Greenhouse Planting Schedule

 

                When the world feels chaotic, it is important to have something in order. And the world feels exceptionally chaotic this spring—I don’t need to list all of the reasons why. You know. So I have been spending considerable time in the greenhouse which is not at all chaotic. In fact, it may be in its best order ever. All of the pots are sorted and tucked on the shelves. All of the trays that are not in use are under the tub (which has been cleaned!). There’s a nice lawn chair in there for reading. And I have finally sorted out the spot to dump the old flower pot dirt so it can be refreshed with compost and reused. Even the peeps are happy to run round inside.

                The planting schedule has also been spot on this year. In a perfect spring, it goes like this:

Late January—sort the pots. Sweep out dirt and cobwebs. Find the extension cords and the timer for the lights.

Candlemas (February 2^nd) – plant the Spring Greens and put them on the window  shelf with the heating mats.

Three weeks later—start the peas and sweet peas in shallow flower pots. Hoop  the spring bed and cover it with plastic so it starts to warm and dry out.

Spring Equinox—Bump up the spring greens if you can’t plant them out, move them off the heating mats, and start the tomatoes on the mats. Watch the weather so that you can move the greens into the beds as soon as possible.

As soon as the spring greens leave the greenhouse, start the summer greens.

 Hoop and cover the potato beds to warm and dry out while you wait for the potatoes to arrive from Maine. If you can, prep the beds for potatoes before covering them. Plant potatoes under cover when they all arrive.

Mid  April—bump up the tomatoes. Put away the heating mats. There is suddenly no space in the greenhouse. Tomatoes everywhere.

Late April-- Bump up the summer greens if they cannot move out. Hopefully they can.

May Day: plant out the tomatoes and give away the rest. Once the tomatoes have cleared out, start the vines in four inch pots.

By Memorial Day—plant out the vines. Mulch everything and turn on the hoses. Cross your fingers that there are no geysers.

Mid-June—bring home all of the peeky looking plants from my classroom to fill the greenhouse for the summer.

Before the Summer Solstice —plant the fall crops in six packs. Anything started after struggles to grow bit before the light fades.