Midwest Gardening 2024: Late April Greenhouse Check

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Good Morning, Dear Readers! It seems they have declared April the time to be aware of Ecology. OldNewGreenRedo is always mindful of preserving our earth and ecology. So on to this post.

After a last week in Chicagoland's few glorious days, we were back to shivering cold and gray skies.

Oldnewgreenredo

We amped up the greenhouse heater with a timer and the heater runs at about half power from dusk to dawn. This seems to be working perfectly, keeping the greenhouse in the 50 degree range at night. (Our Chicagoland evening temps have rattled in the low 30's to around 40.) The new patio block floor  and insulation absorb sun and heat during the day and helps to keep the greenhouse heater from having to work over time. 

BEING Eco-friendly---We are looking into small solar panels for electricity in the greenhouse for the future.  In the last two years we have updated our heating/cooling in our home which is passive solar to begin with, and a new insulating roof has also reduced our heat bills dramatically.

oldnewgreenredo

In the greenhouse, about 9AM in the morning, I do a physical check of the and it's in the 40's outside, but in the greenhouse it is 66 Degrees and 33% humidity. I spot water all the plants and go back inside for coffee.

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Since last week, everything seems to be popping up...many plants needed to be transplanted last week,  which I did on Saturday the 20th. Here we have trays of flowers...marigolds, and the Nasturtiums on the left. 

Again, this is the last year I'm using seed planting pods, WHY???You ASK? I've observed they dry out so quickly when the plants are too big to have the plastic covers on, and they are very restrictive on root development. I'm just using up what we have. When I transplant I rip them open and the roots have barely done anything in the tightly compacted dry medium. I think it is a waste of resources and funds.

oldnewgreenredo

These are all tiny plants, but I'm so excited I got germination of Snapdragons and Balsam. At the price of six packs of flowers now---a $2-3 package of seeds is definitely the wise way to go. I have some Peppermint Zinnias going on the left and I had 100% germination on those. 

Normally I plant old/harvested seeds, but I had a lot of poor quality tall Marigolds and Zinnia flowers last year, with flaws and poor germination, I'm starting with some new seeds to improve my stock as you will. I'll plant the older seeds directly into the ground, what makes it, makes it. If they do, they will cross polinate with the new flowers and strengthen (theoretically?)

Inside the greenhouse I constantly move the boxes and pots around when watering so plants get different strengths 

of light each day.

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More flowers---just planted a week ago.

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Major success with two packages of Coleus...now I can see which will be which color and size. White hasn't showed up yet,...disappointed, but maybe soon. I had Giant and Standard sizes in the mixed seed packets, which I'm beginning to be able to identify.

oldsnewgreenredo

This planter is on the top shelf...partially full of flowers---Zinnias I believe, and we will see, I can't read the label here. This one is planned for the front frog pond at the front side of the house. I may try putting the Balsam in the bed around the pound. We moved the overgrown Phlox out last year. We always have pollinators around the water of the pond, and they love Phlox and Balsam. 

oldnewgreenredo

These Dahlias were planted in mid March---and clearly the larger pots have encouraged growth. Even clipping the tops off haven't deterred them at all. I have a big yellow enamel stew pot that has seen better days that I will drill holes in for some of these...clearly these Dahlias are BONKERS.

oldnewgreenredo

The purple Alyssum continues to thrive and thicken. I'm afraid I will have flowers before I can move them outside into planters and flower beds. I had planned these for along my edges of the front flower beds and in container planting.

oldnewgreenredo

I transplanted the Red Chrysanthemums to the pots on the left. I hope they perk up---they seemed unhappy in the trays. The Ranunculus on the right are what has survived. About half just laid down and died-perhaps too much sun/water/air---who knows? When we do have sun here in the Midwest it's piercing and hot and magnified in the greenhouse.

NOW TO THE VEGGIES!

oldnewgreenredo

All the Veggies seem very HAPPY! 

My pots of PEAS are all up and safe inside from being nibbled by the local critters. 

oldnewgreenredo

I'm excited at our SNOW PEAS progress and the sprouts 

are even grabbing on the netting.

Last year I had critters in the greenhouse everything was getting nibbled on. 

So Far, so Good!

oldnewgreenredo

The large planters on the new floor are thriving---this is Radishes and Spinach...I took the plastic covers off for all the photos and will leave them off during the day. 

I replace them at night where they can be used to further protect tender shoots from the cooler temps. Plastic lids make a greenhouse within a greenhouse as it helps retain the dirts' day warmth.

oldnewgreenredo

I have a few of the larger planters up on the shelves, and they are really growing well, here Lettuce and Onions

oldnewgreenredo

I'm not sure what's going on here---those two plants look like beans? I have Spinach and something else planted, which is just starting to come up on the left.

