Welcome to Spring at Plant Exchange! Still in the first week of May, the air temperature is about 53 – 72 degrees this week and the soil temperature is 65 degrees in a raised bed, so probably cooler in ground. Daffodils are blooming in pots and in ground and the tulips we planted will bloom soon.
Cooler than usual days the past few weeks are shortening spring duration, but we welcome the rains we’ve received. Plants are amazing at adjustment to weather conditions, the northern magnolia is an example. Usually this tree blooms first and then leafs out. Under the shorter spring this year, it is catching up and will be making its food in no time.
Growing a variety of flowers and vegetables in a small greenhouse has challenges. As adaptive as plants are, some need less moisture and some need higher temperatures to germinate and grow. With a moderate environment, most of the annuals and perennials will grow from seed.
At this time our greenhouse has no auxiliary heat because temperatures in it are not colder than 50 degrees F at night. No external heat in the greenhouse is intended. This is to encourage some fluctuation in temperatures similar to outdoor conditions. The transplants tend to grow more slowly and hopefully, will be sturdy and will continue to adapt further as they are set outside.
This difference between plants grown entirely under a florescent light, and ones with more fluctuating and cooler conditions in a greenhouse without external temperature controls, shows up more in a spring like this one.
When plants are grown under florescent light at a constant temperature, they may reach transplant stage earlier. Sometimes they are not as sturdy however. The video will illustrate this. They may require more transition time to outdoor conditions.
When we shop for transplants, we often don’t know the conditions in which they were grown. We look for sturdy plants and give them transition time before full days outdoors so they don’t have to make big adjustments quickly. That’s too much to ask of plants, adaptive as they are.
Maybe your experience with plants is quite different under the growing environment where you live. If so, tell us about it.
We hope you are enjoying the joy of spring. Thank you for visiting our Plant Exchange. Thanks to all those sending “Likes” to tell us preferences and thanks to our loyal “Followers” who seldom miss a post!
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