Greenhouse Blues

I used to grow cactai from seed when I was a kid, I collected the seed once they'd flowered and put them in seed trays. I had a lot of success even though I had no idea what I was doing! Maybe because the seeds were fresh. I am currently growing some succulents from seed. The Agaves have been really hard to germinate (only 2 out of 15 seeds), but the rosette types (sempervivum, aeonium, echeveria) are doing really well. I put them on shallow trays of moist seed compost/sand mixture and sealed them in freezer bags until lots had germinated. Good luck with the greenhouse! I wish I had the space for one.

 

Hi Sparkle
We haven't really got the room but we squeezed it in.. good job the door slides otherwise we would be in trouble.I now have 5 cactus seeds showing signs of life out of 180 (according to the packet)at least I think they are cactus seedlings hard to tell with my eyesight.I don't think I have ever seen seeds for succulents on sale,I LOVE Sempervivums do you buy your seeds or collect from existing plants.If so how do you do it? Anyway after the words of encouragement from everyone I had a quick look through some of the other discussions and found one where someone was talking about a book called plants from pips - I have a copy on order and have bought a lemon a lime and a grapefruit in anticipation.Just hope the book arrives before the fruit goes off.
Ghollum

 

Was it The Pip Book by Keith Mossman- should be reprinted. I bought it many years ago when it first came out, when I was growing Avocados, sad to say I've never managed to get one to branch. Great book!
If you find any seeds in your lime, you're luckier than me.

 

I had to hunt a bit but I found several places selling succulent seeds:
Thompson & Morgan
Chiltern Seeds
Jungle Seeds

I have no idea about collecting the seeds, some of them are really small so it could be tricky but worth a try.

 

Hi Liz & Sparkle.
I have managed to get a good condition hard back copy of the pip book off E-bay for �£3.99.I haven't split the lime yet but it might pay for me to leave it to get extra ripe if you have had problems finding pips.I think with Avocados you have to balance them across the top of a glass of water so that the bottom of the seed is just touching the water I am probably wrong because I have no idea where that thought sprang from but once I get this book I should find out.Thanks for doing the ground work for me Sparkle.I have just ordered a catalogue from T&M but Chiltern seeds want �£2 so I will have a look through my gardening magazines to see if they are giving any away.By the way 11 cactus seeds sprouting now.. only another 169 to go
Ghollum

 

My husband and I like the looks of this greenhouse:
Home Depot Greenhouse

I think its on sale now and wouldn't be frightfully expensive. If we have a couple of months of below freezing temps, etc., will I need to heat it? I think it will fit nicely behind the garage on a concrete base already in place. I'd like to overwinter my hanging baskets and tropicals and start new seed there for next year. Do you think its worth about $500 USD (I don't know how to convert to pounds). I love gardening and think that this will give me a chance to keep up my hobby through winter. Any advice will be most welcome.

 

Hmmm -- looks like my link wouldn't work. Well, its an 8 x 6 greenhouse with a nice little door and a vent in the top. It appears that the "glass" is actually heavy molded plastic and it has what appears to be a aluminium frame.

 

Val.Which part of the USA are you from?I expect there is quite a time difference between us and over the pond to you.
A relative of mine comes from Arizona,and says that out there it is so hot they cannot do much at all.

Kandy

 

A couple of tips re greenhouses -

1. ensure that there are as many openable vents as possible in addition to the door. The biggest problem with greenhouses can be lack of ventilation

2. if your going to overwinter plants that are tender i.e. not frost hardy, then you will need to heat it. You can use parafin, or wire the greenhouse up to your house electricity to provide both fan heating and light.

 

Hi Valentine,
$500 USD is about �£260 GBP
Perhaps the link was a bit too long..here`s a shorter one that may work:

http://www.nurl.us/wv

 

Hi Gollum

Hows the greenhouse going?? just thought I'd put in a note, although you probably know already - about the white stuff you paint on the glass..... I am on a very steep learning curve and in no way an expert - I was finding my plants were struggling - my Bananas and tomatoes leaves were getting scorched, so I put some cool glass on the outside.... anyway, a couple of weeks on and I'm nearly needing a machette to get in through the door!!!!! The temperature is keeping up, but it is not so harsh in there and the humidity has zoomed up!!!!! - hance the plants going loopy!!!!!!

HB

 

HI VALENTINE,MY GREENHOUSE IS6X8 AND ITS MOULDED plastic, I have had it up for 18mths and I couldnt do without it. due to my blood pressure problem Isometimes faint, not all the time so hence the plastic greenhouse. its actually very good , :D :D

 

thanks for the answers. I am from the southeastern US in the state of Virginia. I'd like to use a greenhouse to keep some of my annuals over the winter and to start seedlings for planting in the spring. I have electrical outlets near the spot I'd like to put the greenhouse, so I could probably put out a heater when the temps drop really low. We occasionally get hard winters and temperatures in the low teens (brrrrr). This may be a fun project to get it up in the fall before Ole Man Winter puffs his frigid breath and kills my plants.

 

hi valentine, I lived in the states for about 10 years, Detroit, Michican and houston, texas, still in contact with friends over there.
Hope you get your greenhouse up and running soon, good luck

 

Ilove my greenhouse ROSA, I grow toms, aurbergines cucum.chilles and also weeds.next year Imay put a lot more stuff,