Greenhouse Gardening on a Budget

Greenhouse kits give gardeners the benefits of a greenhouse — more growing space and a longer growing season — for much less money than the cost of a permanent greenhouse. They’re also fairly easy to come by, with options available at stores such as Walmart, Tractor Supply, Lowe’s and Home Depot.

“Greenhouse kits come with lots of different options,” says Jonathan Pritchett, a Home Depot store manager in Raleigh. “The demand for greenhouse kits has just exploded since COVID-19 hit. People had more time, and gardening was something they could do at home. And even a small greenhouse can give them the ability to grow a lot of their own produce.”

Prices for greenhouse kits span a wide range. Home Depot, for example, offers kits from $59 to $14,000. Size, durability of materials used, and extra features included account for the variation in prices. Perfect placement A greenhouse kit is definitely not something to buy on impulse. Jonathan advises doing some careful planning before you place your order. First and foremost, he urges homeowners to consider any homeowners association requirements or zoning laws.

Greenhouse gardening Keep your garden growing year-round with a greenhouse kit on a budget By Margaret Buranen “Placement of the greenhouse is key,” Jonathan emphasizes. “You want an open spot that will get pretty much all-day sun. Next best would be facing the afternoon sun.” Choosing a location that is close to a source of water will make watering plants much easier. But if the greenhouse needs to be far from a faucet to get the most sun, buy an extension hose. Flooring is also an important consideration. “Most starter kits do not come with flooring. If the greenhouse will sit on dirt, it has to be absolutely level,” Jonathan says. Because dirt floors can attract insects, he also recommends applying a weed barrier around the dirt floor and outside of the greenhouse, which will also discourage rodents. Some greenhouse kits have side skirts that can be buried to stop weeds. Crushed rock spread on top of a dirt floor will add more protection against weeds and also promotes better drainage. Digging a trench around the outside of the greenhouse is another way to increase drainage. Other considerations To protect vulnerable plants on North Carolina’s cold winter nights, a greenhouse needs a source of heat. In western portions of the state, that source might be an

electric heater. But for much of North Carolina, Jonathan says a heat lamp will do the trick.

“A 350- to 500-watt lamp, the kind used in chicken coops, clipped on the frame is all you need,” he explains.

As spring temperatures rise, plants in a greenhouse can become stressed by heat. Jonathan advises making sure that the greenhouse you want has adjustable windows for ventilation. A fan, even a small one, will help keep the afternoon air cooler.

Shelving is sold separately from the greenhouse itself. The shelving should be the same brand as the greenhouse kit, or a compatible one. (Read the labels to be certain.) Then the framing hardware will match.

And be sure to weigh your current and future gardening needs when investing in a greenhouse kit.

“For most people, if they have the room and budget, a 10-foot by 10-foot is a great size greenhouse to start with,” Jonathan suggests. “You can pack a lot of different plants into it and add on more sections later. If you go with a 4-foot by 7-foot greenhouse, you may wish very quickly that you had chosen [something a little larger].”

Get the most from your greenhouse

Dr. Natalie Bumgarner, horticulture extension specialist at the University of Tennessee, offers the following expert advice on greenhouse gardening:

Plants best suited for greenhouses M Produce and flowers grown from seed, such as heirloom varieties, that need heating from late winter to late spring.

M Produce grown year-round, especially hydroponically, that needs heating and cooling all year.

M Tropical plants, citrus trees and orchids that requires heating and lighting in all cool-weather seasons. Greenhouse gadgets M Install a sensor connecting a greenhouse thermometer to your smart phone. While away, you can adjust the fan, heater, vents or mister as needed to protect plants.

M A small mister system tied to a timer or environmental sensor is one of the best ways to keep plants moist and reduce air temperature.

M Metallic shade cloths are more expensive than mesh ones, but work better because they reflect heat. They’re great for late spring or early fall days when midday temperatures shoot up.

Be safe!

Follow instructions provided with the greenhouse kit and always have the recommended number of people on hand to lift and assemble the greenhouse. Make sure pets that might enter the greenhouse have a way out to avoid overheating during summer months.

Digital Extra Visit carolinacountry.com/extras to download two pamphlets Natalie has written for greenhouse owners: “What Can a Small Greenhouse Do for You?” and “Selecting and Designing Small-scale Greenhouses To Fit Your Needs.”

Feasts for the Eyes

Ornamental sweet potatoes are a visual treat

Story and photos by L.A. Jackson

Yummy sweet potatoes, which make some of the best pies for any Southern supper table, can be added to the veggie garden this time of year — but hold on. There is also another sweet potato to plant this month. One that is more a feast for the eyes.

The ornamental sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) has been around for a while, but many gardeners are still happily “discovering” it. Like its edible cousin, ornamental sweet potato is a sprawling, crawling vine, but with a delightful dose of visual sass.

