Comments on: A December Tour of the Greenhouse https://gardern.co.za/2015/12/a-december-tour-of-greenhouse/ Horticulturist Matt Mattus shares gardening expertise, research and science from his home garden and greenhouse. Thu, 13 Aug 2020 21:36:21 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.1 By: Marcella Singleton https://gardern.co.za/2015/12/a-december-tour-of-greenhouse/#comment-919 Wed, 06 Jan 2016 20:29:09 +0000 #comment-919 Your winter garden is fabulous! I really consider buying a green house so I can also continue gardening in the winter. I find it really satisfying and relaxing to have a garden and I am incredibly eager for the spring to come so I can do it again. A greenhouse will solve my problem, I think. Thank you for sharing!

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By: Dean Wiegert https://gardern.co.za/2015/12/a-december-tour-of-greenhouse/#comment-918 Wed, 23 Dec 2015 20:09:54 +0000 #comment-918 I enjoyed the virtual greenhouse tour also. I wonder how cold your "cold greenhouse" gets? Do you keep it from going below 32F? How do you mitigate the fluctuation when it warms up during sunny days only to cool way down at night?

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By: Andy https://gardern.co.za/2015/12/a-december-tour-of-greenhouse/#comment-917 Sun, 20 Dec 2015 04:21:25 +0000 #comment-917 Your greenhouse is nothing short of absolutely gorgeous. That lemon tree especially, just wow.

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By: Janella https://gardern.co.za/2015/12/a-december-tour-of-greenhouse/#comment-916 Fri, 18 Dec 2015 07:36:24 +0000 #comment-916 We have those Fire Lilies too. They are really beautiful, especially when there's a lot of em blooming. I like some of your flowers too. Hopefully to have them before the year ends. 🙂

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By: Matt Mattus https://gardern.co.za/2015/12/a-december-tour-of-greenhouse/#comment-915 Thu, 17 Dec 2015 22:49:27 +0000 #comment-915 In reply to Unknown.

Hi Marc – If your greenhouse is closed, but not heated, you can grow many vegetables in the ground, especially greens like arugula, beet greens, and lettuces. I know a few flower farms who are raising anemone coronaria and ranunculus in un-heated hoop houses. If you are in south county or near the coast, you could try some cold-hardy camellia's – check the few sources on-line who carry some new crosses created from species collected in higher elevations – most descriptions will identify them as such. Daphne odoratum is great for winter scent, but not as a cut flower, but if you plant a few shrubs in the ground (if you can), try Sarcocca (any species) or Correa for winter color. Some plants which are typically impossible to grow unless they receive cold, frozen and dry winters include primula auricula and some saxifrages, as well as many alpines, which, if you house gets ridiculously cold and remains frozen, will thrive in such conditions as long as they dont defrost and refreeze too often. So, you can see the variables – if your house is open to the ground, plant winter veggies directly in the soil – ( but these would have been best to sow in Sept). A spring crop could be sown in Feb., and late fall sown crops would provide veggies through the winter, but I would need to know more about your greenhouse conditions. For flowers, it's more challenging if the house is unheated, but if closed off from the elements, I would start with scented viola planted directly in the ground, and any bulb would need to be planted in the ground, and not pots, for the bulbs and roots cannot handle freezing and refreezing after warm day thaws. Herbs like bay laurel and rosemary should winter-over nicely, if your house is big enough. Sorry for the ramble!

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By: Unknown https://gardern.co.za/2015/12/a-december-tour-of-greenhouse/#comment-914 Wed, 16 Dec 2015 22:08:03 +0000 #comment-914 Matt,
I live in New England, RI to be exact. I always looked at winter as down time. But reading this post I am finding just the opposite. This past year my neighbor was telling me about onions and garlic, to start them in the fall, and that is what I am doing now I will expand my garden this year. Now I have a greenhouse a walk in one no glass, should I leave it up and plant winter plants in there. I know my herbs will never last in the cold, but you have some beautiful flowers. This will be my second year and I plan to go bigger and much better. I am very interested in winter gardening. Looks like I can still play in the dirt after all. Thanks for the info.

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By: Mlle Paradis https://gardern.co.za/2015/12/a-december-tour-of-greenhouse/#comment-913 Wed, 16 Dec 2015 10:34:31 +0000 #comment-913 oh. my!

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By: Nic https://gardern.co.za/2015/12/a-december-tour-of-greenhouse/#comment-912 Wed, 16 Dec 2015 08:46:53 +0000 #comment-912 Stunning, all of it!

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By: Matt Mattus https://gardern.co.za/2015/12/a-december-tour-of-greenhouse/#comment-911 Mon, 14 Dec 2015 03:51:37 +0000 #comment-911 In reply to Anonymous.

Thanks! 02568,
The Calamondin is not that old. I bought it at Logee's about 2 years ago, I think, but it was one of their larger-sized plants in a 4"pot then. This would be it's third winter, but it put a lot of growth on last summer, and this is the first time it has produced fruit.

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By: Anonymous https://gardern.co.za/2015/12/a-december-tour-of-greenhouse/#comment-910 Mon, 14 Dec 2015 00:16:44 +0000 #comment-910 dear matt
great fun visiting your greenhouse virtually. everything looks immaculate!
my sunspace can only be ventilated manually. the warmth i fear will lead to whitefly galore this year.
i am interested to know how long your variegated calamondin has been in that pot (it's a beauty). so is the plant.
all best,
~ 02568

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