US (OH): Hothouse planting season begins in Ohio Valley
Work begins in January, as hothouses are readied for planting. Plastic has replaced glass for covering greenhouses, and if using an established structure, the covering is carefully examined for tears and leaks. A special type of plastic is also used on the floors.
Heating, irrigation and ventilation systems are checked and necessary repairs made before the planting begins. Most hothouses in the area are heated with natural gas, allowing for a more consistent and easier-to-maintain heating system than the previous coal-burning stoves. A good circulation system is necessary or plants may suffer from fungal diseases and a reliable source of water is essential to maintaining seed germination and continued plant growth.
Most seeds are hand-sewn in plastic trays with individual cells filled with a mix of vermiculite and peat moss. The most common cause of failure when starting seeds is desiccation, or drying out, and vermiculite’s moisture retaining properties keep the soil materials evenly damp even under hot, sunny conditions, enhancing seed germination.
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