season by gardening under glass. All you need is a greenhouse or, for those who
are really .... “The world of greenhouses is a world of magic, a world in which ...
THE MUSKOKA SUN: Thursday, September 18, 2008 - A9
Gardening under glass I
n our cold climate, where snow blankets the earth for six months of the years, one of the hottest trends is extending the horticultural season by gardening under glass. All you need is a greenhouse or, for those who are really lucky, a conservatory. I’m moving into a new phase of gardening with the recent addition of a greenhouse in my garden, thanks to the construction skills of my resident handyman and some free recycled windows. Greenhouses have a long history dating back to the European era of the aristocracy and the heyday of plant exploration. The Industrial Revolution, which resulted in the ability to make artificial environments, meant exciting improvements in displaying plant collections. In the book The Victorians and their flowers by Nicolette Scourse, it was noted, “No Victorian gentleman worthy of the name kept a garden without a range
of glasshouses to suit the special needs of each of the fashionable plants. There were the functional greenhouses for raising tender bedding plants for the midVictorian fashion of formal carpet bedding in parterres, as well as individual houses for carnations, petunias and geraniums, a cactus house, at least one fruitforcing house of peaches, pineapples, bananas and nectarines, a fernery, a camellia house, an orchid house, and orangery.” If you love gardening with a passion, a greenhouse allows you to extend the horticultural season. When snow is falling outside, a greenhouse is warm and cosy, providing a perfect environment for tropical and sub-tropical plants. Container growing, another current trend, works well for greenhouse growers as you can move indoor plants outdoors for their summer vacation and then bring them back indoors when the weather
A GREENHOUSE allows you to extend the gardening season and to grow plants that are outside your zone.
Herbal gift from the garden Cider-Baked Squash Soup 2 1-lb butternut squash 3/4 cup apple cider 2 cups chopped onion 2 tbsp olive oil 4 medium carrots, peeled and chopped (2 cups) 1 small rutabaga, peeled and chopped (3 cups) 2 apples, peeled and chopped (2 cups) 2 stalks celery, chopped (2 cups) 4 cups chicken broth 2 cups water 1/2 cup whipping cream 2 tsp salt 4 tsp fresh sage, chopped 1 tsp fresh rosemary, chopped 1/4 tsp fresh nutmeg, grated Shredded Gruyère cheese Croutons Peel squash and halve lengthwise; remove seeds. Line baking sheets with foil and grease foil. Place squash in pan, cut side up. Pour apple cider on top of squash; turn cut side down. Bake at 350°F for one hour. Cool until squash is easy to handle. Scrape pulp from skin. Set aside. In Dutch oven, cook onions in hot oil until golden brown. Add carrots, rutabagas, apples and celery. Add chicken broth. Bring to a boil and reduce heat; cover and simmer for one hour. Add baked squash and cook for another hour. Add water, cream and salt. Remove from heat and cool slightly. Purée in batches in food processor. Stir in sage, rosemary and nutmeg. Thin with additional cream if needed. Garnish with croutons and cheese.
gets chilly, allowing you to overwinter tender plants like rosemary and other perennials that won’t survive our frigid winters. You can even keep your water plants in buckets in a greenhouse. And it’s a real bonus for those interested in organic gardening, as you can start your veggies earlier in a greenhouse, increasing your productivity while knowing exactly where your food is coming from. Greenhouse gardening is not onerous, you just need to follow a few simple rules. A soilless mix is less forgiving than potting soil, so you’ll need to pay more attention to watering and fertilization. A simple tip is to feel the soil and weight of the pot. If the soil is dry and the pot is lightweight, your plant needs water. If the pot is heavy, it’s wet. As well, if you plan on using your greenhouse in the winter, you’ll need a heat source and fans at floor level to circulate the air or alternatively an automatic window opener in summer (you can get one of these through Lee Valley Tools). You will also need to keep watch on insect
control. After identifying destructive pests, it is best to use beneficial pests for control. The best tip is to be vigilant with cleanliness within the greenhouse. Nothing is worse than taking the time to nurture your special plants or seedlings, only to have your plant material wiped out because you didn’t keep your greenhouse environment clean. As Scourse noted, “The greenhouse was as much of a social necessity outside Cont. on page 10
The Muskoka Gardener Kathy Wood
Garden quote “The world of greenhouses is a world of magic, a world in which seasons and climates don’t matter. In a greenhouse, flowers bloom the year round, exotic fruits thrive, and fresh vegetables are ripe for picking in winter. The lure of the greenhouse is powerful. When you walk inside, you shut yourself off from the frenzied world outside. You work in the soil and putter around even during cold or stormy weather. You can tend orchids amid snow flurries and pot up plants during torrential downpours.” Larry Hodgson and T. Jeff Williams, A Greenhouse Getaway
DURING THE VICTORIAN ERA, it was said, “No Victorian gentleman worthy of the name kept a garden without a range of glasshouses to suit the special needs of each of the fashionable plants.” (Photos by Kathy Wood)
