Things are really starting to heat up in the greenhouse…
Remember when I planted the strawberries in gutters? Well, when I planted the strawberries, I was under the impression {from the Greenhouse Guy} that I would only need to water the strawberries two or three times during the summer. Boy was I {he} wrong. I’m finding I have to water these babies every 2 days or so. Wowza! Talk about high maintenance. Oh well, I think it will be worth it in the end. The berries are blooming like crazy, and I’m sure it’s just a matter of weeks before I’ll get to harvest the first crop of homegrown strawberries. And oh how I love local berries.
I planted these strawberries {and onions} just outside of the greenhouse the day after I planted the ones in the greenhouse. There is no comparison. The greenhouse berries have a serious lead.
For some reason, the cucumber starts I planted in the top gutter and the basil seedlings I planted in the bottom gutter are not doing so well. I’m not sure if it is because I’m not watering them enough or what. But if they don’t start growing soon, I’ll have to ditch the idea and plant something else in their place. We’ll see.
The sweet peppers I planted in bakery buckets are thriving. Some are just beginning to form tiny little buds and a few even have white flowers… Yee-Haw.
Flowers are also starting to appear on some of the tomato plants as well.
About 2 weeks ago I planted a tray of cucumber and zucchini seedlings. Once they get a few “true leaves” on them I’ll plant them outside and have a little jump start as I usually plant cucumber and zucchini seeds outside in late May.
And this beauty. Check it out. The petunia and coleus seeds I planted way back at the end of February are finally starting to fill out my large planter. I think I’ll have the Handsome Husband move it out of the greenhouse and around t0 the front of the property this weekend.
I’m excited!
So what’s thriving in your neck of the woods?
Did you make any new garden purchases this weekend?
♥ Mavis
This year I will attempt to grow food year round in via our greenhouse and raised garden beds. If you are thinking about trying to grow food year round as well, check out Elliot Coleman’s book Four-Season Harvest: Organic Vegetables from Your Home Garden All Year Long. Amazon currently has it on sale for $16.47.
*Amazon prices can change at anytime.
Andrea says
I love following your gardening ups and downs. I’m amazed by your dedication. As I was reading the above post and enjoying your pictures, 1 question came to mind….. On average how much time each day to you spend tending to your gardening? Just curious. Everything looks so nice and neat and healthy, I figure it must be hours and hours each day. I look forward to each of your gardening posts. I’ve gotten lots of helpful tips!
Lisa says
Did you pinch off the flowers from your strawberry plants? I planted some this year and was told by many that you need to pinch off the flowers in order to get bigger plants and consequently a bigger harvest the following year. I reluctantly pinched the flowers off and I’m seriously regretting it! If the plants produce a second set of flowers it’s okay to let them fruit so I’m keeping my fingers crossed!!
Mavis says
Nope. I have heard that too but I have never once pinched the flowers off the first year. Maybe I’m just greedy. LOL
Krista says
Everything is looking great, Mavis! Such a contrast too between the greenhouse strawberries and the outside ones.
I spent an evening last week pulling out about a hundred Oregon grape plants and then this weekend planted a bunch of things in the new space. Kinda looks wonky with a bunch of bare soil between plants, but eventually it will fill in and look great.
You Can Call Me Jane says
I wondered, too, about your strawberries…since they are perennials, will you transplant them out? I would think having to water them that frequently would be tedious once you’ve harvested all your berries.
Our strawberries are starting to bear. In fact, I know there are a few handfuls ripe out there RIGHT NOW, but it’s raining. I might brave the weather to go get them anyway:-). We planted them as new plants last year so this is the first year we should get a decent crop.
Everything looks awesome! Here’s what I’m thinking…can I fly you out a couple days a week to keep our gardens ship shape? Miriam could assist you. She’s a hoot in the garden as I’m sure you can imagine:-).
Sarah says
Hi Mavis! Love your site; I find a lot of inspiration from you. I live in Kansas, so our climates are a lot different. Our tomatoes have flowered and have little green fruit, and our cucumbers are flowering. My sweet peas went nuts last week along with the beets and carrots. But we have a neighborhood rabbit that drives my cats crazy and eats my greens! I have a tiny yard, but I try to get as many pots and planters going as possible. I might try your pallet raised beds in addition to the two small raised beds I built last year.
One question: I only have two strawberry plants in a medium pot. They aren’t doing much. I had one grape-size strawberry last week (and that’s about all I got from them last year). I keep them watered well. Do you think I need more plants, or a bigger pot, or what?
Thanks. Keep posting! I love the photos and blogs!
Joelle says
I “planted” wild strawberries that are about to flower. I would like suggestions on how to actually keep the fruit before the squirrels eat it.. some sort of cage?
Also this is my first year growing celery (just plant the bottom in wet soil) and am wondering when is the right time to actually cut to eat it? (It’s growing leave but curiously no roots)
Mavis says
#1. Bird netting will keep the little buggers out. You can find it at the hardware store.
#2 Hmmm. I have never grown celery that way before. I too think it is strange that it does not have roots. Hopefully someone will know the answer and leave a comment {fingers crossed}.
Heidi says
Love reading your posts. I found a few red strawberries this morning. This is the first year I’ve tried the topsy turvy strawberry planter. I planted the berries about three or four weeks ago and there are tons of actual berries on them.
I also transplanted some strawberry plants within my garden about ten days ago not knowing how they’d do and to my surprise they are thriving. Woooooooo Hooooooo!
Strawberry Love 🙂
Farmer Jerry came over this weekend to till my 2500sf. garden space. I will be spending many hours getting my garden going in the next few weeks. Mavis, you are my inspiration. Keep up the good work and great posts.
Melinda says
I love this post……..makes me want to get out in my garden more often. :). I found that my strawberries love coffee grounds (I pick up free grounds from Starbucks). Since I have been using them (past three years) I have gotten big beautiful plants and lots of nice sized strawberries.
ali says
Geez…I have greenhouse envy!
Marcia says
I am SO envious of your beautiful greenhouse! Hey, what do you use for soil for your plants? I just started a raised bed (SF Gardening experiment) and could barely afford the vermiculite and peat moss, etc. that is supposed to go in the box. Do you know of something cheaper that will work?
Marcia says
Mavis, I love your greenhouse posts! What do you use for potting soil? I’m trying to find something less expensive but very good for my SF garden raised beds. Thanks!