Greenhouse Blues

In order to plant a garden from seeds, you have to get the seeds to sprout. So I’m told by Donna. Since this is easier to accomplish and can be started earlier in the year in a greenhouse, we purchased a greenhouse. We got it on line after much research and consideration. It was constructed of plastic walls and flexible supports. It was secured to the ground by tent like tie downs. Donna planted hundreds of seeds in many trays and placed them on shelves. She watered them and cared for them with motherly tenderness. Then the wind came. The greenhouse, though guaranteed to withstand high winds, does bend out of shape. When the top of the greenhouse was pushed to the side by the 40 mph wind, the shelves were displaced and the seed trays wound up on the dirt and the seed pots dispersed throughout the greenhouse. The labels Donna had placed in each pot were also strewn over the entire greenhouse area. Without the proper nameplates, the garden was difficult to plan. However, the garden turned out to be very productive and we enjoyed many and tasty vegetables throughout the season. Much credit is due to Donna for the great effort and prolific harvest. The greenhouse, on the other hand, did not make out so well. The Texas sun and wind took its toll. The crossbar on the west side of the greenhouse failed during a good wind. While we waited for the manufacturer to respond to our request for a new support, the plastic sleeves holding the supports dried out and ripped. The remaining supports were then allowed to spring forth from the plastic loops and protrude into the air. The greenhouse then collapsed. Before Donna loaded the pile of plastic and support junk into the truck, I drew this posted picture as a memorial to our first greenhouse experiment. Next time maybe we will use glass and steel. A good friend recommended a PVC pipe construction with two layers of plastic sheeting. However, I am not sure this will last through the Texas wind and sun either.