greenhouses and starting garden plants

 

   I'm a beginning gardener looking forward to this years garden and
would like some idea of what I can start and when.

  I'm in 7b and have a small homespun "greenhouse" (8' * 8'), this keeps
the night time temps about 10 degrees off the outside and daytime temps
upwards of 30 degrees warmer. I've added thermal mass and insulation,
and if needed I can raise the temps 10 degrees by turning on a 250W heat
lamp.

  Would this be a suitable enviornment for germinating seeds for my garden?

   Should I start about a month or so before the last frost date?

   Daves Garden:

http://davesgarden.com/guides/freeze-frost-dates/index.php?q0315&submit=Go

   Gives me mid Feb for an average last 24 and March 24 for the average
last 32.

   I had too late a start for snow peas last year, they did well until
it warmed up and I'm thinking I need to really get an early start.

   Jeff

 



When does the weather get too warm for peas? Here in Oregon, my peas
flourish well into June and sometimes into July if it's not too warm. We
can have 100 on July 4th, or we can have 65 and rain.

 


I started my peas in Novemeber and now have tons. Where in 7b are you?
I am in the East of 95 corridor in North Carolina and I believe that
is 7 b as well. I have had a green house for 3 years,I guess what I am
saying is that I can be more specific if I know where you are.

 

mj wrote:

   I'm *in* Atlanta.

   What precautions do you need to take, and did you need to use any
heat? I know little about using greenhouses..., but since I have one,
I'd like to put it to use!

   Last year I planted snow peas (which whithered and died), tomatoes,
cukes and melons and a few others. I'd like to get an earlier or less
expensive start.

   Jeff

 


I have an electric heater with a thermostat that keeps the greenhouse
above freezing. I have 2 snow pea plants that are producing like
crazy. I also have leaf lettuce and believe it or not a type of cherry
tomato currently. I have started my peppers and tomatoes in the house
but will transfer them to the greenhouse by the end of the month. Just
for fun I started a zucchini plant in an Aero Garden in December and
put it in the greenhouse a few weeks ago. It has 2 zucchini on it.
Will you also be planting in  the ground? I will start more lettuce,
onions and spinich the first week in March. I also grow melon and
cucumbers and of course more squash outside and will plant those seeds
the first of April. Cucumbers don't seem to do well in the greenhouse.
Do you have vents or windows? They will become key during the summer
months. I should also mention that everything in my greenhouse is
grown hydroponicly. There is a book I use for reference;  The
Greenhouse Expert by Dr. D. G. Hessayon.

"Less expensive start?"... I am not sure what you mean. If you mean
not a lot of success and the price of seeds I can tell you that I use
the 20 cent packages from Walmart. The seed catalogs look great but I
have not found the $4.00 seeds to be any more worthy.
I hope this helps a little. I enjoy garden talk.

MJ