Review: Gardman 4-Tier Mini Greenhouse

When I first saw this mini greenhouse the first thing that came to mind was, “Wow! This would be so perfect for starting seeds!” Normally I use a light and seed trays, but there's never enough space to put them all and sometimes they dry out, or the seedlings don't get enough light and they get leggy.

Once I looked closer I started thinking about other ways a mini greenhouse would be helpful. Obviously this isn’t going to keep your plants growing through the winter freezes, but those colder-than-usual nights and the months when it starts to get a bit chilly? Sure! It would even be a great place to keep flowers you buy but aren’t quite ready to plant in the ground.

It’s the convenience of a greenhouse without the monetary investment or commitment of building one. 

Gardman 4-Tier Mini Greenhouse

Features of the Gardman 4 Tier Mini Greenhouse

• Four shelves so there's plenty of room for multiple seed trays.
• Shelves are sturdy enough to hold whatever kinds plants you decide to put on them while also being able to let light shine through them to the other plants.
• The plastic cover easily zips on and off without extra hassle. You can help control the internal temperature by partially unzipping the cover if it’s getting too hot.
• The size is perfect for an indoor greenhouse as well if you have plants you’d prefer to have inside. Herbs come to mind – being able to pick them right from the kitchen.
• You can remove the shelves if you want to grow plants taller than twelve inches.

Any Downsides?

• Your plants won’t be protected in very cold weather since the plastic cover is what protects it from the elements, though you could move it inside for the winter months and keep your plants growing.
• There is no plastic cover under the bottom so if you do take it inside you’ll want to lay down plastic sheeting to keep water from getting on the floor.
• It doesn’t come pre-assembled.
• There are no wheels on it so you’ll need to carry it if you’re moving it.
• Because of the light weight strong winds can be an issue. The easiest way to fix it is to use cinderblocks and put them around the base to hold it in place.

Conclusion

The price of this mini greenhouse is about the price of one and a half of the germination stations most gardeners use for their seeds and you can be starting way more seeds at once. Once your seeds are ready to plant, there are plenty of other ways to use this mini greenhouse.

You can buy the Gardman 4-Tier Mini Greenhouse on Amazon or other online stores, or at some nursery/garden stores.

Planning A No-Dig Vegetable Garden

A no-dig vegetable garden is an excellent option for many gardeners, especially for those who want to have an organic vegetable garden. It is probably based on traditional gardening methods but became popular in the mid-twentieth century when several books were published on the advantages of avoiding digging.

Raised bed of lettuce, tomatoes, 6 different types of basil, marigolds, zinnias, garlic chives, zucchini. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It is not simply a question of saving your back - there are advantages from the point of view of your plants, too, to the extent that no-dig gardening has now developed into a whole method of agriculture sometimes known as permaculture.

Digging has been shown to be ineffective in areas that have thin topsoil, and therefore it can be assumed that it is not really beneficial in any kind of soil - it is simply that richer soils are better able to handle the damage done. For digging to work in agriculture over a long period, the soil has to be rested with fallow crops at regular intervals. Most gardeners do not do this in their gardens and the soil suffers.

One of the main advantages of having a no-dig vegetable garden is the preservation of the natural food web which exists in the soil. This includes all kinds of soil-based organisms from micro-organisms to worms. Between them, they produce nutrients necessary for plants as well as keeping off certain pests and diseases. If the soil is dug and turned, this delicate natural balance is disturbed, causing stress and destroying some elements of the food web.

Supporters of digging will point out that it allows you to remove the roots of various weeds. This is true, but at the same time it allows weed seeds that are buried in the soil to come to the surface and germinate, so the net result may not be in your favor. If you have a no dig vegetable garden you will simply need to remove any weeds as soon as you identify them, and they will not become established.

To construct a no-dig vegetable garden, you will need to introduce a thick layer of mulch onto the soil. This mulch should be made up of organic matter such as cardboard, newspaper, straw, sawdust etc. This will hold in moisture and prevent any deep rooted weeds from making it to the surface in the first season. However, it needs to be something that will rot so that your plants and their roots can break through it.

On top of that you will place a layer of compost or other nutritionally rich matter such as manure or leaf mold. If you are buying compost, be sure to buy organic.

If you are creating a new no-dig vegetable garden, you can dig before placing the mulch if you wish. If your garden is already established and you have perennials that you do not want to remove, simply place the mulch and compost around the existing plants.

Some no dig vegetable gardens are created as raised beds. This can be very effective. You will need something to bound the bed, such as wooden planks. Then place a layer of mulch followed by a layer of compost and repeat to the required depth.  Lower layers can be made up of compostable matter such as grass cuttings and food peelings rather than finished compost, if you wish. This type of no dig vegetable garden is known as 'lasagna' gardening because of the use of alternating layers. (See this excellent book for more on Lasagna Gardening.)

More No-Dig Gardening Resources:
   

Planning A Productive & Practical Potager

A well-planned potager, or kitchen garden, can be a beautiful and enticing way to incorporate more fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs into your diet. The following tips will help you plan a productive and practical potatger.

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Tip #1: Pick the Perfect Spot.  When choosing a location for your kitchen garden, try to find a spot as close to your kitchen as possible.  After all, you want your own personal culinary garden to be easy to reach while you are preparing meals.

The location you choose must also take into consideration the kind of environment your plants prefer. Choose a sunny location that receives at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. If you live in a really hot climate, you may find a bit of afternoon shade is nice to have, as well.

