Gardening Blog
Greenhouse Louver
I installed a louver put in my greenhouse. Given the strong winds we experience in the foothills of Colorado, I wanted to find a method to introduce cooler air without leaving a window or door ajar. With the exhaust fan in place, the louver now effectively draws in...
Greenhouse Exhaust Fan
Last month, I took a little getaway for a week, only to return to a greenhouse that had apparently auditioned for “Extreme Makeover: Temperature Edition.” We left in the middle of a snow cloud, navigating through a blizzard that could have made a polar bear shiver,...
Greenhouse Water Heater
I stumbled upon a tip that having a black water tank can help your greenhouse stay toasty overnight by radiating heat. Painting mine black sounds like a Herculean task, so I’m avoiding it as much as possible. Instead, I shoved a black trash bag between the black tank...
Greenhouse Water Tank
I’ve heard that cramming your greenhouse full of giant water tanks is the secret sauce to keeping it cozy when Jack Frost comes to town. Everyone and their grandma swears by slathering those tanks in black paint. Well, I’m crossing my fingers I can dodge that step!...
Insulating Greenhouse
I installed insulation on the north side of the greenhouse after learning that it would not only help retain heat but also reflect light onto the plants, providing them with extra sunlight. I covered the back up to about a foot below the skylights. The insulation was...
Bubble Wrap A Planta Greenhouse
I’ve heard that wrapping the inside of your greenhouse in bubble wrap is like giving it a cozy winter coat — keeping the heat snug as a bug in a rug and making sure your plants don’t turn into frozen popsicles! I had a lightbulb moment and decided to dangle my wrap...
Sealing the Planta Greenhouse
Our foundation was probably about as level as a piñata at a toddler’s birthday party, and it wasn't quite as square as I’d hoped. But hey, everything managed to piece together like an awkward family photo! For those not-so-perfect spots, I generously daubed caulk or...
Assembled Planta Greenhouse
What an adventure it was constructing that greenhouse! So many nuts and bolts, I felt like I was building a small spaceship! I powered through the chaos, and after about two weeks, voilà – it was done! Well, sort of. I may have accidentally picked up manual windows...
Finally Got A Greenhouse
I can’t contain my enthusiasm — I finally snagged a greenhouse! It's been on my wish list ever since we traded our cozy house for this new space. And guess what? We finally have room for it — Hallelujah! For nearly a year, I’ve been like a kid in a candy store,...
Canning Green Chiles
In our household, we are absolutely obsessed with green chiles. Ever since we upgraded to a larger garden, I've thrown them into my ever-growing collection of peppers. However, there's a catch: I can't seem to grow enough to keep us happy until the next harvest. So,...
Freezing Basil
This year, I thought it would be a brilliant idea to plant a whole bunch of basil in my garden, right next to my peppers and tomatoes, because apparently they’re best buds. Fast forward to now: I’m drowning in basil and feeling like a deer in headlights when it comes...
Cherry Pie Filling Recipe
I have four cherry trees in our orchard that in the previous years we've lived here we barely had any cherries. This year was almost overwhelming how many cherries we had. It was slightly infested with ants yet still had a good amount of good cherries to pick. It...
Strawberry Rhubarb Pie Filling Recipe
Today, I picked some rhubarb. Earlier this spring, I moved eight rhubarb plants from my raised bed to an in-ground garden bed. Given that rhubarb is quite resilient, I decided to relocate them to create room for tomato plants, which thrive better in the raised bed's...
Pruning Comfrey
My Comfrey plants have grown excessively tall and unbalanced, causing them to lean over and cast shade on the neighboring plants. Therefore, it’s time to trim them back for the benefit of those surrounding them and to create more growth of Comfrey. Since the flowers...
Rollie Pollies In Your Garden
Last year, I noticed a sh*t ton of rollie pollies, aka pill bugs in my garden bed. I was curious whether they might harm my plants, but I never found the time to investigate. This spring, I saw an increase in their numbers and noticed some of my plants looking chewed...
Fruit Tree Aphid Infestation
Earlier today, I noticed that several of my plum trees had a large number of their leaves curling. Since I'm not very familiar with plum trees, I didn't understand that this was unusual. It was the first time I had closely examined them. As I took a closer look at the...
Fruit Tree Netting Bags
This is my third year of having many fruit trees. The first year we got some apples but no peaches, cherries, or plums because they were destroyed by insects and critters. Last year was a total loss with no fruit at all. This past winter I decided I would try some...
Setting Up Drip System
For years, I have wished to install a drip irrigation system for all my garden pots. This spring, I decided it was finally time to tackle this project, ensuring my plants stand a better chance of thriving during the summer months. In previous years, after returning...
Transplanting Seedlings
After the seedlings begin to grow, I begin moving them into cups. When multiple seedlings emerge, this is typically when I divide them and place each one in its own cup. To minimize the risk of transplant shock, I sprinkle Epsom salt on each seedling. Jiffy mentions...
Planting Seedlings
Today, I'm planting a variety of pepper seeds along with some herbs. Since we love hot peppers, I tend to plant multiple seeds of each kind. I'll wait another week before starting the tomato plants and a few other vegetables. I prefer using Jiffy pellets because they...
Self Watering Seed Starters
There are a few different ways to set up self watering for your plants, and each has its own set of benefits and drawbacks. Here's a look at at one method that I have used so far. I use two different sized cups. The larger cup I use is 16 oz and the smaller is 9 oz. ...