Our friends, Mike and Dara, came yesterday to help out. While Dara and I packaged seeds, Mike and Will set about putting the polycarbonate on the remaining side of the new greenhouse. It went fine for two sheets, then it began to rain. Then the rain became snow — lots of snow! But they kept at it and by 4:30, the entire roof was covered, despite slippery and miserable working conditions. I was afraid to look outside.

Mike and Will braving the snow to install the polycarbonate roof panels on the new greenhouse.

Today, Will and I ran to town and got two more sheets of polycarbonate as Will wants to use that to cover the gable ends. That will let in more light than if he just installed a couple of windows and plywood. Tomorrow, it’s supposed to be nice, so we want to make good use of the day we’re given.

Today, Will is busy getting ready to cover the gable ends of the greenhouse with more polycarbonate.

Also, I will be joining in on the Voices of Self-Reliance Webinar, along with Jack Dody, tomorrow at 3 Central, 4 o’clock, Mountain times. Here’s the link if you’d like to sign up: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_spBBNFqnTzSwdJxwT4mH3w . It should be both interesting and fun, too! Hope you can join us.

While Mike and Will were working on the greenhouse roof, Dara and I set about opening and saving the seeds from the last of the naked seeded pumpkin that is our favorite, Olinka. Not only does this naked seeded pumpkin provide hundreds of hulless seeds but the flesh is also flavorful, unlike most naked seeded pumpkins. I love these seeds as with diverticulitis, I can’t eat the hulls like I used to. Just coat with a small amount of oil or melted butter, sprinkle on some salt and roast. Dara said she roasts here at 400° F in the oven for a short time and they quickly puff up like little, tasty pillows. I’ve got to try that. The goats are enjoying a few pumpkins every day now. Waste not; want not.

Dara and I saved seeds from a whole lot of remaining Olinka naked seeded pumpkins. They stored very well.
Our daffodils and tulips are coming up; a sign of real spring.

Our daffodils and tulips are popping up so even though we’ve had snow lately, it’s a sure sign spring is on its way. None too soon to suit us, for sure!

16 COMMENTS

  1. My “greenhouse” is still in my front room where it is now quite the jungle f two foot high tomato plants that I re-potted into larger containers because I had planted for germination WAY too early. I have a few more weeks to go before I can even think about slowing acclimating to the two raised beds awaiting them. I hope to give away some of them, if folks will have ’em. At least I got the timing on the peppers right. They are like four inches now in their Styrofoam cups. And the squash have been blooming too! Ha! Live and learn, eh?

    • Yeah, we all want to jump into spring by planting. I struggle with that every year and you’d think sooner or later I’d learn. Right???

  2. For some reason I could not get logged in to the webinar. Can I see it after the fact? You give so much knowledge and I know i would learn from you and your 2 other individuals.

    Margie

    • Thanks Deborah. I do an occasional webinar or podcast but we’re so very busy I just can’t take the time.

  5. My daffodils are blooming and some have stopped blooming already. I plan to put in 100 more this year. I love them when they bloom. My neighbor has over a thousand planted in her yard and I aim to have that many eventually. The deer walk through our yard at night but don’t bother them. I have a greenhouse but it needs new plastic on it which I have purchased but need someone to put it on. My husband isn’t able to do it and my son hasn’t been feeling well enough and my neighbor is in college and very busy. By the grace of God it will get done.
    I ordered some grow boxes to plant in this year as I can’t pull weeds etc anymore. Hope I can get some great gardening with them.

    • Luckily, deer don’t usually eat daffodils but they sure do like tulips and lilies. I’m sure you’ll find a way to get that new plastic on your greenhouse as we homesteaders are really an inventive bunch. Here’s wishing you great gardening!!

  6. Where can I get some of the seeds for that naked seed pumpkin? It sounds like something I would love to grow.

  7. And I’M jealous about your having planted potatoes! We can’t plant anything for a few more weeks here.

    • We also covered the garlic which I *think* would have been okay but why take the chance. Planted last fall of course and it looks fantastic this spring.
      I’ll not be planting anything more until closer to mid-May but I might have to plants the zukes, cukes, and yellow squash before then and cover if needed – your seeds germinated in like FOUR DAYS! Had I known they’d germinate that fast, I could have waited a couple of weeks. The peppers haven’t germinated so I think I’ll try again and maybe move them to another room. Room I had them in might not have been warm enough.

      • Don’t throw them out though. I’ve had peppers FINALLY come up after 5 weeks!!! No, they weren’t fancy habaneros or anything, just plain peppers I’ve grown for years. But peppers DO like warmth to germinate; 75-85 degrees is their happy place.
        Yeah, your garlic would have been fine.

  8. Daffodils and tulips are hearty plants. Mine have been up for a few weeks and haven’t been fazed by the upper 20s we had last night and will have tonight. As a precaution, I covered the few tater plants that have come up. We avoided the “wintry mix” and the snow proper hit south and north of us. However we do need some rain so we’ll be watering.
    Hope to finish weeding this weekend. If only wanted plants thrived as well as weeds and grass!
    A wee bit jealous of your greenhouse – it certainly will be of great value to you.

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