Funny you should ask, I just placed my winter GH seed order today.

Last winter, my first, I planted some ordinary outdoor garden varieties and my yields were underwhelming. This year I'm trying to follow the advice of Shane Smith (GH Gardener's Companion) and plant more disease-resistant types chosen specifically for the GH.

Tomato 'Trust'
Brocolli 'Di Cicco'
Lettuce 'Red Sails' and 'Buttercrunch'
Pepper X3R 'Red Knight' and 'Numex Joe E. Parker'
Carrot 'Nelson'

I've got some tetragonia seeds which I'll grow into the winter. Also, I splurged on some bananas today, why not?

SB

I'm getting my greenhouse set up for my second greenhouse winter. I've ordered seeds and sterilized containers, etc. I have been buying packets of seed all summer. Can't pass up a seed display. Last winter's tomatoes attracted aphids so I've decided not to raise tomatoes this winter. My lettuce was successful, so I will do it again. I ordered 3 varieties of coffee seeds and am anxious to see if I have any success as a coffee grower. Look out Juan Valdez!!
During August I will be potting up herbs and rooting cuttings from my outdoor gardens.

Juanita

My wife thought I was the only one who couldn't pass a seed display lol....actually she knows how to get me to go shopping witgh her.."hey hun they have lots of seeds" lol

does anyone know a few different tomatoe varieties that will do well in the GH during the fall and be productive at the coolest temps...

thanks

steve

Johnnys Select Seeds lists Cobra, Buffalo, Trust, Octavio, and Azaran as varieties specifically for the GH. Others that are supposed to be good are Cabernet, Caruso, Boa, and Early Cascade. These are all indeterminates, I think.

Also listed in Smith's book are Siberia, Polar Beauty, Glacier, Subarctic maxi, Oregon Spring. Cherry or small toms in pots: Florida Basket, Toy Boy, Totem, Patio, Whippersnapper, and Red Robin. For larger toms in pots, Prairie Fire, Super Chief. Also listed are Sweet 100 and Sweet Million. Hope it helps.

Thanks I will keep a look out for these varieties..

steve

LOL, thought I was the only one already dreaming of what to do in the greenhouse for the winter.

I'm going to try my hand at tomatoes this year for DH.

Cindy

Our attached greenhouse kit should arrive in the next week or so and I'm trying to figure what I can fit in 8x12 space for fall and winter. A heat run from the house goes into the greenhouse, so I'm wondering if I can find a spot that will let me grow a tomato plant or two through the winter. I'll definitely try a couple of the low light/cool varieties. We eat tons of salads and I want to have greens all winter -- mostly spinach and leaf lettuce. I want really good flavored lettuce and greens, though. Anybody have any advice on what will make it through the winter greenhouse and still taste delicious? Any other ideas of winter stuff to grow?

MJ

Oh you guys are gettin' me worked up. I got excited when I read about stressbaby growin' bananas, but then gardenerWV mentioned COFFEE. Here I am waiting for summer to be over. This just isn't right.

What type of heating is recommended for a Harbor Freight GH with 4ml twinwall in Colorado?

just recieved my GH tomato seeds...I just started germinating Cabernet and siberian hopr these are yummy...I also planted 6 peppercino's....and am growing chinese spinach as well...Also waiting on minature lemon and orange trees....as well as a miniature bannana...I believe that I may run out of room before I get anything in there lol...

Good luck
Steve

Geraldo,
It's almost like a carrot on a stick isn't it? When we are in the middle of one growing season, we are rubbing our hands together looking forward to the next.One thing I like about winter sowing is that it gives me something to do after all the Christmas hullaballoo is done and there is nothing left until spring.

I'm bewildered by all these comments of winter tomatoes and peppers. Do you people know what you are getting into? I won't argue that it can be done but for Jan. and Feb. You are going to need tremendous help both from heat and light. I typically set my tomatoes into my first GH on St. Patrick's Day(Mar17). Two weeks earlier probably would cost me double in heat. Anything in Jan. this year would allow you to feed an SUV for a year and have fuel to spare.

