Nursery//Greenhouse setup. What are the “must haves”

Hola!

I am trying to propagate many things from direct seeding, , being more succesful with some things than others, but having always a big problem: snails destroying whatever sprouts.

I got ducks to fight that problem and I hope that I might partially solve it. And I like the magic of throwing things around and see what goes on.

But there are certain things that I do want to have under total control, for them being special, or cause I want them in strategic places. Sometimes I got rare seeds that I just dont want to throw away. And well, I like to play around, like everybody here I guess.

So I wanted to kmow your greenhouse setups. I know I can buy whatever in Amazon and just start playing with seeds. In fact, I already did that. But I am wondering about better design ideas, best materials, best soil mix to get things started, tools, watering…

For example, with location inside the homestead, that is important. Here in the mediterranean now (June 20) the biggest problem is extreme heat. So I not only have to worry about things not sprouting in winter, also things not being cooked under the sun .

Maybe you have cool ideas, maybe there are other threads that I havent found yet, maybe some youtube video that is very inspiring, or … how did you create the best greenhouse, the “allgerminator monster”?

I got free sliding glass doors to build the front and used old carpet and padding for the north side for insulation during the winter but can be removed for summer.   High hot summer sun is blocked by roof mid day during the summer.
I mix my worm compost with local sand to make starting mix.  Drill 3 or 4 holes in the bottom of yogurt containers and set them in old pans with water around the bottom for starting plants.

Maybe you don't need a greenhouse? How cold is it during winter in your part of the Mediterranean? How long is it that you may have frosts or freezes?

In the meantime, take a peek at how Akiva of Twisted Tree Farm recommends setting up a nursery here. The article is aimed at those who want to sell plants, but is still applicable for any who want to propagate plants.

Akiva did share this with Permies in this thread. Maybe 4 years later he is still watching that thread, to answer more questions?

Joylynn Hardesty wrote:Maybe you don't need a greenhouse? How cold is it during winter in your part of the Mediterranean? How long is it that you may have frosts or freezes?

In the meantime, take a peek at how Akiva of Twisted Tree Farm recommends setting up a nursery here. The article is aimed at those who want to sell plants, but is still applicable for any who want to propagate plants.

Akiva did share this with Permies in this thread. Maybe 4 years later he is still watching that thread, to answer more questions?

Probably I need more a shadehouse. Here the main problem is now, super hot and aggresive sun. Althought in winter we have some frost

After several years of running a nursery business, I would say there aren't really any "must haves" other than good seeds. My top 3 would be sifted compost for germinating seeds, a good watering can that pours just how you like, and mulch for your nursery beds.

When propagating via rooted cuttings, a "propagation timer" automatic timer valve for running misting sprinklers 10 seconds every 10 minutes is sort of a "must have"

Not "must haves" but definitely makes life easier:
72-cell seedling flats (~3 cubic inches per cell)
Clear plastic humidity covers for germinating surface sown or light-dependent-germinating seeds (can also use a clear plastic bag with vent holes cut in it)
Refrigerator for cold stratifying seeds without freezing them
Moss as stratifying medium for medium to large seeds and nuts
Wood chips, pine needles, or leaf mulch for nursery beds

One of those long skinny shovels (a "drain spade") for digging out 2/3 year old seedlings, and a skinny hoe for scraping weeds in between trees in your nursery beds.

If you have crows, ravens, jays, or other birds that like to pick out your freshly planted seeds, some kind of mesh cover or shade cloth draped over your beds will keep the birds from snacking on your seeds. If you have gophers, voles, or mice, a clove of garlic planted with every seedling will keep them from chomping your baby tree seedlings, or in the case of gophers will keep them from chewing on the the roots from underneath.