You're right, Arlene. That is a strange way of cutting back. But, like the Queen of Peppers says, "The heck with cutting back!! "

Well, rather than think myself to death, I bought the Weatherguard 8 x 12 greenhouse today. Heck, I'm going to need the 2nd greenhouse for all those seeds!

This morning I took my coin jug to the Coinstar at the local super market. I usually take it once a year in November, but never got to it this year. I wound up with a $253 gift card to Home Depot, so that greenhouse was just calling my name! Instead of $387, I got the greenhouse from Home Depot for $134. Who could turn down that deal????



I also did a wee bit of shopping at the Greenhouse Megastore. I got 10 - 5' x 2' DuraBench plastic tops to make some new greenhouse and outdoor benches. They were actually cheaper than buying 12 or 13 - 48" tops I mentioned earlier. I also bought 60 - 2 gallon nursery pots for $0.42 each (just big enough for all those peppers with some left over!), and 50 - 11" x 21" extra heavy nursery trays for $1.10 each. They were pricier than the cheaper ones, but the cheaper ones crack after one season. The Durabench tops are shipping free, and I only had to pay $16 to have the pots and trays shipped. A much better deal than the final cost "free shipping" on Amazon Prime.








And, I found a website where I can buy Premier Horticulture Organic Pro Seed Starting Mix, 16 Quart with FREE shipping. I always use Jiffy, but someone I know who has a huge greenhouse and sells his veggie and flower starts at flea markets swears by the "Pro Mix" brand because it has mycorrhizae in it. Mycorrhizae creates symbiotic relationship that forms between fungi and plants. The fungi colonize the root system of a host plant, providing increased water and nutrient absorption capabilities while the plant provides the fungus with carbohydrates formed from photosynthesis. This relationship stimulates vigorous growth for greater stress resistance, a larger root system for increased nutrients, better water uptake, and bigger, healthier plants.

I actually purchased mycorrhizae separately last year and mixed it in my seed starter, and I think it made a big difference. You can read more about it here if interested. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/... BUT, I didn't buy it yet. I think I told you all I am cutting back this year!

There comes a point to splurge and you found it. I'm happy for you and all your good buys.

Good luck with your new greenhouse, Jim....I will look out for that seed starting mix.....I'm not starting too much, maybe a purple cherry tomato, & 1 packet of pepper seeds!

Good for you Jim. You got a great deal on everything and will get lots of use and enjoyment. That is what really counts.

Your veggies and peppers will be awesome this year.

Newyorkrita said:
Your veggies and peppers will be awesome this year.

From your lips to God's ears, Rita, on the peppers and veggies. Yup, the enjoyment is tremendous.

Worked outside in the greenhouse for 2 hours this afternoon. I took out one of the elevated beds in anticipation of the new greenhouse shelving I have coming in. Don't know when I'll get the other one out. I still have lettuce and spinach in it, but it's just about finished...maybe a few more salads and enough spinach for 1 or 2 more homemade pizzas. I will relocate these 3 x 6 raised beds into the outside garden area. It was warm and felt great. So spoiled by this mild weather the past week...knowing old man winter is going to return.

My 60 nursery pots, 50 trays and 10 plastic greenhouse bench tops came in yesterday afternoon. Just in time for today's snow storm! Oh, well, at least we had a few real nice days in January. The greenhouse bench tops are even heftier and stronger than I thought they would be; that was a good buy.

MoonShadows said:My 60 nursery pots, 50 trays and 10 plastic greenhouse bench tops came in yesterday afternoon. Just in time for today's snow storm! Oh, well, at least we had a few real nice days in January. The greenhouse bench tops are even heftier and stronger than I thought they would be; that was a good buy.

Good news....always happy when things turn out better than I thought.....Snow just began, got home from Nicki's walk 5 min. ago! Am sitting down with my catalogs & ordering seeds......

Perfect! Although the poodle won't let me stay in bed!

MoonShadows said:

Excellent!!

I finally ordered my seeds yesterday....3 types of pickling cukes, shisito peppers, zucchini, Indigo Rose tomato, 2 varieties of carrots, Jade beans, 2 varieties of beets, dill...will buy my tomato plants when WFF has their big tomatomania sale in May.

RobinD said:I finally ordered my seeds yesterday....3 types of pickling cukes, shisito peppers, zucchini, Indigo Rose tomato, 2 varieties of carrots, Jade beans, 2 varieties of beets, dill...will buy my tomato plants when WFF has their big tomatomania sale in May.

Joe Lamp'l (Joe the Gardener) is offering a free webinar on seed starting called "Seed Basics & Beyond". Registration is free, and the webinar will be held on 4 dates:

Friday, January 31
3-4pm Eastern

Saturday, February 1
10-11am Eastern

Sunday, February 2
2-3pm Eastern

Monday, February 3
1-2pm Eastern

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
-How to know when it's too late or too early to get started.
-What special techniques you can apply to increase germination rates.
-The real differences between organic and non-organic seeds and why organic can result in a garden that's more productive and easier to manage.
-Why some seeds don't germinate, and what you can do to prevent this issue.
-All about the fascinating biology of seeds and the seed germination process.

You can register here: https://growingagreenerworld.l...

Joe has a very good website with all kinds of gardening info and tips. If you have not visited, the url is: https://www.growingagreenerwor...

Thanks, Jim...will check it out.

I registered for the webinar on Sat, Feb 1, 2020 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM EST.

Renewed my yearly membership to the Hobby Greenhouse Association this morning.

Yesterday was nice, so I removed the second 6 x 3 elevated bed from the greenhouse. I had to fill a 5 gallon bucket 18 times to get all the soil mix out first. Now, I have two more 6 x 3 raised beds for the outside with both of them out of the greenhouse.

Trying to find the best deal on Jiffy Pots without having to buy 800 of them!

Good luck with that.....prices seem to be going up on everything.

Yup, Marilyn, prices just keep going up! I was able to get 240 - 3.5 inch square Jiffy Pots from Greenhouse Megastore for $30 plus $9.99 shipping. That came to just under $0.17 each. Couldn't find a better deal unless I was willing to buy a huge case.

That's not bad, Jim.....I save plastic pots, sterilize them with bleach, then add soiless mix & plant my seeds....works because I don't have too many....I'm only starting 3 varieties from seed this year.