I'm trying to decide if I can really keep up with a gardening page. But it does serve two purposes. First, it will be a journal to make comparisons later on, and second, I just might be able to share something that will be new information for someone else!
So far, I have several seeds started. I was looking at my starts and realized I'm going to be very short on space! I'm not sure I ever thought I would have that problem! I have about 6 dozen marigold plants (only for garden pests since marigolds are probably one of my least favorite flowers...), 4 dozen broccoli plants, 1 dozen cauliflower, 1 dozen cabbage, 1 dozen sunflowers, 1 dozen nasturtiums, 1 dozen sweet pea flowers, and I'm sure I'm missing a few others.
I'm excited to "try" and put together a temporary green house this year. I had bought some supplies to do one two years ago, but never did get started on it. I'm actually glad though, because this one will be easier, smaller, and just as effective!
To make a 4 x 8-ft. hoop house, buy a 10 x 25-ft. sheet of 4-mil plastic ($5) and nine 10-ft. lengths of 1/2-in. PVC pipe ($1 each; inset photo) from a home center. Photos 1 – 3 show you how to build and use it. Choose a level spot with lots of sunlight and use the dimensions shown in Photo 1.
If the ground is hard or gravelly, wedge open the holes by driving a short length of PVC pipe into the ground with a mallet or hammer.
Mark the perimeter of your hoop house with twine and stakes. Following our pattern, push one end of each PVC pipe 6 to 8 in. into the ground, bend the pipe gently, and push the other end 6 to 8 in. into the ground as well. Place the pipes in pairs spaced about 6" apart.
LAY the plastic sheet over the hoops. You can anchor extra material at the ends with heavy rocks. Then push a third pipe into the ground halfway between each pair.
SET your seedlings inside the house. Simply slide the plastic up or down for access and to control airflow and heat.
Looking at July Pictures from last year's garden I get extra excited. We realized that putting on a heavy layer of grass clippings each week (we had to rotate beds, even with shy of 2 acres!) eliminated the need to weed. How is that a bad thing, right? Helped feed the plants, and kept the beds looking pretty. This year when I get started I'll see if I can talk my neighbors into being accomplices to grassing up our new garden, and with our mowings after that we will be able to keep them covered.