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Gourmet Lettuce mixture on the right and white Onions on the left.

oldnewgreenredo

This is the last planter I planted last week with softball size Cantaloupe, which is not up yet. I'll move it into a sunnier location. The other one to the right is full of Nasturtiums and radishes. 

Nasturtiums bloom early and continue to frost and are excellent for pollinators. Besides, the blossoms are edible...and look very pretty on a sandwich or on top of a salad.

oldnewgreenredo

All the Peppers got transplanted to tall McDonald's plastic glasses which have a hole drilled in the bottom. A ECO-REDO project. Using milk/soda/or cans for planting are excellent ways of recycling. I think we are on our 8th year of using these glasses. I did recycle a few cracked ones this year. Tall containers  are excellent for Peppers and Tomatoes---encouraging strong, deep roots. 

I pinch off the bottom sets of leaves and plant my transplants very deep with as much stem under the dirt as possible. This builds very strong plants.

oldnewgreenredo

Here are the Tomatoes---

I've planted Heirloom BrandyWines this year. Their stems are so thick and hardy---we are hoping for an excellent crop. I have them in the shade until they adapt for two days before in full sun.

oldnewgreenredo

I know I'm impatient, but the Caladiums were planted in early March and we have nothing going on here. I have the package covers and receipts so I may have to claim a failure and get my money back. Caladiums are notoriously slow...so I'll give them one more week.

holdnewgreenredo

It's 9 AM on the 22nd of April. I've pulled off all the covers and watered everything, preparing the plants for a 1/2 day of glaring sunshine. 

I also dealt the IXIA..bulbs today which have been drooping. I noticed a couple of stems getting stronger but still flopping over. 

(NOTE TO SELF: Plant in tall containers or with collars next year)

oldnewgreenredo

I started with some electrical wire-(which I use over and over each year to support plants and sticks), old tall plant markers and one stick...

This really is a GREEN REDO..with OLD CRAP.

I wove one piece of electrical wire around the stick/markers. Then I wove another criss-cross in between the plants about 6" up.

oldnewgreenredo

I hope IXIA doesn't mind being touched (mangled) by my hands...as I straightened them all up. I left them on the bench, and will put back in shade if they droop further.

Always a new challenge---when you are a gardener.

oldnewgreenredo

I turned the fan on low and left the windows closed but opened the door screen window 1/3, but, I anticipate by 11 AM  I'll have to open everything up. Meanwhile, I watch the temperature monitor in the house to give me an idea of what's going on in the greenhouse.

INSIDE THE HOUSE: Oh, well, inside it says it's 94...so I have to go out and move the gauge into the shade...in out, all day, checking and enjoying the scent of warm dirt!

BACK INSIDE: 10 AM and it's 73 degrees in the shade and Humidity 39%.

PERFECT!!!

You hardly ever get to say that, if you are a GARDENER!

Happy Gardening!

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Midwest Gardening October 2020: The Backyard

  Like my last post---I ran around and took photos...before starting work. The goal to get all the pots emptied and dumped into the compost pile along with all the garden waste. 

oldnewgreenredo

One thing you can't help think about is how short our season is. Only five months ago, all our plants were coming out of this greenhouse, which is a total fright now. I'll go over our specific SUCCESSES and FAILURES in another post, and there were many on both sides.

oldnewgreenredo

I had wanted to Fall garden in here, but I'm gardened out! I have one pot in here with plants that need to be transplanted and a big mess to clean up.

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I'm going to save the greenhouse cleanup for a cold but sunny day, it easily climbs to 80 degrees in here with the windows closed. A real plus in Spring.

Oldnewgreenredo

The vegetables have all been harvested, frozen, dried, or canned. We had hoped for an extended season, but multiple frosts really ended it. These are all the potted Peppers, which are no longer blooming, so into the compost pile! 

oldnewgreenredo

Cherry Tomatoes in pots were very fruitful as were the lettuce planters, to the compost pile NOW. I can say we honestly GREEN gardened this year, other than some natural slug deterrent. 

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This is all the sunflower stalks and bean vines...yikes that's a lot for the pile! On the compost pile, I'm alternating yard waste, compost enhancer, dirt, yard waste...etc. Last will be leaves which will put a nice cover on the whole mess. We should have fabulous dirt in Spring.

oldnewgreenredo

Last of our yellow tomatoes, the ones I brought in the house were spoiled before turning to their ripe color, so these are MULCH!

oldnewgreenredo

Our motion sensor lights go on all night long, apparently for the munchers...! We still have raccoons in the area, woodchucks, possums, moles, squirrels, chippies, they all let us live here, sort of!

oldnewgreenredo

I have three patches of Calendula grown from seed in the vegetable garden. Excellent for pollinators, and blooming still now. I think the black cloth saves some heat and keeps them alive despite frosts. I'm going to leave the plants in the garden in hopes they self seed.

oldnewgreenredo

Our six-foot high Zinnias are still blooming, bees are still buzzing on them, so I will leave all the Zinnias that are healthy for the seeds and the blossoms for the birds and bees.

