Plans for 2013 Growing Season

All this is pretty new to me, so I am using the "Trial & Error" method along with anything I can read online and in the books I have purchased to help.  I have learned that I can grow vegetables year round with a little luck and temperature control. So I decided to add a small inexpensive, portable greenhouse to my garden. Of course, I looked all over online and found one at Amazon

Gardman 4 tier mini greenhouse

It was extremely easy to assemble.

No tools were necessary.

Now we will see how it works this Winter.

•  Product Features
• Small greenhouse with 4 shelves for deck, patio, or balcony
• Ideal for seed propagation and plant growing and display
• Sturdy shelves for pots and seed trays; plastic cover with full length roll up zipper
• Dimensions when built: 62 by 27 by 19 inches (h x l x w); each tier is 12-1/2 inches high

I plan to raise a few vegetables through the winter, and also use the greenhouse to start my seeds early for the 2013 growing season.  Wish me luck!

Along with the greenhouse, I have purchased 6 early safeguards for planting, called Wall O Water at Burpee online.  I will let you know if they prove beneficial or if they were just a waste of my money.

• Product Features
• Protects small plants down to 16° F.
• reusable for 7-10 seasons.
• 18" tall, 14"-16" in diameter
• Extends the planting & growing season by up to 2 months

Supposedly you can just fill the tubes of these plant protectors with water, and you can plant weeks earlier and harvest later. I will let you know if this works and extends the growing season.

In 2012 I started my seeds in recycled spinach containers that I had purchased our spinach in from the produce section of the grocery store. I usually purchase Market Place Organic spinach from Wal-Mart mostly because it comes in large quantities and is cheaper in bulk.  There is so much packaging now-a-days that we get and we just toss it away. I thought there should be a good use to these containers, and there was! The containers provide a little "greenhouse" setting for seeds to germinate. Some of the containers even have a bubble, raised top.  I have saved and collected a few of these for next year's plantings.  

In addition to these handy containers I was able to pick up a couple "mini-greenhouse" seed starter kits on clearance at Wal-Mart. These will be a nice addition to my greenhouse for spring seed germination.

When I was at Wal-Mart checking out clearance, I also selected the seeds I will be sowing in 2013. Of course I will be expanding my garden since this year has already proved fruitful, and it wasn't nearly as difficult as I thought it might be. I didn't purchase Heirloom seeds, nor do I plan to save my seeds from this year. My son is encouraging me to do this, but I just don't want to be bothered.....I know, I know, I should.  Look for 2 upcoming blogs on:  My Winter Greenhouse Garden & Vegetable Plants for 2013.