The Coleus Greenhouse With Heat!

Not sure if I mentioned it previously but there has been a need for heat in the early spring to get things along. Planned properly I can probably get an extra month (two if started in late February) of full color by using this older idea.

Four Coleus were picked up from Quinns Greenhouse up in MaCaysville, GA (borders TN) three weeks ago. Mother plants in the center. Forty are shown that have been rooted at different times. Other stuff include some potato vines from Florida and a tray of climbing Nasturtiums moved from the seed house.

The heater is ideal, but I was a bit concerned with the area being so small and how it would work, not to mention burning the house down if it shorted. Designed for indoor use, it's also referred to as a milk house heater. For $29.00 from the local Ace hardware it keeps things in the mid 50's even on cold nights like this morning when the outdoor temperature was 28. The current setting is very low, so the potential for heating a much larger area is very good.

Who knows what kind of set up I'll have next year. Maybe I can specialize in something and earn some extra income.

A Better Seed Starting Greenhouse

Last week while looking around at all the spring growth I counted something like 35 perennial plants I started from seed last year. Nearly all are doing quite well, especially some Painted Daisies and Foxglove. The latter seem to thrive around here...so far.

Anyway even though I probably started well over 200 from seed (forget those worthless Coleus) last year I thought I'd probably be pretty bummed out a few years from now if I didn't have more. It's all about getting them started under good conditions, or that's the way I see it.

Anyway a nice comfy spot in what retains quite a bit of radiant heat during colder nights should do the trick. Made from leftovers laying about, it too me a few hours to put this together. It has to be the warmest location in the spring.

Stuff started:

Two types of Foxglove
Lupine
Nasturtium Milkmaid trailing -  This one is going in part shade and good soil. Has not worked under other conditions.
Red Hot Poker - last try
Dazzler Gaillardia - a half dozen doing well from last year
American Dream Coreopsis - last try, great colors
Snow In Summer
Jacob's Ladder - Don't know why
Columbine - ditto, they're tough, but the two year olds from seed are looking better this year.
Assorted others.

A peak inside...

Big improvement from this...