor space.
📹 First Spring Planting in the Greenhouse
Starting a month ago we began to prepare the soil for spring planting in the greenhouse. This video shows that journey ending …
I am currently in the NC mountains. In this garden I grow my veg primarily in containers. I have used organic local composts and soils wherever I have lived. Unfortunately, last year I bought some widely available organic soil in bulk. It turned out to have persistent pesticide in it. (Most likely aminopyrarids). The company came and collected the unused soil and refunded some of my money but I had put the stuff everywhere in some of my containers and in the ground in my flower garden. My point is that no matter how hard you try, things can be out of your control. I love to experiment with hardiness and envy your hoophouse! Can’t wait to see what you grow. I do not like some of the current trends to criticize other gardeners. You are not a “real gardener” if you do not – fill in the blank. If you grow a cucumber in a coffee can, you are a gardener! Let’s be supportive. To garden is to be an optimist.
Hi Pam and Jim, I live in Zone 3 in Calgary, Alberta Canada. I always start my tomato seeds indoors as my greenhouse isn’t warm enough, tomato seeds need warmth 24/7 to germinate. Lots of people use seed tray heat mats to help out in the greenhouse. And I’m with you, I use whatever soil is on sale and works and I love miracle grow, we have such a short growing season here that personally do whatever works before winter hits us again. I don’t have the luxury of long warm seasons to worry about what soil I buy, winter can often comer here as early as mid September and currently we are still full of snow right now in April, the front lawn glacier has yet to melt. Do what works for you! Best of luck with your entire garden adventure and I so appreciate your amazing quality website! 😊😊🇨🇦🇨🇦
Pam and Jim..we have a local independent owned gal with a nursery. This gal does all sorts of things one is she does a greenhouse within a greenhouse for winter produce. She does it for her own use once the nursery is closed for the season. She starts some things later in the summer plants them inside one of the greenhouses and covers it with clear material so it keeps it warmer. She also grows some veggies using the hydroponic system. She makes her own. She amazes me on what things she dabbles in and try’s. Can’t wait to see and hear how all your trial and errors go! Love the website 😊
I love your articles and always learn so much. I was so happy to see this one on gardening. I started composting last year and I was so grateful for your tip on soaking the beds in preparation. It seems so obvious and yet I wouldn’t have done it had I not watched you prepare your beds. Sure enough, my soil layers beneath were dry as a bone! You are such an effective and informative teacher and it just goes to show that even the most obvious to some is highly informative to others! Thank you and happy gardening!
I like Fox Farm potting soul. I’m in NY, Zone 7a. It’s definitely not cheap, but my flowers and vegetable seedlings do very well in it. I use it when I pot up my seedlings, which I start in a hydroponic unit. Like you, Pam, I like to grow lettuce and herbs in two different locations. One planting is in my hydroponic units and the other location is outside in my garden. I wish both of you a very successful growing season.
I’m in the PNW, western Washington..I use whatever I grab lol I’m using a potting soil from our feed store right now. It’s not a seen starter soil but my seeds are growing 🙂 I’m not to fussy..I’ve used seed starter soil and I can’t see any difference other than it costs more 😉 great article Jim and Pam
Thankyou Pam and Jim, great article. I grow veggies all year, and I live on the border of zone 7 and zone 6, and at sea level. I don’t have a greenhouse, and I use low tunnels, with no heat source. I have found varieties of winter lettuces, spinach, Bok Choi(Asian greens) Minza, Nappa cabbage, Savoy cabbage, Winter Claytonia, Corn Vit, Perpetual Spinach( Swiss Chard family variety), and mustards, just to name a few. I start planting these in late July thru early Sept. The Winter Claytonia has high vitamin content and is beautiful, and makes a great green manure/compost if you have too much in your spring garden when you’re planting out transplants. Corn vit also grows well through the shorter daylight hours of winter. I allow a few plants to bloom in spring and produce seed for the coming year..I realize that you’re elevation is much greater than mine but “food for thought “in your beautiful greenhouse winter veggies.
