The bed on the left of the path is sown to Asian greens seed. So, there is just dirt over there.
Those are the bok choy transplants from the greenhouse near the camera. Beyond them is bare ground. It gets some afternoon shade so comes into play last.
A heater is not required but not much cold is in our forecast. It is snowing with the rain this morning. The falling flakes and raindrops are what the seeds and seedlings have to listen to this morning.
I've had the hoop house collapse under March snow before but that won't happen today. It wasn't a terrible thing before except I had restraighten the door frame while it was attached to the plastic.
I can really see using a hoophouse! I'm usually so late starting Spring crops, but THIS YEAR I planted about 2 weeks ago, and thought, "Great! I'm on time." and...then...50 mph straight line wind gusts later and I had to replant. I watered heavily, and then covered with two used clear plastic pieces and I'm holding them down with bricks and 4 cinderblocks. I looked today and saw that the spinach is sprouting, but, since I had to double cover, I really cannot check the lettuce and the radishes unless I take off the covers, and then I'd have to fight today's 25 mph wind gusts!
Live and learn.
Fortunately, I have this very protected corner of my backyard. The greenhouse, of the same size, is just on the right - behind the plastic film. You can see my messy carport through the open door. My neighbor's wood fence is only about 8' to the south. Only the east side is open but the neighbors have a little shed and a wood fence over there .
If we have wind gusts above about 30mph, it isn't quiet in there then! Twine criss-crosses over the plastic. Bricks hold down the edges and I have to straighten the plastic after the storms.
Good news on my peas that I bagged up with a wet paper towel and put on to of the fridge. They are old seeds, but 5 have sprouted and have a long root, so ready to be put in a starter "mini greenhouse" on the porch! Also, I looked through the plastic and I have spinach!!!
I remember the 2012 non winter where the spinach that lived through the 2011 summer came back with gusto and we were eating on it in March.
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