Re: Isabelle's questions

This should work fine, Isabelle.  Think that's a wise decision, given
where you are and all.  You will find it much handier to tend;
probably even quite nice on a sunny day in winter.  Well, you said
'construction'...my mind's eye envisioned your enclosing this space
with plastic...maybe that's not what you're talking about?

  For many years, I had this small lean to over one of our garage
doors.  Too small to tend properly, but from the standpoint of the
plants, it worked.

I find the plants in my cool greenhouse start waking up in Feb., as
the days start to get longer and are in major growth by April;
bursting at the seams before it's time to take them outside.

I should think it would give your tender plants a head start.  You
might consider one of those electric heaters if nights are still cold
- as your dahlias won't do much if it's not warm enough.  Not trying
to "heat" the place, but just keep it in an acceptable range (40s -
50s) at night when it will cool down pretty quickly.

Or, you could invest in a heat mat for the dahlias as it's soil
temperature that makes them want to grow.

Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@hort.net
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----------
> From: Isabelle Hayes <bhayes@catskill.net>
> 
> we have a "veranda" of sorts on the front of our house, which gets
the
> southern sun; this will get a wood and plastic construction that
will
> serve as a cold frame, which will have the benefit of being
attached to
> the building, which should keep it warm enough in early spring, so
that
> I can put out my dahlias and plants that I grow from seed in early
May,
> rather than waiting for the frost-free date in early June.
> 
> Perhaps that will insure that the dahlias, cosmos, etc., will bloom
> before the first fall frost.  Right now they're getting ready to
bloom
> their heads off.

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