Mike Haasl wrote:.
I also picked up ginger and turmeric from our organic food store and have them tucked around in the beds. We've saved all our pineapple tops and have many of them started as well. I also realized that the piper nigrum seeds look remarkably like peppercorns. Since none of the purchased ones came up, I planted about 50 peppercorns in the beds. Hopefully at least one will grow. Lastly, I found a vanilla orchid at the local greenhouse/florist and brought that home.
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“Peace is not absence of conflict, it is the ability to handle conflict by peaceful means.” —Ronald Reagan
JayGee
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Mike Haasl wrote:Good point, it's time for an update!
I've given up the idea of compost heat (within the greenhouse). The way I did it did not lead to any appreciable heat but it did give off gasses that made me wonder if they were healthy.
I put in the Active Heat battery system (per the above update) but neglected to protect it well enough for a cold night (12 degrees lower than forecast) and the radiator split open. I soldered it up a week ago and it's now ready for action. But then I found that it would take a tremendous amount of antifreeze to keep the system from freezing at 20F.
So my current plan is to move the heat battery into the area where the compost pile was. That area is also closed off as a mini greenhouse for the tropical plants. With a tiny electric heater. So the barrels of water will stay above freezing in there. I finally figured out if I reroute the heat collection piping I can keep all the liquid within the mini greenhouse and avoid any antifreeze. But it will take more work to implement so that might not happen before the coldest part of winter is past.
This week is going to be pretty cold (-20F at night and 0F for daily highs) so I'll see how cold the greenhouse gets at night without the moveable insulation. My guess is around 20F.
I'm planning to plant trees in the ground in the greenhouse this summer. Figs, peach, pawpaw, almonds, etc. And also use the greenhouse to extend my growing season. I struggle mightily with aphids on peppers so I haven't done well with them the last two years.
I could elaborate, what are you interested in Patrick?
"If we do not find anything very pleasant, at least we shall find something new"
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My articles can be seen here: https://theredcarpet.org.uk/blog/
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Mike Haasl wrote:Hi Jerry, I don't think the glazing does too much but the metal roofing on the other half does a lot of work. I also had diagonal metal strapping on the roof side during the construction process and it's still buried in there somewhere.
That's a neat way to capture and concentrate the heat into the greenhouse for storage. I have the infrastructure partially arranged to collect hot air off the ceiling and transfer it to water tanks in the the mini greenhouse. But concentrating it first makes a lot of sense... Thanks for the idea!
The gothic arch is great it every way except for construction. Detailing the corners was a real pain in the ass. Especially since on my build the wall members were inside the walls on the E and W and on the interior of the N wall. So getting vapor barriers and housewrap to go around the corners was a pain. As was figuring out how those curves met the flat E/W walls.
Mike Haasl wrote:Hi Jerry, I don't think the glazing does too much but the metal roofing on the other half does a lot of work. I also had diagonal metal strapping on the roof side during the construction process and it's still buried in there somewhere.
That's a neat way to capture and concentrate the heat into the greenhouse for storage. I have the infrastructure partially arranged to collect hot air off the ceiling and transfer it to water tanks in the the mini greenhouse. But concentrating it first makes a lot of sense... Thanks for the idea!
The gothic arch is great it every way except for construction. Detailing the corners was a real pain in the ass. Especially since on my build the wall members were inside the walls on the E and W and on the interior of the N wall. So getting vapor barriers and housewrap to go around the corners was a pain. As was figuring out how those curves met the flat E/W walls.
SKIP books, get 'em while they're hot!!! Skills to Inherit Property
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Mike Haasl wrote:
I don't keep bees, they don't really like to live in my climate. People who do have them round here and keep them in warmer sheds have them die anyway. So if I had them in the GH they'd probably not make it either.
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Ebo David wrote:Was that self pollinating, or did you run the toothbrush across different flowers on different plants? That is an interesting idea. Also, did you just yous the bristles strait up, or tape a q-tip to the end? I am actually interested in this.
Ebo David wrote:Thanks Dave! I may end up experimenting with this and working with someone to do a video to post to the Master Gardner's lists. I can see this as being a great way to pollinate tomatoes and other self pollinating plants inside a greenhouse! This is SO cool ;-)
David A. Smith wrote:
Ebo David wrote:Was that self pollinating, or did you run the toothbrush across different flowers on different plants? That is an interesting idea. Also, did you just yous the bristles strait up, or tape a q-tip to the end? I am actually interested in this.
Tomatoes self pollinate and can do so from the individual flower. All that's required is to use the toothbrush to vibrate the stem or flower, thus causing the pollen to drop onto the stamen. Tomato flowers face downward which allows natural events like wind or bees to vibrate them and cause the pollen to drop. It's actually a quick and easy process of going from one plant to another, just touching individual blooms with the vibrating head of the brush. No pollen transfer from one blossom to another with the brush is required.
Dave
A build too cool to miss:Mike's GreenhouseA great example:Joseph's Garden
All the soil info you'll ever need:
Redhawk's excellent soil-building series
Trace Oswald wrote:
David A. Smith wrote:
Ebo David wrote:Was that self pollinating, or did you run the toothbrush across different flowers on different plants? That is an interesting idea. Also, did you just yous the bristles strait up, or tape a q-tip to the end? I am actually interested in this.
Tomatoes self pollinate and can do so from the individual flower. All that's required is to use the toothbrush to vibrate the stem or flower, thus causing the pollen to drop onto the stamen. Tomato flowers face downward which allows natural events like wind or bees to vibrate them and cause the pollen to drop. It's actually a quick and easy process of going from one plant to another, just touching individual blooms with the vibrating head of the brush. No pollen transfer from one blossom to another with the brush is required.
Dave
Would using a fan work as well? I know I personally would do the toothbrush thing about once before I "forgot" about it and never did it again.
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