​    Hi, Monday after a great weekend of being open.  Thanks to all that came.  I hope I got to speak to each of you.  It was a great opening weekend. We have been invaded.  Gnomes have come to Becky's Greenhouse.  We have been lucky that Debbie Brunner from Deb's Ceramics Marble Rock has helped us plant the plants.  She was here this last weekend to help with the cash register.  So she is the one responsible for the invasion.  She has made gnomes.  Debbie has two sizes,small one and a larger one with both with  solor lights.  VERY cute.  So stop in and see them.  We are open Monday thru Saturday from 9-6.  Sunday from 11-4.  It will be just me here and having some help for the weekend, and help watering.  My gal that I have had for 5 years took a full time job with benefits and I completely understand.  BUT we will miss her.  Because she was leaving we really pushed hard to get the transplanting done, and it has paid off because plants look really good.  I will post more advice later.  Question asked what can I do when the asparagus isn't growing in the middle of the bed just the outside?  I will write about that.  So till then this is Becky Litterer, Becky's Greenhouse, Dougherty Iowa beckmall@netins.net

     ​Good morning, it looks like it is going to be another grand day.  So different then the second day of me being open last year.  IT SNOWED...and no one came so Larry and I took a nap.  Don't think that is going to happen this year.  This picture says it all.  Great plants, lots of space to social distance and we are open.  Plan on making the trip to Dougherty.  I will post more tomorrow on gardening.
 
 Here is a prayer from today's devotion from The Power of being Thankful from Joyce Meyer
Lord, when I am faced with a difficult sitaution, help me to choose joy in spite of my circumstance.  I thank You that Your joy is my strength each and every day.  In your name we pray Amen
till next time this is Becky Litterer, Becky's Greenhouse Dougherty Iowa beckmall@netins.net

​    We are open Friday April 24th.  We will be up and at it by 9 and close at 6.  So every day Monday- Saturday 9-6, Sunday 11-4.  We are open but not having an OPEN House because of the crowd that comes for the meal.  Having food wouldn't be a good idea.  The greenhouse is full of plants, and for the ones that have come early they are so surprised with all the plants that we have grown.  Yes, I am a grower, and all that you see in the greenhouse and on 3 racks we have grown here at Becky's Greenhouse.  This marks my 31st year of growing.  NOW next week the perennials will come, and the trees/shrubs so they are brought in and I didn't grow them, but will have them here for your gardening needs.  We have plants outside, and plenty of room inside for you to do the 6 foot distance.  Check out will be done one at a time, as we have places for you to put your purchases and we will clean up the table after each purchase.  Come and see us and all these blooming plants.  We also have vegetables ready to go into your garden, that is time to plant.  Bulk garden seeds to go into your garden.  Next week asparagus and strawberry plants will be coming.  See you soon.  Please share on your timeline to help pass the word.  Till next time this is Becky Litterer, Becky's Greenhouse, Dougherty Iowa beckmall@netins.net

lettuce in a 4 pack $2.00

lettuce pot $5.00

      ​So we had temperature today of 80 degrees, big change enjoy that today. Now the next few days it is going to be cooler, wet and more seasonable temperatures.  But that is ok.  Don't need summer yet. Pictures of are two ways we have planted lettuce for you.  One is in 4 packs that you can transplant in your garden or in a container.  The second picture is in a large container that you can just take home and let the lettuce grow in that.  Harvest it when grown and it will continue to give you more lettuce.  These will be he quickest ways to get lettuce.  BUT we also have lettuce seed in bulk.  .25 for a teaspoon of seed.  Meeting some new gardeners and I love growing the plants, but the best part is getting to know the gardeners.  Ones that have been coming for a long time, we catch up on things, and meeting new ones.  Helping them all with their gardening needs. 
 
Lettuce is one of our favorite garden vegetables because it is far superior—in both taste and vitamin A content—to the store-bought alternative! Plant in the spring, starting two weeks before frost. In fall, start sowing again eight weeks before the fall frost. Read more!
 
Lettuce is cool-season crop that grows well in the spring and fall in most regions. Lettuce seedlings will even tolerate a light frost.
 