Tomatoes are doing great...the plants are almost 3 ft tall...I haven't seen any flowers yet but keep checking them out daily....I am growing Cabernet....and Siberian...only have five plants...one of which I have to transplant into a bigger container today...The night temps are stikll in the 50's....this week they will be in the 40's although the GH stays in the 60's at night...I checked first thing this Am when no sun was out yet...I have gotten one pepercino to do well...and have to transplant that one today as well...I know it may be a long shot trying to grow tomatoes in the cooler weather...but I have to give it a try...anyways it is a learning experience...

Steve

bmoser,

I agree that light is a huge issue especially if you live in an area that is cloudy most of the winter.
As for heat, I wouldn't be too sure about the SUV comparison.
There was a thread recently about if it was worth it.
Many people posted about the cost and if they would do it again. I was surprised. Besides the comment about it being much cheaper than anti-depressants.
I live in zone 8. heating a small greenhouse is not a problem. It's not cheap, but still not a problem.

Tom

Steve, I have blooms on 'Trust' and they're only about 15" tall. I don't know if that's good or bad. I added 2 400W MH lamps on 5-8am and 7-10pm for supplemental light. Peppers 'Numex Joe Parker' and 'Red Knight' have flower buds, but they are suffering from whiteflies and all of my toxic remedies to combat them...we'll see.

I'm really excited about Key lime, Meyer lemon, and Washington navel orange which have all bloomed and set fruit. In fact, I ordered four more citrus: Satsuma, Calamondin, Nagami kumquat, and Valencia. Finally, I have an Angelwing Jasmine that has settled into it's in-ground bed and has taken off and up the trellis. It has buds and it's first flowers. Will take some cuttings so I can root one for a matching set.

And on the cost...
Basil seeds: $2.00
Lumber, screws, paint, soil for raised beds: $200
Greenhouse: $30K
Look on my 10 y.o. daughter's face when she figured out that she can make her "Pesto Pasta" with stuff out of Dad's GH: priceless. (Apologies to MC)

Greenhouse $30k ?
I'm so jealous. Must be a nice one.
Mine was under $200

Tom

Im glad to hear of your sucess....have you gotten any fruit yet..I am going to try without heat-lights...It gets quite enough sun during the day...id say atleast 8hrs...probally in late nov-dec...I may have to supplement lighting....as far as heat I am going to try to insulate and use passive heat...right now and I know it may change once it gets cooler...but during the night it stays 3-6 degrees warmer than the outside...my lemon and orange trees look very healthy...they are small...I bought them as very tiny plants...but have shown growth and leaves are a hardy green...I have a parrot plant that took a beating at first...now it seems to have adapted...have new growth...and flowering again...just have to repot those...and I cant wait until late November when I bring the christmas cactuses inside and they show a beautiful display of flowers...the peppers was kept in a small container...although I must say it sis not have a good rootball yet...I transplanted it yesterday and put it in a place with more light...What size GH you have org veg....like most people here I paid around $280 for mine...I am just starting so doing some expermenting around...I know oneday I would like to have a nice size one...with all the automatic toys lol

Steve

Just saw flowers on my siberian tomatoe plant....I am so excited...lol....still no floowers on cabernet...wished I had started more siberian..I only have one of those...they are suppose to be able to set fruit in temperature to 38 degrees...

Steve

Steve,
I built my own Hoophouse.
10'x12' - About 4 hours of work.
$170 in material. I did the math, It would have only cost about $100 more to make it 10'x24' but the cost of heating would have been a lot more.

I now it sounds cheap, but I'm very pleased with it.
So are my mandarins and lemons.

Tom

A question:
Are tomatoes self-pollinating or do you supply the bees or are you all hand-pollinating? I know peppers are self-pollinating (better yields with the pollinators tho) but wasn't aware Tom's were.

Thanks,

Vera

Toms in the GH need help with pollination. You can do this just by tapping the bloom or gently shaking the plant daily or every other day.

That's just what I've read...it is my first year with GH toms and they are just blooming, I have not seen any tomatoes yet. SB

Check that, tapping and shaking works; went to the GH and found the first tomato. SB

i bought 4 tomato plants in middle summer.put them in the greenhouse a months ago-i've already picked 5 tomatos-and there are several more now ready to pick.it's pretty cool having these.i've transplanted a few peppers from the garden.also have a few tobasco peppers that never got put in the ground last spring.maybe these will start flowering soon.