We have always used miracle grow and had great success with that. Here is SE Nebraska zone 5b we planted our potatoes on Good Friday when the moon was waning. Our 10 forecast looks great but, we will inevitably get a frost or freeze. Those root vegetables can handle it. I’m debating putting out the onion seedlings that have been growing inside since January. The cabbage seedling are ready to go out and I can always cover them with frost covers if I get a good week to establish their root system before they get hit with frost. It’s always a gamble.
I use a pollinator flower mix to bring in the bee’s and other beneficial insects to help polinate the plants in the garden. I have also been learning more about companion planting and trap plants for aphids, etc. It is a fascinating subject. Tomato, basil and sweet alyssum is my favorite companion plant combination, so far. However, as stated I am researching other combinations. Thank you both! Happy Easter.
Ive done tomato from seed, the old old seeds take a good 3-4 weeks to germinate, I do the seed trays on a shelf in my kitchen. Newer seeds about 2 weeks.I always cover with plastic garbage bags the trays until the sprouts come, they like it cozy like that. Helps them germinate. I;m in zone 4 in southern New Brunswick Canada <3
After getting bad dirt from a quarry (advertised as garden soil with manure) we tried the Kellogg’s green and white striped bags that you mix with indigenous dirt. That has worked very well for us. So this year we used their pink and yellow striped bags for our seed starts and that has worked very well for us, too. Best seeds starts ever! We live in the central Colorado mountains at 8600.’ Zone 5b.
I live in SW Washington in the mountains zone 8. We take our tomato and pepper seeds and place on a single thickness paper napkin with seeds sandwiched between and slightly dampen the napkin and place inside a recycled ziplock bag to create a mini greenhouse. We place it in a sunny windowsill and within days have seeds sprout then transfer to small pots in the greenhouse. I’ll plant several sprouts in each pot and a few weeks later pinch off the ones that don’t do as well leaving one. Have been growing these for years this way and it works for us. Good luck!
In FL Lowes and some Walmarts carry a potting soil called Jungle Growth. I have been using it for years for my veggies and tropical plants and they love it. Its around $8 for a 2 cu ft bag much cheaper than Miracle Grow. I sometimes cut 1/2 MG with 1/2 Jungle Growth. The JG is a heavier mix than the MG so I cut it for seedlings. I also add some perlite,vermicompost and compost to pot plants up. We vermicompost (worm compost) under our rabbit hutches and it works great! There are plans to build vermicompost rabbit hutches online. I add the perlite to increase drainage because we get at least 3 mos of almost daily rain in the summer (hurricane season). We are on a farm so have goat, poultry, rabbit, and horse manure available. I can get cow manure from the neighbors as well for our compost piles.
Awesome! I love that you are able to have food growing in more then one place. We live in a loft style apartment on the 34/35 floor in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada and we have an entire wall two storeys of windows south facing so we get a lot of sunlight every day. I’m growing all kinds of food indoors in against our windows it takes up a small space really and I’m growing all my plants in water only. Nutrient rich water without any soil. The water is constantly moving and having oxygen pumped in to it via air stones and even in my totes with lids on them the air stones keep the water from stagnating. I initially had begun with soil but it always seem to give our small living space the scent of a wet dog and I couldn’t stand that so I switched to hydroponics and it’s been an incredible transition! I really think you would enjoy growing with hydroponics if you gave it a chance. Your lettuce that you have in those starter trays you could just wash off the roots and pop them in to an NFT system and you would have enough lettuce for a very large salad in 7 days if you cut just the outer leaves and then leave the centers and they continue growing and in another 7 days the outer leaves are ready to be harvested again! This does a couple of things. It ensures no waste because normally when you cut a head of lettuce what is the first thing you do? Remove the outer leaves and toss them. Well this way you are eating fresh lettuce and no waste and it allows the plant to put all its energy into growing its youngest sprouts.