True to the “ornamental” tag, this sweet potato’s value come from its colorful looks — and there are many. To prove this point, two of the first cultivars to be introduced were eye-candy opposites: “Margarita” is a flashy pleasure bathed in the glow of neon lime-green, while “Blackie” is a dusky, reddish-purple beauty with foliage shaped like oak leaves.

Since the debut of “Margarita” and “Blackie,” the ornamental sweet potato hit parade has only become more diverse. This includes the Sweet Caroline series developed at NC State University that shows off cultivars in shades such as chartreuse, deep purple, rust red and green. And then there’s the popular “Tricolor” cultivar that can’t decide what hue it wants to be, so it settles for white, green and pink (all on the same plant).

Being a vine, ornamental sweet potato can be used as a colorful groundcover or accent spilling over a fence or raised bed wall. This pretty is also a prime candidate to flow out of planters and window boxes.

Ornamental sweet potatoes are drought tolerant and, true to their tropical America's origin, love our summer heat. Placing them in an area that receives around six hours of sun will help keep their colors vibrant, while mulching cuts down on your watering chore. Adding a small dose of time-release fertilizer properly feeds their nutrient needs though the growing season.

Although the tubers can be dug up in the fall and saved for next spring’s garden, my results have been underwhelming, so I just grow ornamental sweet potatoes as annuals, which is common, since they are relatively inexpensive.

But, can you eat the tubers? For typical ornamental sweet potatoes, if you enjoy bland, the answer is yes. However, there is a spanking brand-new series called Treasure Island to look for locally or online that combines colorful leaves with tastier ‘taters, so if you want to double your pleasure, give ‘em a try!

Ornamental sweet potato plays nicely with flowering vinca in a large planter.

L.A. Jackson is the former editor of Carolina Gardener Magazine. Contact L.A. at lajackson1@gmail.com.

Seeds can form from the faded flowers of such hybrid daylilies as “Howlin’ Moth.”

Garden To-Do’s for June

Daylilies are beginning to flaunt their fabulous blooms displays, but remember to deadhead any flowers that begin to fade. This will prevent seed formation, which takes energy from the plants as they prepare for next year’s flower-fest. So, why not just plant the seeds and have more daylilies? Seeds from hybrid cultivars—the most popular form of daylilies grown today—often produce different offspring compared to their momma plant. If the mad scientist in you just has to know how those daylily seeds would sprout, plant away, but keep in mind it could take a few years for the new daylilies to bloom.

F Using paint, a permanent marker or waterproof tape, mark the handle of a garden rake, shovel or hoe in inch increments. This gives you a handy measuring device to use when it comes to correctly establishing row widths as well as planting distances and depths. F Pick veggies such as green beans, okra, squash and cucumbers often to encourage them to produce even more delectable edibles deep into the growing season.

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Linguini with Shrimp and Garlic

Garlic and shrimp are a match made in seafood heaven, especially for this quickto-make dish. Don’t drain the pasta, but lift it from the cooking water with tongs and add it to the pan along with some of the water. Chopped fresh asparagus or a few handfuls of fresh spinach would be nice additions.

Olive oil ¼ cup chopped onion 1 tablespoon chopped garlic ¼ teaspoon crushed dried red pepper 1¼ pounds shrimp, shelled and deveined 8 ounces linguini ½ cup chopped fresh parsley 1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives ½ teaspoon grated lemon zest 3 tablespoons butter

Salt to taste

Cook linguini according to directions, reserving ¼ cup of cooking water.

Place a large, wide sauté pan over medium-high heat and add enough olive oil to cover the bottom thoroughly. When the oil is hot, add the onion, garlic and crushed dried red pepper, sprinkle with salt and cook, stirring, until the onion and garlic are soft, about 2 minutes. Add the shrimp in one layer. Let cook undisturbed for 2 minutes. Using a spatula or tongs, turn over the shrimp and cook 1 minute more.

Add linguini to the pan along with reserved cooking water, parsley, chives, lemon zest, butter and another sprinkle of salt. Reduce the heat to low and stir gently to combine all the ingredients and melt the butter. Taste and add salt if needed. Serve while hot.

Yield: 4 servings

Digital Extra We take food seriously. Visit carolinacountry.com/recipes to search more than 1,000 recipes by name or ingredient, with a new recipe featured every week! Spinach-Rice Brunch Bake Using individual ramekins turns this recipe into a pretty side or light main dish for brunch, although you could prepare it in a large baking dish as well. The number of individual servings will depend on the size of your ramekins. 3 cups cooked white rice ½ cup olive oil 2 green onions, with tops, chopped 5 cups fresh spinach, lightly packed 1 teaspoon thyme ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon pepper 1 cup chopped parsley ½ cup shredded Swiss cheese 2 eggs, lightly beaten

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray 7 to 8 ramekins with cooking spray and place on a baking sheet. Put the cooked rice in a large bowl and let it cool to room temperature.

