With summer waning and the long winter months looming ahead, you’re no doubt anxious to start the seed collected from catalogs over the summer.
For fortunate gardeners like myself, a greenhouse presents no problem other than gathering enough soil to last the winter, for we can plant our seed anytime.
Greenhouses are inexpensive as hobbies go. Any do-it-yourself gardener can easily erect any of the modern types now available.
Before long, they can pay for themselves by saving you money on many plants, any of which may be used as gifts.
I became interested in gardening when we built our first house in Hawaii. Living in such a tropical paradise is difficult without becoming an enthusiastic gardener. After moving back to Ohio, I shuddered at the effects of the first frost.
Then I acquired the greenhouse where I now garden all winter and laugh at the snow piled around my snug glasshouse.
Operating a Home Greenhouse
It doesn’t take an expert to operate a home greenhouse. I’m not a botanist, taxonomist, agronomist, horticulturist, or authority on anything; I’m just a dirt gardener thoroughly enjoying herself.
Two years ago, I had a greenhouse. I couldn’t pronounce Sansevieria, let alone grow one. So my husband bought me 25 various little plants, and in record time, without any effort at all, I managed to kill every one of them.
This appalled me, so I began reading and experimenting and had better luck with the next lot. But it wasn’t until we added the greenhouse that I got the feel of growing plants in pots.
Annuals, Perennials, and Vegetables From Seed
One of my greatest joys is starting annuals, perennials, and vegetables from seed. These start January through March, and by the end of May, they are bushy and branched from pinching and starting to bloom.
Even delphiniums bloom the first summer because of the early start in the greenhouse. With a greenhouse, you’re the weatherman, and you don’t have to wait for Mother Nature, who is sometimes tardy with rain and warmth.
Tuberous begonias, caladiums, cannas, dahlias, and many bulbs get a healthy start under the benches where some sun reaches them. Mine started in March, and the begonias are already budded when set out about June 1st.
I remember when I used to start them in the basement. They looked pale and spindly when I put them outside to fend for themselves.
Provide Optimal Growing Conditions
Everything does better in the greenhouse, where you can provide optimum growing conditions. Cuttings don’t seem to stop growing, and some even continue blooming while rooting.
Depending on the cutting, I vary the rooting medium, but the big factor is the high humidity which stimulates root formation.
One important facet of greenhouse gardening is the never-ending supply of flowers and foliage for flower arranging.
If you are interested in this art, you’ll understand what it means to walk into the greenhouse, visualize an arrangement, and cut accordingly.
Experimenting New Plants
If you like to experiment with new plants and ideas, there are many thrills in store for you. For instance, never having seen cotton in bloom, I started some from seed.
When the plants bloomed, I flew around like a mother bee pollinating them, and they developed cotton bolls (unripe cotton pods). Ah, yes, I did hear some quips about my “cotton-picking” greenhouse.
Aspidistra
Aspidistra was another plant I wanted after hearing Beatrice Lillie sing “I’ve Got the Biggest Aspidistra on the Block.” So now I’m growing atom-blasted zinnias, one of which looks promising and unusual.
I find some of the articles in books and magazines about greenhouses slightly terrifying. You’re warned about insects, disease, soil sterilization, sanitation, fumigation, rigid schedules, and so many dangers that you’d think there would be little joy left. I don’t stick too close to the book, yet I manage with few problems.
I never introduce any plant without checking it thoroughly; if there’s any doubt, it is isolated. Of course, everything is kept as clean as possible, but I’m not usually prepared for any white-glove inspection.
As For Schedule
My loose sense of timing could hardly be called a schedule. Sometime in August, I take geranium cuttings and start seeds for winter bloom; in October, I pot bulbs for forcing; from January through March, I start my annuals.
The rest of the year, I putter around and have fun. Occasional spraying takes care of insects, a minor problem, particularly in winter.
With the automatic controls now available such problems as heat, humidity, and ventilation are easily solved.
44659 by Mrs. Ray W. Lauchis