Sow any time soils are above 40°F. Seeds germinate best at 55 to 65°F and will emerge in only 7 to 10 days. Because lettuce grows quickly, plant a small amount at a time, staggering your plantings to a continued harvest!
 
How to Plant Lettuce
Before you plant your lettuce seeds, select a sunny spot and make sure the soil is prepared.
 
The soil should be loose and drain well so it’s moist without staying soggy. To keep the soil fertile, feed it with composted organic matter about one week before you seed or transplant. Since the seed is so small, a well-tilled seedbed is essential. Stones and large clods of dirt will inhibit germination. Read more about preparing soil for planting.
 
Lettuce does not compete well with weeds. Before you plant, ensure the ground is prepared. Rotating locations from year to year helps control most diseases. Closely spaced plants will help control weeds.
•Direct sowing is recommended as soon as the ground can be worked. If you want an earlier crop, however, you may start seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before your last spring frost date for an earlier crop.
•Lettuce can be sown after soils reach 40°F though seeds germinate best at 55 to 65°F and will emerge in 7 to 10 days.
•Seeds should be planted ¼-½ inch deep and thinned when plants have 3 to 4 true leaves.
•Transplants should have 4 to 6 mature leaves and a well-developed root system before planting out.
•Transplants should be planted near the last frost-free date for the growing area. Seeded lettuce may be planted 2 to 3 weeks earlier.
•For either seeded or transplanted lettuce, have 12 to 15 inches between each row. ◦Leaf lettuce: Plant 4 inches apart.
◦Cos and loose-headed types: Plant 8 inches apart.
◦Firm-headed types: Plant 16 inches apart.
 
•Cover the seeds with ¼ to ½ inch of soil.
•Water thoroughly at time of transplanting.
•Consider planting rows of chives or garlic between your lettuce to control aphids. They act as “barrier plants” for the lettuce.
•In some regions, it’s possible to plant a second crop of lettuce in the fall or even early winter.
Lettuce Care
•Fertilize 3 weeks after transplanting. Lettuce prefers soil that is high in organic material, with plenty of compost and a steady supply of nitrogen to keep if growing fast. Use organic alfalfa meal or a slow-release fertilizer.
•Make sure the soil remains moist but is well drained.
•Lettuce will tell you when it needs water. Just look at it. If the leaves are wilting, sprinkle them anytime—even in the heat of the day—to cool them off and slow down the transpiration rate.
•An organic mulch will help conserve moisture, suppress weeds, and keep soil temperatures cool throughout the warmer months.
•Weed by hand if necessary, but be careful of damaging your lettuce plants’ roots; they are shallow.
•Planning your garden so that lettuce will be in the shade of taller plants, such as tomatoes or sweet corn, may reduce bolting in the heat of the summer.
•You should be able to sow additional lettuce seeds every two weeks for a continuous harvest throughout the growing season.
•To plant a fall crop, create cool soil in August by moistening the ground and covering it with a bale of straw. A week later, the soil under the bale will be about 10°F (6°C) cooler than the rest of the garden. Sow a three-foot row of lettuce seeds every couple of weeks—just rotate the straw bale around the garden.
 
Pests/Diseases
•Aphids
•Earwigs
•Cutworms
•White Mold
•Woodchucks
•Rabbits
 
How to Harvest Lettuce
•Lettuce should be harvested when full size, but just before maturity. The leaves taste best when they’re still young and tender.
•Before maturity, you can harvest leaf lettuce by simply removing outer leaves so that the center leaves can continue to grow. ◦Butterhead or romaine types can be harvested by removing the outer leaves, digging up the whole plant, or cutting the plant about an inch above the soil surface. A second harvest is often possible when using the first or third methods.
◦Crisphead lettuce is picked when the center is firm.
 
•Mature lettuce gets bitter and woody and will go bad quickly, so check your garden everyday for ready-to-harvest leaves.
•It’s best to harvest lettuce in the morning before leaves have been exposed to sun.
•As time passes and the plant loses vigor, you may be better off planting a second round of seeds than waiting for new leaves.
•Keep lettuce in the refrigerator for up to 10 days in a loose plastic bag.
 
