Topless Greenhouse Update #2

Here’s what’s been happening in the topless greenhouse during the last 2 weeks.  On May 29^th, we had our first sunflower open up.  Since then, we have had a few more open up.  I gave them to the chickens.  They didn’t seem interested, but this was their first time having sunflowers.  If it turns out that they don’t like them, then I will not grow any more. 

I added more trellis for the green beans.

June 7^th, I picked a cucumber – it is 10” long!  In the past 2 weeks, I have picked 12 green beans, 1 cucumber and 5 tomatoes. (Previously I have harvested romaine, red leaf lettuce, 1 bell pepper and 1 radish.)

As of now (June 11^th), we are getting lots of sunflowers, the tomato plants are full of tomatoes, the corn is looking real good, the cucumber plants have a lot of cucumbers on them, and the onions seem to be doing well.  So far, most seems to be good . . . except for the bell peppers and eggplant.  There was a lot of bug damage on the bell pepper leaves but they are now starting to come back and there are flowers again.  I have been diligent in going out there every day and checking for any signs of those pesky critters (little black caterpillars) and picking them off.  I think it is working as I don’t see as many as I did before.  The eggplant is growing tall, and it has flowers, but nothing has developed into an actual eggplant.  

I am still hopeful . . .

   

In other news, the gardening bug has hit us hard!  We have decided to add a fenced area to the greenhouse and grow more stuff.  We may take down the walls (that will be inside the fenced area) and kind of make it one big section.  But that is still in the design process.  We won’t actually be planting anything in the fenced portion until next spring.  In the meantime, we will cover the grass with cardboard and then pile a lot of compost on top.  Hopefully, by spring, the soil will be ready to plant.

Here's how the greenhouse is looking now . . .     

                                                                                             

 

                                                                      

Money saving tip for compost:  There was a tree-trimming company working in our area.  Our neighbor told us that we could just ask them to dump the chips (after they grind them up) in our yard.  So, we did ask, and they did bring it to us!  It has been several years since we got the chips, and it has turned into some really nice compost.  That is what we will use on top of the cardboard in the new area.

Stay tuned for the next update . . . hopefully I will have gathered lots of veggies and the new area will be fenced in.  Till then . . .