Also, you’ll want to make sure the location you choose has easy access to water. You definitely don’t want to drag a heavy garden hose around the house or carry buckets of water in order to keep your plants hydrated.

Tip #2: Pick Your Plants. The easiest way to decide what you want to grow in your potager is to think about what you like to cook.

For example, if you use a lot of fresh herbs, you’ll want to keep a big pot of your favorite varieties on hand. Kids can’t get enough of your homemade salsa? Plan to have a steady supply of fresh cilantro and juicy tomatoes nearby.

In other words, you want to stock your kitchen garden with the fruits, vegetables, herbs and edible flowers you use in your day-to-day cooking.  These are the items you will want to have convenient access to throughout the growing season. Items you plan freeze, can or otherwise preserve for later use are ideal for your regular vegetable garden.

A potager using trellises for vertical space. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Tip #3: Make the Most of the Space You Have.  Due to their proximity to the house, many kitchen gardens are confined to a relatively small space. If your proposed potager has a small overall footprint, don’t get discouraged. Instead – look up!

Take advantage of as much vertical space as possible to maximize your growing area. Consider growing juicy yellow pear tomatoes surrounded by creeping thyme in a vertical container or use hanging baskets suspended on shepherd hooks for your favorite herbs. Just make sure you keep them well watered as hanging baskets tend to dry out more quickly.

You could also add a trellis or incorporate a fence into your design to provide support for climbing plants, such as pole beans or cucumbers. If your potager has a blank wall with good sun exposure, you could add a ladder-like series of shelves to house a lot more plants than you could fit into the ground you have available.

Tip #4: Make It Beautiful. Although some may argue that beauty for its own sake is neither productive nor practical, I disagree. Your kitchen garden is an extension of your home and will likely be visible to your family and guests. So, making the area as attractive as possible just makes good sense. 

Balance, symmetry and repetition are components of any good garden design. To incorporate balance and symmetry into your potager, try adding two matching brightly colored containers filled with herbs and place them on each side of the entrance.

For repetition, add multiples of the same plants throughout the garden. For example, a group of 3 cherry tomato plants in attractive containers will have a stronger visual impact than a single plant. You can also create a sense of order by planting lovely borders of edible flowers or fragrant herbs along walkways.

One great thing about incorporating ornamental aspects into your potager is you may find you want to spend more time in an area that nourishes both your body and soul.

What’s the Difference Between a Kitchen Garden and a Regular Vegetable Garden?

Have you ever wondered exactly what a “kitchen garden” is or how it differs from a regular vegetable garden?

For starters, a kitchen garden or potager (pronounced puh-ta-zhay), is a special kind of edible garden with a rich history tracing back to old English and French culinary gardens. 

Much like a traditional vegetable garden, a kitchen garden is a chef’s delight filled with delicious fruits, vegetables, herbs and edible flowers. In short, a kitchen garden is a celebration of fresh ingredients and delicious home cooked meals.

Both kitchen and traditional gardens offer a sense of satisfaction coupled with tangible rewards for a job well done. Beyond these similarities, there are some distinct differences between the two, however.

A Kitchen Garden Has Three Main Characteristics:

Kitchen Garden: Herbs in pots. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

1. Convenience. One of the main characteristics of a kitchen garden is accessibility. It should be easy to grab the items you need to your prepare your daily meals. Therefore, a potager should be located as close to your food preparation area as possible.

Imagine you are in the middle of preparing dinner when you suddenly realize “this marinade could use a little more rosemary.” Rather than trek out to your main vegetable garden while you have pots simmering on the stove, wouldn’t you rather be able to reach right outside your door to snip a couple sprigs?

With a kitchen garden, the easier it is to grab what you need while you are cooking, the better.

2. Size. Kitchen gardens are usually smaller than traditional gardens because they are situated so close to the house. This isn’t always the case, of course, but having a culinary garden close enough to offer easy access while you are cooking may limit the amount of space available.

If you only have limited space available to plant a kitchen garden, here is a good rule of thumb to consider: A regular vegetable garden is about planning for the future, while a kitchen garden is about enjoying today. Therefore, the fruits and vegetables you plan to preserve for future use - or crops, such as corn, that take up a lot of space - are good choices for a traditional vegetable garden where space is at less of a premium. 

Instead, kitchen gardens are normally filled with the items you prepare and eat while fresh. Therefore, containers of fresh herbs, compact cherry tomato plants, or an assortment of leaf lettuce varieties all make great additions to a potager.  If you lack the space for a traditional garden, a small kitchen garden can keep you in fresh, delicious produce all season long.

Kitchen Garden, Attadale Gardens. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

3. Beauty. While a standard vegetable garden is all about utility and production, part of the charm of a kitchen garden comes from its ornamental aspect. Due to its proximity to the house, a kitchen garden is harder to tuck out of sight than a traditional garden. Therefore, they are often designed to add a sense of beauty to your home, as well.

Some herbs, such as lemon thyme, can be used to create a beautiful and fragrant border around plants and containers. Edible flowers, such as violas and daylilies, can be incorporated to add a splash of color. Compact blueberry shrubs are also highly ornamental and make a wonderful, yet functional border. 

As you can see, a kitchen garden offers both convenience and beauty in a compact space. The best part is it doesn’t take much to get started. All you need is a couple large pots, some fresh herbs, your favorite compact tomato plant and lettuce varieties and you’ll be on your way!