Lettuce
Recommended Varieties
Some of our favorite varieties include:
•Crisphead: ‘King Crown’, ‘Mission’
•Cos (Romaine): ‘Wallop’, ‘Paris White Cos’
•Loose Heads: ‘Burpee Bibb’
•Red Leaf: ‘Red Sail’ (Not recommended for hot weather; the red pigment absorbs more heat.)
 
Wit & Wisdom
•Did you know that lettuce and sunflowers are relatives? They both belong to the Asteraceae (or “daisy”) family.
•Your lettuce has wilted? Put the leaves in a bowl of cold water with ice cubes and soak for about 15 minutes.
taken from https://www.almanac.com/plant/lettuce
till next time this is Becky Litterer, Becky's Greenhouse Dougherty Iowa beckmall@netins.net

trio combination pots from Becky's Greenhouse

​So moved plants out of the greenhouse, 3 racks full.  Have space now inside to do some more planting.  Had many hands do this so it didn't take too long.  We are ready for opening up on Friday.  Just the start of the garden season, so love to have you stop by.  The picture is in the greenhouse of course, and it is the blooming plants are called Trio Combinations.  It is a plug that has 3 plants in it.  So when you plant it you will have 3 different flowers come out of this container.  It is how they are planted and give instant color and ready to go into a basket or container for you.  You can see all the color in them.   Now I will post information about one of the garden seeds we have in bulk.  RADISHES....
Radishes are a hardy, very easy-to-grow root vegetable that can be planted multiple times in a growing season. Plus, radishes can be harvested as soon as three weeks after planting!
Radish seeds can be planted in both the spring and the fall, but growing should be suspended in the height of summer, when temperatures are typically too hot. (Hot temperatures may cause radishes to bolt, making them essentially useless.)
Otherwise, radishes are one of the easiest vegetables to grow.
 
Planting
Selecting and Preparing a Planting Site
•Plant in a sunny spot. If radishes are planted in too much shade—or even where neighboring vegetable plants shade them—they will put all their energy into producing larger leaves.
•Like carrots, radish plants are primarily grown for their roots. Though the soil needs to be rich in organic matter, it should not be compacted. If your soil is more clay-like, mix in some sand to loosen it and improve drainage.
•If your soil isn’t rich in organic matter, incorporate a few inches of aged compost or all-purpose fertilizer (see packaging for amount) into the planting site as soon as the soil is workable.
•Till your garden bed to remove any rocks or dirt clods before planting.
•Practice three-year crop rotation. In other words, only plant radishes in the same spot every third year. This will help prevent diseases from affecting your crop.
 
How to Plant Radishes
•For a spring planting, sow seeds 4–6 weeks before the average date of last frost. See local frost dates here.
•It’s best to plant radish seeds directly in the garden so as not to disturb their roots. Directly sow seeds outdoors ½ to 1 inch deep and 1 inch apart in rows 12 inches apart.
•Plant another round of seeds every 10 days or so—while weather is still cool—for a continuous harvest of radishes in the late spring and early summer.
•Plan on a fall planting. You can plant radishes later than any other root crop in late summer or early fall and still get a harvest. Sow seeds 4–6 weeks before the first fall frost.
 
Care
How to Grow Radishes
•Thin radishes to about 2 inches apart when the plants are a week old. Crowded plants do not grow well.
•Consistent, even moisture is key. Keep soil evenly moist but not waterlogged. A drip irrigation system is a great way to achieve this.
•Putting a thin layer of mulch around the radishes can help retain moisture in dry conditions.
 
Pests/Diseases
•Cabbage Root Maggot
•Clubroot
•Weeds: Weeds will quickly crowd out radishes, so keep the bed weed-free. See a list of common garden weeds here.
 
Harvest/Storage
How and When to Harvest Radishes
•Radishes will be ready to harvest quite rapidly, as soon as three weeks after planting for some varieties.
•For most varieties, harvest when roots are approximately 1 inch in diameter at the soil surface. Pull one out and test it before harvesting the rest!
•Do not leave radishes in the ground long after their mature stage; their condition will deteriorate quickly.
•Cut the tops and the thin root tail off, wash the radishes, and dry them thoroughly. Store in plastic bags in the refrigerator.
•Radish greens can be stored separately for up to three days.
 
