Sunday Potager Palaver #25 (Greenhouses & Integrated Gardens)

Well, hi there. Happy Sunday. How are things where you are?

We finally have t-shirt weather. Spring is springing forth! I see crocus greens popping through the mulch, though no blooms yet. It just changes one’s whole mood and outlook, eh?

The local Home Hardware has some of their early plants in so I am off to check those out. Picking up anything white, silver, or pink/peach. They can live in the potting up shed until it’s warm enough to stick them in the mini-greenhouse that resides within the actual greenhouse till summertime.

If you wonder why I put it in there instead of on the deck, by the back door, it’s because the extra layers of protection will keep the plants 4 degrees warmer than outside. Crucial during our cold spring nights.

A wooden greenhouse cabinet with plants and flowers, positioned against a brick wall, featuring open doors and a clear top lid. — I have a mini greenhouse like this one to store my flower stash while I wait for it to be warm enough to plant up my summer pots.

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Today is the day to do a bit of a clean up around the porch, the deck, to wash the windows… get started on the spring cleaning, even if it is outdoors.

We finalized the landscape design with the landscaper. I’ve been taking notes all winter on what flowers and shrubs I want to put out in the front yard, the colour scheme I want to use, and the layout. We’ve decided to have Zach and his crew do the tear out part for us, the heavy lifting bits, and we will do the building up on our own. To help keep us within budget.

Oh, and guess what? After a whole winter of planning that front garden… now that the time is almost here, I have decided to go a very different way with it. Hahaha.

An entryway featuring a rustic wooden door with glass panels, opening into a charming greenhouse adorned with lush greenery and potted plants. — *my scandinavian home: See Inside A Dreamy Falsterbo Beach Villa*

This beach side cottage is so lovely inside, but best of all is this greenhouse set up as a place to eat, chill, sip wine, drink coffee… well, this is the best part of all. Isn’t it dreamy? See more photos in the link.

So easy to do with your little greenhouses, too. Use the table for potting up in spring and for chilling in the summer when all the flowers and veggies have been planted out.

A cozy outdoor seating area featuring two wicker chairs and a small table, surrounded by lush greenery and plants, with a textured wall and window in the background. — *Inside Rita Konig’s smart London house, created by combining two flats into one | House & Garden*

How to design a small courtyard garden. Love number 2, it just has everything one needs, in a tiny little plot.

A great guide about mulching.

How to propagate begonias in water or soil.

24 Ways to get rid of ants.

How to divide perennials. It is almost time! When you do, your local garden club will likely gladly take them.

Planting potatoes in straw – the no dig way. This keeps your spuds clean, is easy to do, works so well. I tend to do a modified version where I dig the spuds in about 3 or 4 inches deep and then cover with straw instead of soil.

Check out this food garden book. Stunning pictures! How to design a potager style garden.

‘What if we integrated edibles into our decorative landscapes, letting vegetables, herbs, fruits, and berries share prime real estate alongside our patios, pools, even our front walkways? Equal parts inspiration and instruction, and filled with an abundance of ideas and information, The Food Forward Garden is a lushly illustrated guide to how we can make better use of our outdoor spaces without sacrificing style.’

The Food Forward Garden: A Complete Guide To Designing and Growing Edible Landscapes.

*Cherry’s Small Space Garden and Greenhouse Experience, Part 6 – Fine Gardening*

This greenhouse article is great for warmer climates, those on the west coast, maybe lower Ontario, not so much those of us on the prairies. Still a good read for the cusp seasons.

Here us part 7 of the same garden, showing you summertime flower pot ideas, and more. Love the white and silver combination.

How to clean and maintain a greenhouse. Cleanliness really is next to godliness when it comes to greenhouses. A clean greenhouse helps to keep pests and diseases away.

Salads

A bowl of spring salad with new potatoes, green peas, sliced radishes, and green onions on a gray napkin, set on a dark surface. — *spring salad with new potatoes – smitten kitchen*

Spring Salad with new potatoes. I know this is a ways off for us yet, but soon… maybe they should call it an early summer salad ; )

Caesar salad with fried capers and anchovies. Hmm. Love capers, have never fried them. The dressing from scratch looks yummy.

This spaghetti salad and this pasta salad with chickpeas.

Recipies

What to make with stale bread? This strata looks delish.

From Martha… 9 ways to use up stale bread.

Those of us who bake sourdough bread on the regular probably get some now and again. If not, I will happily let some go stale for some of these recipes. Nothing better than panzanella!

This Easy Rotel Chicken Spaghetti looks so yummy. Of course, I would switch out the chicken with tofu. I also have no idea what Rotel is, but am thinking it is a canned tomato and pepper mix, so one can do whatever with that bit.

This week, with my sourdough, I made: