I've learned radishes planted in GH in November didn't do well. ATP member says February to April for Texas so will plant some in Feb. I started Baker Creek Chinese Red radishes 12/22 and they sprouted in just a few days and seem to be doing well. Time will tell. Maybe they will be the winners!
Cold today but sunny. Patio GH got up to 75. HFGH stayed in the 60s. Tonight going down to 29 and at 130AM the HFGH is hovering around 46. I like it warmer but apparently the heater needs to be turned up a bit. Not going there this time of night. Two 65 watt CFL will come on around 3 AM and that should boost the heat a couple degrees. The rope lights are adding some heat too. Tomorrow night will adjust the heat up a bit.
UPDATE: THE HFGH got down to 46 last night. Colder than I wanted.
The PG (plastic zip up patio greenhouse, 4 x 6) did well. Wrapped the outside with a layer of old sheets. Inside the mylar blankets are "tented" around the plants. Ran two strands of incandescent rope lights and two 65 watt light bulbs. GH stayed in mid 50's. Tomatoes and lemons ripening in there, and another tomato growing, along with flowering plants. They are doing well but likely will slow a little until we get some sun
In the "big" GH, ran two strands of rope lights, and turned the Delonghi heater on low. Should have had the heater a bit higher, as the GH went down to 48. Peppers (pardon, Anaheim, etc.) are in small pots on the seedling mat with bubble wrap loosely over them. So they are staying warmer. Other warm loving plants have rope lights wrapped around them to keep the soil warm. So I think everything's okay in there.
Running fans in both GHs 8 hours a day -- seems to be the way to keep mold gone.
Harvested a couple of this big jalapenos from the greenhouse today -- making salsa for tomorrow night. When they said mammoth they meant it ! A plus--they are heirloom.
The tomato .... well, I used the compost from the compost bin before it was entirely decomposed, and it sprouted up in the pot with an herb I was growing. Was going to pull it out and my neighbor, Gloria, said "oh don't -- its a tomato". So I transplanted it and it's in the greenhouse and doing well. I've named it the "Gloria" - since I have no idea for certain what it is, only that I usually buy organic tomatoes.
Added two 4100K LED lights - one above each two shelves - and my seedling, spinach and lettuce are growing there. Also have a couple of CFL 6500K lights supplementing. We'll see if this combination adds anything -- but I believe all the plants are looking better in the last 3-4 days since I did this. Also leaving the doors open and getting plenty of air -- and NOT overwatering -- maybe I am making progress in the learning arena and will eventually produce some nice winter crops in the GH.
Yeah! Ordered a product that drdawg recommended for mold, and it should be here Friday. Several fans going, while I'm looking for the new box fan, but the air is moving in there. Opening door every day for several hours. Sunshine yesterday and today. Added two hanging Two bulb shop lights above two shelves-4 ft long. Only 4100 kelvin and they are LED. But lettuce and spinach seem to be responding to them. Time will tell. Only $40 each at Costco. Can always transition them to hubby's workshop as he needs more, so nothing to lose. Also have three CFls in there so they supplement as well.
New outdoor timer arrived from Amazon so lights programmed. One more on order for the fans.
After research and struggling with decision, decided not to get 10 x 12 HF GH mostly because it's 10 feet tall. Maintenance and other needs will be more challenging. So we got a second 8 x 6 HF and hubby is going to join them together and raise the roof to 8 feet. So I will have a 12 x 8 Should be sufficient for me. Looking forward to the construction.
START: Adding more air circulation to the GH (the mold on top of soil has reappeared).
STOP: Misting so often -- mold problem in soil
CONTINUE: Observing and learning how to grow in a greenhouse - I can do it !