Wit & Wisdom
Radish seeds have a fairly long shelf life. Don’t be afraid to plant radish seeds that are up to five years old. All may not germinate, but you’ll have plenty that will.
taken from https://www.almanac.com/plant/radishes
till next time this is Becky Litterer, Becky's Greenhouse Dougherty Iowa beckmall@netins.net

pictures of combination pots in Becky's Greenhouse Dougherty

        So moved plants out of the greenhouse, 3 racks full.  Have space now inside to do some more planting.  Had many hands do this so it didn't take too long.  We are ready for opening up on Friday.  Just the start of the garden season, so love to have you stop by.  The picture is in the greenhouse of course, and it is the blooming plants are called Trio Combinations.  It is a plug that has 3 plants in it.  So when you plant it you will have 3 different flowers come out of this container.  It is how they are planted and give instant color and ready to go into a basket or container for you.  You can see all the color in them.   Now I will post information about one of the garden seeds we have in bulk.  RADISHES....
Radishes are a hardy, very easy-to-grow root vegetable that can be planted multiple times in a growing season. Plus, radishes can be harvested as soon as three weeks after planting!
Radish seeds can be planted in both the spring and the fall, but growing should be suspended in the height of summer, when temperatures are typically too hot. (Hot temperatures may cause radishes to bolt, making them essentially useless.)
Otherwise, radishes are one of the easiest vegetables to grow.
 
Planting
Selecting and Preparing a Planting Site
•Plant in a sunny spot. If radishes are planted in too much shade—or even where neighboring vegetable plants shade them—they will put all their energy into producing larger leaves.
•Like carrots, radish plants are primarily grown for their roots. Though the soil needs to be rich in organic matter, it should not be compacted. If your soil is more clay-like, mix in some sand to loosen it and improve drainage.
•If your soil isn’t rich in organic matter, incorporate a few inches of aged compost or all-purpose fertilizer (see packaging for amount) into the planting site as soon as the soil is workable.
•Till your garden bed to remove any rocks or dirt clods before planting.
•Practice three-year crop rotation. In other words, only plant radishes in the same spot every third year. This will help prevent diseases from affecting your crop.
 
How to Plant Radishes
•For a spring planting, sow seeds 4–6 weeks before the average date of last frost. See local frost dates here.
•It’s best to plant radish seeds directly in the garden so as not to disturb their roots. Directly sow seeds outdoors ½ to 1 inch deep and 1 inch apart in rows 12 inches apart.
•Plant another round of seeds every 10 days or so—while weather is still cool—for a continuous harvest of radishes in the late spring and early summer.
•Plan on a fall planting. You can plant radishes later than any other root crop in late summer or early fall and still get a harvest. Sow seeds 4–6 weeks before the first fall frost.
 
Care
How to Grow Radishes
•Thin radishes to about 2 inches apart when the plants are a week old. Crowded plants do not grow well.
•Consistent, even moisture is key. Keep soil evenly moist but not waterlogged. A drip irrigation system is a great way to achieve this.
•Putting a thin layer of mulch around the radishes can help retain moisture in dry conditions.
 
Pests/Diseases
•Cabbage Root Maggot
•Clubroot
•Weeds: Weeds will quickly crowd out radishes, so keep the bed weed-free. See a list of common garden weeds here.
 
Harvest/Storage
How and When to Harvest Radishes
•Radishes will be ready to harvest quite rapidly, as soon as three weeks after planting for some varieties.
•For most varieties, harvest when roots are approximately 1 inch in diameter at the soil surface. Pull one out and test it before harvesting the rest!
•Do not leave radishes in the ground long after their mature stage; their condition will deteriorate quickly.
•Cut the tops and the thin root tail off, wash the radishes, and dry them thoroughly. Store in plastic bags in the refrigerator.
•Radish greens can be stored separately for up to three days.
 