I’m in zone 9 b TX. Last year we started our raised beds(1000sq ft of) we just used potting mix from the local nursery. Then we added compost from Costco. All in all it did good, this year we added black cow compost. We are about 1 wk away from harvesting our first tomatoes . I am already harvesting yellow squash, cucumbers, carrots,bok choy, cabbage, strawberries, blue berry’s. Black cow is amazing. Good luck with your garden this year Pam. 😊
I didn’t read the comments people made but I do know last year many around the country had issues with herbicide in their purchased soils specifically a Grazon type herbicide. It was in all types of brands not just Kellogg’s but really expensive brands and from garden centers that get truckloads delivered. MiracleGro was not one mentioned. It was a serious issue for many I talk with on a gardening site I subscribe to. Plants would begin to grow and then either wither and die or were very stunted. Grazon seemed to be the culprit in just about every case from compost made and used as an ingredient in soils from animals that had grazed on hays that were grown using this Grazon. It’s a broadleaf herbicide that is supposed to have no effect on the animals that consume the hays but seems to continue on in their feces used in compost. To be certain none of mine is contaminated I do a bean test of every bag of whatever soil/compost I can afford. I take a pot of the new soil or compost, soak 3 beans per pot for about 4 hours and then plant. Beans sprout pretty quickly so I knew right away if my soil or compost was tainted. None of mine was last year. Soaking the beans like in cooking beans speeds up the process. It truly was an issue for many last year including Jill Winger of the Prairie Homestead, she did a Utube article on what she experienced and her solution. Other Utube articlegrapher growers also had issues. The problem was nationwide and in Canada. So far this year there does not seem to be any problems reported.
This was interesting. I think I may ask for a greenhouse after the chicken cook and run are done. (165 chicks) Whatever were we thinking!? I’m using the garage for now. Going to put the plants outside weekend after next. We got a freeze dryer about 2 weeks ago. Of course had to keep our priorities straight… first batch—Skittles, Jolly Ranchers and Starburst! The grandkids loved them. Done several items since then. I watch your articles over and over to make sure I’m doing it right. I watched your beet episode and then got 25 llbs from Azure Standard and PC half and make pickled beets and onions out of the other half. Wonderful!!! I have the Ball book you use a lot and the USDA book (and several others) and you have done episodes on some I had already done, that was fun to watch. If you like radishes the pickled radish recipe in the Ball book is really good. My daughter has started grinding her own wheat (wheat berries from Azure) and got the same grinder you have. I’ve been the recipient of some delicious breads!! The last loaf was made with Kamut. It was great. Love your website! From central Georgia.
Hi Pam, I love the seed starting process! We use organic compost – mushroom & cow manure (we buy it by the truck yard load… we also use some Kelloggs mix just as you do, however have found we must amend it… since 2020 it hasn’t had the same quality… we’ve gotten away from all Miracle-Gro products due to the chemicals… however, if that’s what y’all use, all good. No judgment here!! We live in New York, Texas yes, for real… and to say the least this year has had its struggles… a deep freeze that we don’t usually have, tornadoes and power outtages, and a late freeze that killed most of my seedlings… it forecasted to not freeze, and then… 25° took them out… Like you, we have used new methods this year wirh grow lights and heat mats…wowzers what a difference! We got Vego beds last spring and absolutely love them, thank you as it was your recommendation that we went on… we are adding 3 new beds this season… and growing a new for me, batch of medicinal herbs… I’m also studying to become an Herbalist. Thank and blessings
Inoculation that come as a soil amendment for soil say that they help with root development, or so I’ve been led to believe? I noticed my seed starter had some mixed in, so I’ll see what happens. I live in Washington state in zone 7b. In my high school greenhouse class, our teacher would water his soil in a noodle, making fashion. He’d use a bench like a scraper to work the water in before using it to plant hydrate more evenly to aid in better germination. Thanks for inspiring me to get going!
