What's going on in the Greenhouse

[johnny canoe]

The GH is filling up. More Petunia seedlings to do today. I'll have to work around my big pots of cannas and dahlias, to cold out and it just started to snow. Tomato seedlings are ready to be potted up but they will remain in the house until this cold spell is over with.

 

[alp]

LOL! @johnny canoe I like your staking system .. I am surprised you didn't line the green house with bubble wrap - it's like burning money... How annoying that you suddenly have a cold snap.. I will be in tears if it snows here as I have just put all the dahlias out and it has been a very hot and humid day. I went around all the shops feeling very ill and only recovered at about 4pm..

I keep knocking the tray over .. and now with all the dahlias out, I have room to walk in. Tomorrow, I will sow petunia as well. I love our pirouettes

 

[johnny canoe]

Hi Alp, the problem with wrapping is this would have to be done daily and through out the day. As soon as the sun hits the house in the morning it will heat up past 40C. Only one heater is running at the moment and it kicks off and on as needed. Even in the middle of winter on a -20 day the GH heats up to well above freezing if it's sunny out. But I don't start using the GH until March and only for a couple months. Mostly the heaters aren't needed until night.

 

[johnny canoe]

I'm glad you're feeling better Alp. Take it easy.

 

[alp]

Corr! Can't imagine all the travail all the plant lovers have to put up with all over the world. That's the horror of a greenhouse.. If I really had one, all my seedlings might be toasted.. LOL!

Thank you, after a bit of a rest, all has been restored, especially when I had to fashion a meal with Jacket potatoes with about 10 ingredients.. Couldn't really get it done feeling sick.. LOL!

 

[alp]

I have a few offerings:

Cupcake cosmos have a pair of true leaves now. Well, some of them.

Still a bit straggly! Wish @Logan will offer some solution!

Dahlia seeds doing very well!

Some orange cosmos

Now I've found my tomatoes

Must water them like mad.. Don't know how you managed to keep yours moist.. Some of my seedlings are already dead because of dryness..

 

[johnny canoe]

Very nice Alp. So does a Dahlia flower the first year grown from seed?

 

[alp]

As far as I can remember, yes. But you have to be early.. It's the cheapest way of getting dahlias.. I saw a packet of Collarette seeds £2.49 and if you grow them, you will have lovely flowers and yet one tuber can cost me from £1 to £5... Do the sums.. They are worth having.. I grew some called Dandy last year and saw some collarettes the same year, though a bit late.. Chalk it up for next year, Johnny.. Really lovely flowers.. Off now to sow more seeds to upload here!

 

[alp]

Finally, I found my seeds Butterfly weed, Asclepias tuberosa, and I have just potted them up.. I am so messy, what a to do! Could have sown them last month.. Also trimmed the top of the orange cosmos.. Yesterday, I sowed some penstemon sensation mix and sweet corn ..

 

[johnny canoe]

Hello Alp,
I love the Butterfly weed. Several years ago I had three young plants shipped to me from Prince Edward Island. They didn't make it, the winter was too cold, they may have survived if I had planted them right against the house.
Can't wait to get my geraniums and big pots out of the GH today for some sun time!

 

[alp]

Haha! Thought you were still asleep! LOL! The sun makes us all excited. Now I am a damp squid as it has been cloudy, cold and miserable.. Speaking of the devil, the sun has made its first appearance.. Shame we were supposed to have been drenched in blue band of rain.. I'll be laughing if we have drizzle.. No, a bit to wet the ground, but not even underneath the leaves.. ! @Upsy Daisy and I are trying to wet the ground by crying us a river ...!

 

[alp]

@johnny canoe Talking about butterfly weed, I didn't even know what it was. I saw loads of them outside the glass house in RHS Wisley and then I learned the name. Love its colour. Reminds me of Californian poppies.. Very strong orange colour.. When we saw them, they were smothered with bees, not butterflies! LOL!

 

[johnny canoe]

If one is a squid, it's better to be a damp one than a dry one.
I've got more of these pearls of wisdom. lol

 

[alp]

@johnny canoe You do cheer up my days.. those begonias are lovely.. You must make sure you take some snaps when it is in full bloom this year.. Great expectation from me! ..

 

[alp]

Planted some pointy sweet pepper seeds sourced from peppers bought up the road..

I use a polystyrene tray and wrap it up with a clear plastic bag.. That way, the seeds will germinate faster. Might not suit others though.

Also sowed some mauve cosmos .. Hope to do more tomorrow.