Wit & Wisdom
Radish seeds have a fairly long shelf life. Don’t be afraid to plant radish seeds that are up to five years old. All may not germinate, but you’ll have plenty that will.
taken from https://www.almanac.com/plant/radishesKtill next time this is Becky Litterer, Becky's Greenhouse Dougherty Iowa beckmall@netins.net

Onion sets, white, red, yellow  $4.00 per bag

Seed potatoes, Kennebec,, Red Pontiac, Yukon Gold   5 lbs for $5.00 

   This sign hanging up over the bulk Vegetable seeds we have.  This sign was made by a dear friend, Max Folkerts.  All in your memory Max. 

      ​Sun out today, but the wind really came up this afternoon with a little shower. Looks like the temperatures will be normal for this next week.  That is good.  I am starting to move plants out on the racks so when we open on Friday April 24th there will be plenty of room for you to look and be 6 feet apart.  Not all the plants are ready to move out, so there will be plants in the greenhouse to look at.  But again plenty of room to space each other 6 feet apart.  Seed potatoes, onion sets are ready for you to plant in your garden.  Not the pretty picture but we have Yukon Gold, Red Pontanic, and Kennebec for your seed potato choices.  5 lbs for $5.00, yellow, red and white onion sets a bag for $4.00
 
      You see " the seedy part of town" sign.  That is for the bulk vegetable seeds we have.  We have beans, peas, radishes, spinach, kale, kolrobi, and many more to list.  Most of them are measure by the teasspoon and runs about .25 per teaspoon.  Larger seeds are measure by the Tablespoon.  I have tested their germanation and found that they will grow.  Ones that didn't, I ordered new seed.  I can show you those trays of checking the germanation.  Again we are here to help wiht your gardening needs, so glad to help you with your seeds.  This sign was made by a dear friend, Max Folkerts, and so showing it off in his memory.
 
     I did a video about deadheading pansies, but didn't come out.  So I will try it again tomorrow as that is what I am doing with the pansies.  Soon it will be Friday and then I am open every day till the end of June.  Monday-Saturday 9-6, Sunday 11-4.  Glad to help you with your gardening needs.  till next time this is Becky Litterer, Becky's Greenhouse Dougherty Iowa beckmall@netins.net 

image thoughtsCo.

     ​So another beautiful day here in Dougherty.  Clear, blue skies, not so windy as yesterday. Temperature a little cooler but still it is a great day.  I am working in the greenhouse.  I am still planting and still making room for those plants.   We are open this Friday at nine and then open every day till the end of June.  I know you are ready to get outside and in your gardens.  Being this is Sunday I am sharing with you words from the song " The Prayer"  You can goggle to hear the song but the words are good for what we are going thru. 
The Prayer
David Foster, Celine Dion, Josh Groban, Mark Masri, Michael Bolton, Carole Bayer Sager, Andrea Bocelli,
 
Can we touch the soul of heaven
Can we unite a sacred lesson
Every child creates a skylight of beauty
Can you hear cathedrals falling
All the universe is calling
Cry a single cello from your heart
 
Since the world has lost her way
Loneliness journey, endlessly
Yet the promised chance remains
Gift of what could be
 
So let the children remember the sun
Let them dance, let them soar
For their lives have begun
Let the children engender the rain
As the river runs through fields
Forever subsiding their pain
Prayer
 
Every voice along the shoreline
Standing still within time
Spinnin' unresolved
Walking as each season passes
Through wonderland, through walking glasses
A secret garden shines, beckons you
Gentle flower don't fade away
Sweet innocence still harbors thee
In the faint of golden dreams
Where one love lives eternally
 
Let the children remember the sun
Let them dance, let them soar
For their lives have begun
Let the children engender the rain
As the river runs through fields
Forever subsiding their pain
Prayer, prayer
 
(Prayer, Prayer)
 
(Bless the)
 