I have had the best luck starting peppers and tomatoes indoors, on a heat mat, under grow lights and using light, fluffy seed starting soil. The cups with tomato seeds looked like you used regular potting soil and that is generally too heavy to start the tiny seeds. Really should use seed starting soil. And put it all in a big bucket and wet it all down at the same time to absorb the water and then put it in to your seed starting cells. I started using a large Steralite tote from Walmart with a ice snap on lid. Then once your soil is sufficiently moist, put your seed starting tray right into the tote and fill Al those cells at the same time, then plant your seeds. And one more thing, Tomatoes and peppers both need consistent humidity, for germination, so a dome to cover your starting cells Is very important too.
Oh my goodness. People will have an issue no matter what you use. I use Miracle Grow seed starting mix and indoor potting mix. I also use Espoma seed starting and potting mix, and compost. I’ve used Fox Farms, but it’s twice as expensive for a very similar product. I use Coco Coir, perlite, vermiculite, and earthworm castings as additives. I’m just trying Kelloggs for the first time this spring, so time will tell. I say using what’s available and affordable to you is the best choice.
To get tomatoes germinating quickly (and see if they are viable), put several layers of TP in the bottom of a container (such as a small bowl or plastic mushroom holder, etc). Pour in a bit of water until good & moist. Pour off excess. Put plastic wrap across the top, and make sure it’s in a nice warm place. The seeds should pop open within 1-7 days. You can plant them as soon as they pop out, or wait till they have their 1st leaves (in which case you should very gently hold them by the leaves & slowly pull them out of the TP. Some of the toilet paper may stick to the root—that’s fine. Carefully lower the toot into a hole you have made in potting mix in a pot. Sounds crazy, but it works. Be SURE the container is kept very warm but not hot. You don’t want to cook the seeds.
Zone 5b in SE IA. We have been chemical free for years and tried to do things naturally. For my starts I do a mix of the best soil I can find, mature compost, and some sand. Use play sand from the store, but if that ever had supply issue could simply sift some out of the creek. Will mix into that some earthworm castings and organic blood meal. Have had great success with it. In the larger scheme I got my mind blown last year when a website by Huw Richards turned me on to Korean Natural Farming and it’s sister method, JADAM. Nigel Palmer and Chris Trump have websites that detail it. Am incorporating that with another called Back to Eden gardening by Paul Gautchi which centers around wood chips. I call it recycle farming because you take weeds, leaves, woodchips, cover crops, biochar, rock dust, etc. and work them back into the soil, along with creating your own soil biology via leaf mold and culturing your own from that. Hope to grow food for alot less and boost productivity and nutrition of the product.
Hi Pam and Jim. Love your website! My husband and I now make our own fertilizers using some JADAM inspired methods. We urge you to look at “Garden like a Viking” website. Nate gives great advice on making all your own fertilizers – and they are amazing! At one point, here in Australia, we had problems with getting fertilizers. Making your own fertilizers go a long way to food security. We built our own greenhouse and grow things that we cannot grow in the garden, as well as starting off our seedlings in there. We also make our own seed raising mix made from coconut coir, perlite and compost – with some leaf mould. We live as self sufficiently as possible, including being self reliant in the garden. Hope you are enjoying your retirement. Can’t wait for the bread making book to come out!
