Strawberry

I notice something strange the other day.  Strawberry like plant growing in the container that did not have any strawberries.  Next container does have strawberries plants but not this one, wonder if someone dropped fruit last summer into  this container and plant has developed from the seed.   I guess I will wait and see what will come out of it as it is too small for now and leafs look like strawberry but  ... who know.  This  should unravel soon.

Propagating ...

So I decided to try to propagate some of the shrubs i.e. specifically, lilac by catting small branches and sticking them into ground.  Remember as a young child doing such think and getting actual new bush from such small branch.  Well, decided to try it as there is no risk and all rewards if it works.  Will keep updates  on this experiment.  Planted 6 branches, will see if this will work.

Windy City ...

It seems like everyday we have high winds, I mean "high velocity" and it makes it hard to plan doing my plastic film install over the new tunnel.  Usually wind pick up in the afternoon so after work, can't proceed as I need calm few hours.  Work will have to wait till weekend and hopefully it will be calm morning on Saturday to do it.  Will post upades on process and will post pictures of finished product.

Double trouble ...

Well, since I am building double walled tunnel I will refer to it as double trouble, as it requires a bit more of thinking how to make sure that design will perform as intended.  Based on my research, if 3" space will persist between two layers of plastic, the result might be reduction of heat transfer up to 35%, and this would keep temperature inside higher during low temp. times.  My external tunnel design was pretty similar to the one done before (except for its heights), but for internal I had to thinker how to ensure that it is air tight.  So, I did not include in my calculation initially enough of fastening channel and had to order more to be able to finish internal tunnel.  Well, it was my choice to use this product, as I could finished this using wood.
Hope to have this complete by the next weekend, including placing cover on the skeleton.

Update on my "old" tunnel. I have seeded spinach and lettuce  on Mar. 26 and is all germinating nicely, even yesterday lot temp of -5 deg did not do much harm.  Have some autumn spinach showing up as well, but rather scantly.  Planter bunch of onion bulbs inside the tunnel and on one of the containers  outside.  We have planted garlic cloves last fall and this weekend they all started showing up so it was welcoming sign of spring.  Today my weather station recorded -7deg in the morning, so typical for April.  I know I am bit impatient and want to start full garden season, especially when weather hits 25 deg (Friday).  patience and perseverance, that is the way to win in this game of gardening at high elevation and unpredictable  weather.

Spring Frost

Mornings in April start with negative temperature, mainly due to high elevation (1180m above see level) and my tunnel does not really offer much protection.  I am stuffing  one gallon containers (8 so far) filled with water in  ope that this will provide some relief form low temps in early morning.  Was thinking about creating some solar heat pump/collector and accumulator using the soil in the bed but my bed is not deep enough to placing pipes to heat the ground, maybe will have to come up with different process for storing heat during the day and increasing heat mass.  I guess, will have to do some research and experimentation in the near future.

Season Extenders

I live just outside Calgary city limits on the western foothills and have learned that my season is about ten days shorter than average Calgary location, primarily due to higher elevation (1180m) and opens space (acreage).  I love growing my own veggies so I decided to invest into season extenders.  Last spring i decided to build hoop tunnel (hoop hot house) by utilizing gray pvc electric conduit pipes (3/4") above my container box garden bed. (see below)

I covered it with woven poly 11 mil that is super strong and suitable for harsh conditions such as wind, snow, UV and hail.  Since I wanted to do it on a cheap, I decided to use standard length of 10' pipe ans as such my tunnel is about 5" tall.  This resulted in a bit of challenge as my kids are now growing and no longer fit standing up  (lol) and I must do some of the chores inside.  

It was struggle to keep it warm during early and late spring but results were great, bumper crop of tomatoes and lots of lettuce (variety) early in the season.

After gaining some experience and complains from work crew, made decision to build second hoop tunnel this spring, one that would provide access for fully grown person.  

Started the process and decided to build double walled (poly)  tunnel that would provide extra heat retention (limit heat loss).  For internal wall using standard cheap 3.5 mil poly, for exteranl same 11 mil woven poly.

This is still  work in progress, as I am finishing construction and need to build doors (double walled).  Season is warm and hope to start seeding in this one pretty soon.

I did already seed lettuce  (March 23) and spinach in the old (low) tunnel and seeds are already sprouting, have bunch of plastic jugs from milk filled with water to act as heat accumulators.  We have been blessed with very mild weather this year so my guess is that might go without adding heat source.

Will post pictures of final high tunnel once it will get completed.