Bless the children for they are the light
They are the truth of spirit in flight
Yes the children engender the rain
As the river runs through life
Healing their pain
If you could trust with your heart one more time
Sweet angel conceived
You have forever and always believed,
Prayer
Prayer, oh, prayer
till next time this is Becky Litterer, Becky's Greenhouse, Dougherty Iowa beckmall@netins.net

images from Becky's Greenhouse
7 kinds of wave petunias
​Easy Wave Beachcomber mix
Easy Wave Great Lakes mix
Easy Wave Opposites attract mix
Easy Wave the Flag Mix
Easy Wave Yellow
Tidal Wave Cherry
Wave purple improved
large 4 pack for $5.00

So here we are April 18, and I know all of you are so ready to get into your gardens.  It will warm up and it will be coming.  I am ready with many plants for your gardens.  I have been working on them since January.  You see I grew what you see in the greenhouse.  I am a grower.  It makes me smile when someone says " I see you got your plants in all ready"  Yes I got them in Feb and March and have planted them.  I have been growing them for 31 years.  So we are ready for your garden.  Next Friday April 24 we will be open for your gardening needs.  We will do curbside pickup.  You call make your order, give your credit card.  Call before noon, and pick up the next day.  I will run the credit card after I pull the plants.  I will hold them for 5 days, then they will have to go back to the racks so I can water them.  You are welcome to come and shop because we have lots of area for everyone to social distance.  I will be open every day from the 24 of April till the end of June.  call me 641-794-3337
 
During my time as a greenhouse owner, I had numerous customers come to my place looking for something easy to grow that would be hard to kill. Obviously, with any plant, there is the potential to not meet some of its needs and thereby kill it. But over time, I realized there was one that was preferred over most others: the wave petunia. This easy-growing plant is a great starter plant for any novice flower gardener.
 
Habit
The wave petunia blends the habit of the petunia and a trailing vine plant. The flowers are characteristic of the original petunia, in multiple colors of white, pink, red, purple, and yellow. These flowers bloom profusely throughout the growing season and do not require plucking the way a traditional petunia would.
 
Wave petunias come in several varieties: trailing, mounding, and spreading types. They are good for containers and hanging baskets and will do fine planted directly in the ground. The trailing types will spread 2 to 3 feet. So plan your growing application accordingly.
 
Wave petunias prefer a full sun location. They will tolerate partial sun, but do not do well in the shade. Heat is not a problem, as long as you water and fertilize them sufficiently. You can check the soil with your fingers. If it is dry, there is a need for attention.
 
Fertilizing
Wave petunias are heavy feeders, meaning they like the fertilizer to be given frequently. In one of the reference books I used when growing for resale, I read about an experiment at a producer of liquid fertilizer where the petunias were fed two or three times the recommended amount of liquid fertilizer and thrived from the experience. Perhaps you should stick to the manufacturer’s guidance and only fertilize every 7–10 days though.
Why is it important to feed wave petunias? Won't they just grow if the weather is warm and I keep them watered? Yes, they will grow, but you will see the signs of malnutrition, which include faded color in the blooms as well as a yellowing in the leaves and stems. Remember, this is a fast-growing plant, which requires plenty of food to make the plant remain healthy looking and prosper in its push for floral glory.
 
Wave petunias are one of the best plants at telling on you when you neglect their needs. You don't want this humbling experience, so take care of your obligation by feeding the plant regularly. Trust me. For the reward the plant gives, this is not too much to ask.
 
Companion Plants
I would put just about anything in a hanging basket with a wave petunia. The thing to keep in mind is that the wave petunia wants to use all the space. So you need something just as vigorous, or the wave petunia can choke it out.
 
I have used trailing verbena, osteospermum, dracena (spikes), geraniums, ipomoea (sweet potato vines, the flower variety), million bells, and more to combine nicely with these favorites of every gardener.
 
Pinch Off Long Branches
When I grew the “waves”, as I called them, I would pinch the branches off as they began to get long on the first set of vines so the plant would become stockier. You can see a plant that is unattended at the local garden center or big box store, as it will have thin little vines that are easily broken by handling or the wind. In contrast, plants that have been pinched will weather the summer much better, sustaining all but exceptional wind and storms
 
Give Them Plenty of Growing Space
Wave petunias will grow fast and become root bound within a short time. So if you buy individual plants, make sure to provide them with a pot that has plenty of growing space. If you will take your plant out of the pot about six weeks after you start growing it, you will find the roots have wrapped around the bottom of the pot and filled in all the available space. If this happens, you can take a knife and cut the bottom half of the roots off the root system to allow for more growth space. Don’t worry, this will not kill the plant, but actually will invigorate it.
 