I mix Kellogg’s and Promix 1/2 and 1/2 on my planters and pots. I found Promix holds water really well, a little too much for tomatoes and potatoes, and the Kellogg’s is really chunky and well draining. I affords the bulk ingredients needed to keep from getting root rot. I do fertilize and use bone and blood meal as growth helpers. But I see nothing wrong with either soil. As for Miracle grow soil, I use it exclusively for seeds and seedlings as it works really well for them. I have great results, no fungus knats, and no root rot. Don’t let anyone tell you, your wrong. Everyone has different needs due to location and environment. I watch your website alot and am a fan. Waiting for your new bread book. Thanks for being you. 😊
that lettuces looks beautiful this is my first year planning lettuces and I to use the Miracle grow potting soil We haven’t had much luck with grape plants blueberries and blackberries don’t know what we’re doing wrong or if it’s just the weather down here South Texas it gets too hot but we’ll keep on trying 🙂
I’ve never tried starting seeds in potting soil. I didn’t think it would be fine enough. But I’m excited to try that for the fall garden. I made my seed starting mix this year thinking it would be cheaper. It so was not cheaper. Buying coco coir, vermiculite and perlite, then I added (you don’t have to) worm castings and mycorrhiza. Not only costly, but the seedlings have looked better in peat pots over the last 10 years passed. Also I did rinse the coco coir very well to get out excess salt
Good idea to have flowers like nasturtium, marigolds, and zinnias in or near your crops. Also petunias. They are wonderful companion plants. They help repel pests and attract pollinators. Marigolds and petunias are also edible flowers that can add flavor and color to salads. Good you planted your carrots now They actually prefer cooler weather and loose soils. I use whatever is the least expensive, and that’s usually the Cedar Grove PNW recycled compost. I usually add some Miracle-Gro potting soil and Worm Castings. I’ve also started adding twigs, grass clippings, and to the larger, raised beds that I’m just adding, The smaller branches pruned off the cherry and camellia tree. Wood in the bottom, then leaves and grass clippings, followed by dirt and Worm castings, then another layer of soil followed by wood mulch on top. We tossed some 7 year old seeds in that bed and everything took off for the races . Most of my garden is in pots or raised beds and very successful in zone 8B Pacific North West.
I would love to see how you do your indoor garden. We just got out our first green house. I am doing the same thing as trial and error in multiple places and recording everything. I am in eastern Tennessee. I am also trying raised beds for the first time. We have using fields to plant. I am so excited to see your progress and our progress here as well. Thank you for being such an inspiration to me.
I currently live in Southern Arizona (Sierra Vista area) on the high desert zone 8. In my experience I’ve never been able to grow nice plants with Miracle Grow. I lived in Kanab Utah and grew vegetables and flowers in tubs on my balcony and I can attribute some of the failure to the intense heat but the salts that are in the soil never did any of my plants any good. I prefer to grow organically now and use Fox Farm soil even though it’s more expensive (really expensive) but I believe it’s a good investment and you get what you pay for in soil. The cheaper brands just never quite cut it. You’ll always have to add some kind of amendment which ultimately brings up the cost of the soil. You might as well buy the good stuff in the first place. Interestingly enough, the best garden I had here in Arizona was a few years ago without any amendments. We live on a river bed with sand and silt. My veggies grew 10 times better in that soil than they did in amended soil! We also make our own compost which gives me a measure of peace after reading all of the posts recently about “Grazon” herbicide contamination in commercial compost and soils. Just my two cents❤
You won’t be able to grow lettuce in the greenhouse once the temperatures rise….lettuce is a cool season crop. Outdoors shade it with some 80% shade cloth in a raised bed with hoops. Seed lettuce seed every 2 weeks or so for succession planting. Early in the season, put your tomzto seed tray on a heating mat….they prefer 60F soil temp to germinate, and seed them in shallow covered soil, and jeep moist. You can cover them with plastic to keep the soil warm and moist. Remove plastic cover as soon as they germinate. That greenhorn in AR gives a lot of wrong information. PS…I actually start my tomato and pepper seeds in my kitchen…dampen a paper towel (not dripping but wet), place seed over area, fold, put in a overed little plastic condiment container(the kind you get during takeout from restaurants), or sandwich bag and let sit in a warm place. They will germinate in 5-6 days at which point you can transplant in container with soil. Germination rate is fast, high and reliable with this method and it’s a seed saver.