Puppy+WS containers = disaster?

13 years ago

We are getting a lab puppy at the end of November, so I have to come up with a solution for my WS containers that will keep them AND the puppy from meeting an untimely demise. I've contemplated putting my greenhouse up again, but I really don't want to. After it got flipped over by a thunderstorm/tornado last year I'm skittish.

I have multi-tier shelving that can be broken down to various heights, and I'm thinking about using that. I live on a hill and we get terrible wind out of the South in the winter so I have to find a good spot. I'm seriously considering putting everything on the porch and watering it once a week. It would still be less trouble than the greenhouse.

I have plenty of containers and meeellllions of seeds. I'll mostly be starting the perennials in December and most of my annuals in Jan/Feb that can't be dsowed. If I absolutely have to put the greenhouse up again I have plenty of time.

I just hope I don't run out of time and/or space like I did last year. I lost a lot of stuff that I started because it got too hot too quick and I ran out of room. Bummer!

Preliminary list:

Scabiosa 'Cutbrite'

Echinops 'Ritro'

Several different varieties of chrysanthemum (I'm at work so I can't look)

Rudbeckia 'Double Gold' - These did GREAT in my garden this year. I grew them in the greenhouse last winter, but I suspect they will do just as well ws. I need MORE of them.

Calendula 'Pink Surprise' - Also going to dsow some of these and see what happens.

Several varieties of dianthus

Annual phlox in several colors

Aquilegia 'Barlow'

Perennial Aster mix

Matthiola (stock) 'Anytime' mix - These will also be started throughout the year if they do better in the heat than other stock.

Veronica 'Sightseeing' mix

Verbena hastata 'Pink spires'

I have a lot of others that I can't think of right now, but they are patiently waiting in my seed box.

I already dsowed Lupines, coreopsis, hollyhocks (Chater's Double white), Pyrethrum daisies, Purple prairie clover. These all do really well dsowed in fall here and allowed to grow a bit before it gets cold. The lupines will probably peter out before I need them unfortunately due to the heat, but I'll enjoy them while they last. In my zone I can plant sweet peas (lathyrus odoratus) directly in the ground now and they will bloom like crazy come early spring. Throwing out some poppy seed soon too to see what they do. I've not had luck with them before, but I'm throwing them out earlier this year.

This is my first experience with ws. I've always used a greenhouse before and I'm a bit nervous, but I know it works well if the pictures here are any indication. ;-)

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Comments (2)

gardenweed_z6a
13 years ago
Welcome to the WS forum, backyardgrown! I've heard folks say they've used those plastic crates from the dollar stores to hold their WS containers/milk jugs. Would those keep the puppy from wreaking havoc if they were set out in rows several crates deep? I ran a bamboo stake through the milk jug handles to keep the outer ones steady when the wind blew a gale and it worked but I don't think it would keep the puppy damage under control. Shallow plastic storage bins would offer some protection but I'm not sure how effective they'd be unless you poked holes in the sides near the bottom for drainage.
Other folks on the forum have faced similar challenges so I'm sure you'll get plenty of suggestions & ideas.
Don't forget to do the happy sprout dance when you see your first green sprout in a WS container, then run like mad, take a picture & share it with everyone here on the forum!
Eileen
drippy
13 years ago
I found shelving my wintersown containers effective - as I was sowing @ 1000 per year until I moved. Theoretically, the weight of the wet containers will be enough to keep the shelf in place, but I had a couple go over in the wind once or twice. To combat this, I used two methods (1) put a couple of bricks on the bottom shelf (with a puppy, you might want to use the bottom shelf for bricks anyway) (2)I had a chainlink fence around my back yard, and I tied the shelving to it - this worked great.

Another thing you might do, if you don't want to do shelving or crates, is to confine your containers to one area & put up some temporary fencing around it, like hardware cloth. It might be annoying when it's time to check the containers on a regular basis, though - I'd go with shelving.
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Puppy+WS containers = disaster?

Comments (2)

gardenweed_z6a

drippy

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