Make Sure It's Fertilized and Drains Well
Also, as the plant matures, it will require more fertilizer to preserve the dark green color you desire. Be careful to put the petunia in a well-drained pot, as too much water will leave the soil wet and turn your plant yellow. If this happens, hold off on watering and get the plant in full sun to dry it out.
 
Wave petunias can be found all over the place in the spring and fall, covering many places with a beautiful carpet of color. They are a favorite of landscapers because two or three can easily cover a 5- to 6-foot diameter area. They are hearty, growing continuously from mid-spring until killed by frost.
 
Enjoy the experience of planting wave petunias, perhaps the easiest flower you will ever grow.
taken from https://dengarden.com/gardening/The-Gardeners-Companion-How-to-grow-wave-petunias
till next time this is Becky Litterer, Becky's Greenhouse Dougherty Iowa beckmall@netins.net

images from Becky's Greenhouse

      ​     Here is the summer forecast from the Old Farmer's Almanac.  Kinda hard to read with us having below normal temperature today. With a temperature at 8:00 AM is 26 degrees with it feeling like 22.  But it looks like we will be getting warmer weather soon.  Here are some more pictures of what has been going on in the greenhouse for 2 months.  Planting, planting and more planting.  Stay safe and stay healthy. 
  
Summer to Start Off Hot, Get Muggy Toward the Middle  By Michael Steinberg
Summer Starts With the Solstice
Summer officially begins with the summer solstice on Saturday, June 20, at 5:44 PM EDT. It’s the day of maximum sunlight in the Northern Hemisphere, which is certainly something to look forward to!
 
The first full day of summer happens to be Father’s Day (Sunday, June 21), and the forecast for that weekend is looking ideal for Dad to fire up the grill in the Atlantic Corridor, from the Ohio Valley northward to the Lower Lakes, in the Heartland, from the Desert Southwest westward to the Pacific Southwest, in most of Alaska, and in the Northwest Territories of Canada.
 
Most other areas will have mainly dry weather, but thunderstorms will be scattered about. Showers will be more widespread in Hawaii and the Pacific Northwest and especially from Florida into the southeastern states, where a tropical storm is possible.
 
Summer Weather Forecast for the U.S.
Will It Be a Hot Summer?
For a large part of the United States, this summer is likely to be a scorcher!
June will set the tone for the season, with above-normal temperatures in the northeastern quarter of the United States, the Pacific Northwest, and Alaska. June temperatures will be cooler than normal in most other areas, including Florida, the Southeast, the Intermountain region, and from Texas-Oklahoma west to the Calirfornia coast. Temperatures in those regions will still be warmer than those predicted for May, however.
 
Most areas will have near- to above-normal rainfall in June, but drier weather will be the rule in the Northeast, Appalachians, Southeast, Desert Southwest, Pacific Northwest, Hawaii, and southern Alaska.
 
A Muggy Mid-Summer for Some
Summer’s steamiest weather will hold off until mid-July in most areas. Gardeners almost everywhere—in the Intermountain and Pacific regions, northern Alaska, from most of Texas northward to Canada, and eastward to the Atlantic—may be relieved to hear that summer rainfall will be above normal. I’m sorry to say, however, that watering cans will be needed in the Sunshine State (Florida).
 
Hurricane Season Begins on June 1
Of course, June 1 marks the beginning of Atlantic hurricane season, which officially runs until November 30. Tropical storm activity will be near average, with the best chance for a major hurricane strike to occur in mid-September from Florida to North Carolina.
 
Other threats of hurricanes or tropical storms will occur in the same area in mid- to late June, in Florida in mid- to late July and mid- to late October, and in early to mid-October from the Deep South and Southeast northeastward to New England.
taken from https://www.almanac.com/summer-weather-forecast
till next time this is Becky Litterer, Becky's Greenhouse, Dougherty Iowa beckmall@netins.net