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
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| 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.
