Excellent idea to add flowers. Easy to start from seed and give lots and lot of color would be Marigolds and Zinnias. There are so many pretty ones you can order on line from seeds.

critterologist said: sweet alyssum, yes... that one survived several freezes on the deck. Violas or pansies, for sure, and primrose. Laura at Garden Answer (you tube channel) just put ranunculus into some spring color pots and said they would bounce back after a frost, so down to 40 shouldn't faze them.

Thank you for the "leads". I will look into them!

Oh the fragrance of pansies and alyssum in the green house in winter would be intoxicating!

Newyorkrita said: Excellent idea to add flowers. Easy to start from seed and give lots and lot of color would be Marigolds and Zinnias. There are so many pretty ones you can order on line from seeds.

I planted a lot of Marigolds today. They repel aphids. I also want to look up flowers that "repel" aphids since they are my Number 1 nemesis in the greenhouse. I know I can plant onions, garlic, etc., but I am look for flowers with color to repel pests.

luvsgrtdanes said: Oh the fragrance of pansies and alyssum in the green house in winter would be intoxicating!

They sound delightful, but I also need flowers that repel aphids. I know marigolds will, and they have color at the same time.

Any annual noted as "half hardy" (and I'm pretty sure that includes marigolds) can take cooler temps.

Some heirloom scented geraniums would help repel pests....Select seeds in CT sells them....

Ii'll have to look for those seeds! I've managed to save seeds from 'Coconut' scented geraniums and grow them out, but that's the only one. Haven't found a good local source for the plants. Anybody have a favorite mail order source? I wonder if Sandy Mush Nursery is still in business, will check...

I looked high and low for what I would consider the "old fashioned" one color 12-15 inches wide with a water tray, but they don't seem to make them anymore unless you buy them with those cheap plastic pieces for hanging, which don't last. Believe me. Been there, done that, and own the t-shirt!

So, I ordered 2 of these 10" planters. I'll wait to see them when they arrive. If I like them, I'll order more. If not, I'll keep searching.



https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B17R5XNY/

I like hanging baskets with those "self watering" bottoms! I've been getting them at Walmart in the spring (early spring, they tend to go fast). I think it's just the WalMart "Mainstays" brand (cheaper than Bloem et al). They do come with cheap plastic hangers, but I just swap for metal chain ones when they break. I also have a lot of the same type of planter in a railing planter box that fits perfectly on the stair-step plant shelves that Aldi carries seasonally.

Unfortunately, I posted all about my greenhouse in the NE Weather forum yesterday (senior moment), so I will post it here for those that don't visit the weather forum.

A beautiful day in the 50's. We worked outside all afternoon, and we can already feel the aches!

We worked compost and biochar into a few of the beds down in the food forest. Eventually, we'll get to all of them. Also started pruning fruit trees before the buds break. Still more to do with the fruit trees.

Did a little bit in the greenhouse too.

I hung all 6 of the green hanging pots I bought for geraniums. Wish I had geraniums now, but they won't ship to me yet; the nursery doesn't have them yet; and it takes 6 months for them to bloom when planted from seed.



Added some soil to the two potato grow bags. If they do well, we will plant more next winter. We got these ones in late, so I don't expect potatoes for a while.



Next spinach crop here, and I planted some more today. Some more lettuce just coming up, too.



Cabbages seem to finally be moving along. I probably should have fertilized them earlier and more often.



Felt so good to be working outside! Hope you guys got out, too.

Saturday edit: Amazon has those hanging pots in the first picture of this post on sale for 40% off, so I ordered another 4 and will have 5 pots on each side of the greenhouse once they come in.

Greenhouse makes for great weather eveyday.

6 months for geraniums to bloom? Oh no! I have some seedlings just popping up. Guess they will go into hanging baskets so I can enjoy them in the house this fall.

Beautiful baby plants, and I love the placement of your "King and Queen of the Greenhouse" chairs.

Jill. I know. I was shocked when I read that on the seed website. I just ordered another 4 hanging planters. They were 40% off! This way I'll have 5 baskets per side for plants.

Nice discount! That makes them $7.50 each, including a metal hanging chain (which would normally set me back another couple of bucks). I wish they were 2" larger, but they are really nice looking.

Loved those cabbages, such a pretty color....the plants in the greenhouse look very healthy....enjoy them! I didn't know geraniums took so long, either, but in warm climates, they are perennials.

Can't wait to make our homemade coleslaw. We seldom buy coleslaw anymore because of all the sugar and chemicals in it. It is even better when you can pick the cabbage fresh rather than buy it in the store. Who knows when those ones were picked? And, they just keep ripping the outer leaves off as they go bad until the cabbage finally sells!

True....I hate having to buy produce in the stores...can't wait for my veggies, & the ones from the farmers' markets.

Another spectacular day! 72 and sunny.

I got the other 4 pots I ordered, so I now have 10 on each side. Deciding what to fill them with will be fun. Definitely some geraniums and petunias, but I may try some vegetables that vine.



With all the smallest fleurettes cut, I cut down the three broccoli plants in the greenhouse, but they weren't wasted. There are always hungry chickens.



Finally got my pepper seeds planted in the greenhouse. Only 6 pots of Shishito and 6 pots of Jimmy Nardello's. I need to plant 6 post of Tiny Tim tomatoes. Cutting back. I think I may try some other vegetables in the greenhouse for the summer that I have never tried. I am very interested how cucumbers would do since I would have more control of the water and humidity.

I have my seed box sitting on my desk. Need to see what I have and what I still may have to order for this season.

I'm currently soaking entire packets of several pepper varieties... if most germinate, I'll be overwhelmed with pepper seedlings! They are 8-9 years old, so I was expecting less than 50%, but nearly all the seeds sank... a good indication that they're viable, in my experience.