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Another pot of Lemon Grass, I will probably move to the front yard.

oldnewgreenredo

The sun is so low already 1:00 in the afternoon,

 I have to get going.

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The sandbox becomes a pond, sometimes Dusty Miller will keep over winter. I'll try putting this in the ground somewhere sheltered.

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The birds seem to be searching for winter quarters. Lots of room at the INN here.

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Our neighbor's wood pile. He had three trees taken down on his property and the house next to him. I just hope the Woodchucks aren't under there.

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Our share of the dead Hickory we took down on the lot line. We had hoped to do a pig roast this year, but with Covid, it will have to wait.

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Our Giant Coleus grown from seed...still a few hanging on in the shelter of the extended roof.

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Our rocked area we did last Fall is deep in leaves, but wet. TIP: On the left the Caladiums have been dug up and dried for a few days, and then placed in peat moss to store in the basement through winter. 

(Crossing my fingers they grow again.)

A few Coleus are still happy despite the heavy shade and cooler temps. I wont' empty those pots as we used all new dirt this year. 

Hubby has been watering the sod to the right.

oldnewgreenredo

You can see the seams. It's been down for about two weeks. We waited until Fall because of our heat and drought. Hopefully now it will take hold.

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Not any special Fall decor here. I tossed the last of the 'tiny' squash on the table...and it was picture worthy, 

dirt and all. So much to do for Clean Up!

Well, I really have to get to work, NOW.

The sun is so low already and the days are so short! 

Lots to go into the COMPOST PILE! 

How's your Fall Clean up Going?

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Sandi

Lo Carb Chicken and Vegetables

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Good Morning bloggers and friends!

The beginning of the this week was very busy. We are trying to finish up outdoor projects. I only have 6 weeks before my knee replacement, and there is a lot to accomplish before then.

We pretty much picked the garden bare on Monday because the critters were eating everything faster than the veggies could ripen. After a few days in the house, the tomatoes were all ripe. Zucchini is still and issue---a good one but still an issue. 

Midwest gardening has been pretty good despite crazy weather, and our small garden has had some great yields.

I made a jug of Danish pickles with some more cucumbers I had waiting in the fridge without the dill, recipe Danish Dill Pickles.

I also made Eight 3-cup containers of spaghetti sauce for the freezer, without the meat. Then it can be used with any type of meat or cheese. I simmered  that for about 4 hours and it was really nummy. (I pulled 2 bags of tomatoes out of the freezer to help do the sauce. I chop my tomatoes, skin and all, to make sauce. This gives you a rich deep red sauce and it thickens well).

We farm GREEN organically, so I don't have to worry about harmful things on our veggies. 

That evening we had roasted chicken and vegetables. We are eating low carb for health reasons, and also because it is good for you.

We have our own fresh herbs growing, so I cut up zucchini, onions, tomatoes, basil, cilantro, oregano, thyme, parsley and garlic. This is very low carb and delicious. You could easily add smaller potatoes to this also.

A delicious way to celebrate the end of summer.

Lo Carb Fresh Herbal Chicken and Veggies. 4 servings 

I used a rectangle glass pan or baking dish

Place all in 

1 1/2-2 pounds of your favorite chicken parts cut into portions.

4 medium tomatoes quartered

2 medium onions quartered 

1-2 garden peppers

1 medium to large zucchini cut in half rounds of 1-2"

(If you use a very large zucchini- scrape the seeds out if you wish)

Drizzle all with 2-3 Tbsp. of olive oil

Sprinkle over the dish, the following:

4-6 cloves of garlic chopped fine

A large handful of mixed fresh herbs: basil, parsley, cilantro, oregano, thyme (pull off the stems and chop larger pieces)

Salt and pepper to taste (you could certainly add hotter peppers here, also)

Toss all this with your hands until all the herbs and oil are distributed and re-arrange everything evenly for baking.

Bake uncovered at 375 degrees for 1 to 1 1/2 hours on middle rack. 

To add richness, you could sprinkle with your favorited Italian cheese 30 minutes before finishing. I've also done this with Asian eggplant-the long skinny ones, split and cut in pieces

 (I leave the skin on the chicken to keep it moist, and remove before serving-you can also use 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts split down the middle into 4 pieces.

We had a fresh salad with the garden cucumbers and lettuce...a complete meal and only one dish to clean up! 

(PS this is my own recipe and way of cooking fresh and without preservatives)

Enjoy!

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