Place a large sauté pan on medium heat and add the olive oil. When the oil is hot, add the onions and cook, stirring, until they begin to soften, a minute or two. Add the spinach and cook, stirring, until the spinach wilts.

Pour the spinach, onions and any liquid remaining in the skillet into the rice and stir to combine. Stir in the thyme, salt and pepper. When the mixture has cooled slightly, stir in the parsley, cheese and eggs.

Spoon the mixture into the ramekins and bake 25 minutes or until they are dry on top, a little brown on the edges, and cooked through. If they begin to brown too much before cooking through, cover them with a sheet of aluminum foil.

Yield: 7–8 servings

Carrot-Zucchini Muffins A food processor makes quick work of grating the carrots and zucchini. Tossing the raisins in a little flour before adding to the batter helps prevent them from sinking to the bottom during baking. ½ cup golden raisins 2 cups plus 1 tablespoon flour, divided 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon baking powder ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon cardamom 1½ teaspoons ginger ½ teaspoon cinnamon 2 eggs ¾ cup sugar 6 tablespoons vegetable oil 1 cup shredded carrots ¾ cup shredded zucchini Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 12-muffin tin with nonstick cooking spray.

In a small bowl, toss the raisins with 1 tablespoon flour to lightly coat them.

In a large bowl, stir together 2 cups flour plus the baking soda, baking powder, salt, cardamom, ginger and cinnamon. In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the eggs, sugar and oil.

Add the egg mixture to the flour mixture and stir just until combined. The batter will be thick. Use a spatula to fold in the carrots, zucchini and raisins.

Spoon the batter evenly into the muffin cups. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until lightly brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Yield: 12 muffins

Unless otherwise noted, recipes on this page are from Debbie Moose (debbiemoose.com), who has authored seven cookbooks and is a former food editor for The News & Observer in Raleigh.

From Your Kitchen

Baked Ham Omelet Fluffier than a quiche, this baked omelet owes its tanginess to its dynamic duo of cheeses. Little bits of ham pump up the savory flavor while the airy eggs lend an overall lightness to the dish. 8 ounces Jack or Muenster cheese, shredded 1 cup cooked ham, finely diced ¼ cup butter, melted ¼ cup flour, sifted 1 cup small curd cottage cheese 6 eggs ½ teaspoon baking powder Dash of Tabasco sauce Salt and pepper to taste Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Melt butter and use half to evenly coat an 8-x-8-inch baking dish.

Sift flour with baking powder.

Beat eggs and season lightly with salt and pepper. Add a few drops of Tabasco sauce and stir in flour, ham, Jack cheese, cottage cheese and remaining butter.

Pour egg mixture into coated dish and bake for 15 minutes.

Reduce heat to 375 degrees and bake for 10–15 minutes longer or until puffed up and light golden brown on top.

Yield: 6 servings

Recipe courtesy of Judy Morton, Wake Forest, a member of Wake Electric

Send Us Your Recipes

Contributors whose recipes are published will receive $25. We retain reprint rights for all submissions. Recipes submitted are not necessarily entirely original. Include your name, address, phone number (for questions), and the name of your electric cooperative. Mail to: Carolina Country Kitchen, 3400 Sumner Blvd., Raleigh, NC, 27616. Or submit your recipe online at: carolinacountry.com/myrecipe.

in Carolina Country is this ?

Send your answer by June 15, with your name, address and the name of your electric cooperative.

Online: carolinacountry.com/where By mail: Where in Carolina Country? 3400 Sumner Blvd. Raleigh, NC 27616 Sign up for email updates to guess next month’s “Where Is This” ahead of print publication: carolinacountry.com/register Multiple entries from the same person will be disqualified. The winner, chosen at random and announced in our July issue, will receive $25.

Last month’s winner

The May “Where Is This” photo by Wake Electric member Laurence Pearlman features an old classic neon sign for the Pine View Motel just north of Kenly on US Highway 301, just over the Johnston/Wilson County line and near the Tobacco Farm Life Museum. The motel bar is still open, reports Laurence, but the motel itself hasn’t registered a guest in quite a while. Pine View must have been a popular motel name — answers came in for Spruce Pine, New London and a few other places across the state (and even one or two south of the border). The winning entry chosen at random from all correct submissions came from Paula Dunham of Linden, a Brunswick Electric member.

Have a roadside gem you’d like to share? Submit a photo, plus a brief description and general location information, at carolinacountry.com/where.

carolinacreators

Keenan Jenkins

At the NC School of Science and Mathematics Keenan Jenkins met a roommate with a guitar. The instrument encouraged him to start analyzing music, and he hasn’t put it down since. Keenan, stage name XOXOK, is guided by a wealth of influences who inform his style, which goes from pensive and wandering to pointed and declarative. Artists like Marvin Gaye (specifically “What’s Going On,” the full album, not just the title track), and Frank Ocean all provide structure to Keenan’s own musical search for self. He’s philosophical about the process: “Somewhere in my failure to be them, I will find myself and what makes me unique.”