1736 Eagle Drive
Hixson, TN 37343
Phone: 423.842.4630
Email: lpickles4@comcast.net
Hixson, TN 37343
Phone: 423.842.4630
Email: lpickles4@comcast.net
| 2010 Greenhouse Growing . . . |
I love my greenhouse. Even if there is no work on a given day, I will take my Diet Coke and go
and sit in the greenhouse enjoying the sights of green foliage, growing plants, growing
seedlings and the incredible smell of daylilies.
Fall of 2009 found me giving the inside of the greenhouse an overhaul. The benches and rock
floor were the original put in in 1997 when we built the larger greenhouse. The benches had
started rotting and were falling apart.
The benches are constructed of treated 2" X 4s". On the top of the benches, I placed what
we called in Iowa, "snow fence." On top of the snow fence, I placed ground cloth to keep the
wires from rubbing holes in the plastic liner.
This fall and winter I am going to experiment with growing the seedlings and potted
hybridizing plants in water baths. On top of the benches, I placed a 2" X 4" frame and lined it
with 6 mil plastic and keep about an inch of water in the bottom. Each time I water, a light
mixture of water soluble fertilizer is added, so they are always growing in fertilizer water. It
seems like it is taking a lot longer to build the benches that it did the first time.
and sit in the greenhouse enjoying the sights of green foliage, growing plants, growing
seedlings and the incredible smell of daylilies.
Fall of 2009 found me giving the inside of the greenhouse an overhaul. The benches and rock
floor were the original put in in 1997 when we built the larger greenhouse. The benches had
started rotting and were falling apart.
The benches are constructed of treated 2" X 4s". On the top of the benches, I placed what
we called in Iowa, "snow fence." On top of the snow fence, I placed ground cloth to keep the
wires from rubbing holes in the plastic liner.
This fall and winter I am going to experiment with growing the seedlings and potted
hybridizing plants in water baths. On top of the benches, I placed a 2" X 4" frame and lined it
with 6 mil plastic and keep about an inch of water in the bottom. Each time I water, a light
mixture of water soluble fertilizer is added, so they are always growing in fertilizer water. It
seems like it is taking a lot longer to build the benches that it did the first time.
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I am in the process of replacing all of the
benches in the greenhouse. The previous
ones had been in use over 12 years and
were beginning to show rot. The benches
on each side are 4' wide and 40' long, made
up of four 10' benches. The "legs" are
concrete blocks. I like to keep things
simple!
benches in the greenhouse. The previous
ones had been in use over 12 years and
were beginning to show rot. The benches
on each side are 4' wide and 40' long, made
up of four 10' benches. The "legs" are
concrete blocks. I like to keep things
simple!
As a bench is completed, what we used to
call snow fence in Iowa is used to cover the
benches. Do you know how hard it is to find
snow fence in the south?
On the far right is a completed bench with
seedlings growing in pots and in water.
call snow fence in Iowa is used to cover the
benches. Do you know how hard it is to find
snow fence in the south?
On the far right is a completed bench with
seedlings growing in pots and in water.
The benches have a frame on top which is
lined with 6 mil. plastic sheeting. In the
foreground are some potted hybridizing
plants. Behind are some seedlings growing
in No. 38 seed trays, then seedlings
growing in trade gallon pots. The bed is
then filled about 1" with water.
lined with 6 mil. plastic sheeting. In the
foreground are some potted hybridizing
plants. Behind are some seedlings growing
in No. 38 seed trays, then seedlings
growing in trade gallon pots. The bed is
then filled about 1" with water.
| A closer view of the seedlings in trays and pots growing. They are growing in about 1" of water. As the plants root, the roots grow out of the containers into the water. A weak solution of water soluable fertilizer is used for the water bath. |
The above bench and the one on the right
are for potted hybridizing plants. The above
bench is 4' wide and 34' long and holds 160
3-gallon pots. The bench on the right is 28'
long and holds 136 pots.
are for potted hybridizing plants. The above
bench is 4' wide and 34' long and holds 160
3-gallon pots. The bench on the right is 28'
long and holds 136 pots.
| One of the seedling benches along the side of the greenhouse. There are four beds 4' wide and 10' long which will hold 504 trade 1 gallon pots of seedlings. These were planted the 1st of November and the picture taken on December 26, 2009. |
Potted plants were taken
into the greenhouse in
2009 from December 11 to
the 21st. They were
cleaned, fertilized, with
Marathon added to the top.
Marathon is a systemic
granular that is supposed
to eliminate fungus gnats,
white flies, thrips, etc. It
will not affect spider mites.
into the greenhouse in
2009 from December 11 to
the 21st. They were
cleaned, fertilized, with
Marathon added to the top.
Marathon is a systemic
granular that is supposed
to eliminate fungus gnats,
white flies, thrips, etc. It
will not affect spider mites.
| I am often asked about my plant labels. Years ago I saw a need to get my seedling and plant markers up where I could see them without having to bend over and dig around in the foliage. I discovered "Takiron" steel stakes which were several lengths but I selected the ones that were 3' for my purposes. The are a steel tube with a plastic coating and they last forever and do not heave out of the ground in the winter. I use 5/8" X 6" plastic pot labels and drill a hole in them and the Takiron stake and use a plastic tie to connect them. They stay well above the foliage for easy identification. |
Image taken 12/26/09
| Image taken 1/15/2010 |
| The 2 images above were taken 20 days apart. The left image, the left row of potted plants are H. 'Robert W. Carr' and H. 'Razorwire', both dormant cultivars. The image on the right was taken 20 days later. Notice the growth of all the plants, but especially the dormants in the left row of pots. |
First 2010 scape in the greenhouse was
spotted on 01/27/10 on Kaskell "Best Edge"
Seedling, about six weeks after taking it
into the greenhouse from outside. This is
so early that I am guessing that this scape
was formed last fall and did not bloom at
that time. I think there is a name for that,
but not sure.
spotted on 01/27/10 on Kaskell "Best Edge"
Seedling, about six weeks after taking it
into the greenhouse from outside. This is
so early that I am guessing that this scape
was formed last fall and did not bloom at
that time. I think there is a name for that,
but not sure.