Lath houses in the south, California, North and Mid West

In the South

A Florida grower uses his lath house for growing many ges-neriads, caladiums, camellias, palms, potted kaempferias, and other salable plants. He engages in both local retail and mail-order selling, and to him this garden structure is as useful as a second greenhouse. From a flat slatted roof hang dozens of baskets of achimenes (his specialty). During the winter the achimenes rest and the small rhizomes are stored indoors.

On benches, grow pots of caladiums, bird of paradise (Strelitzia regina), unusual arums such as amorphallus, rare callas for collectors, and several kinds of kaempferias. His shipping season is finished by October 1 and the only items remaining at that time are stock plants to be used for propagating.

In California

California is famous for its gorgeous tuberous-rooted begonias, and a large percentage of this crop is grown in lath houses. To conserve room the hanging basket types are suspended from the ceiling. Other kinds grow directly in benches, in pots set on staging (steps), or shelves; some are planted into the ground.

Tuberous begonia seeds planted in November make flowering plants by spring. During the interim, when it is too chilly for the seedlings to be outdoors, they are usually grown in the greenhouse many of them being grown in plastic covered greenhouses. Staggered plantings of tubers from February until April produce flowers for most of the spring and summer.

Large commercial growers in California store the tubers in refrigerated or specially constructed and cooled cellars at 50 degrees F. The smaller grower plans his stock so he’ll have few tubers to store and these usually can be stored in a basement or a cool closet.

In the Midwest and North

A Kansas grower who specializes in sales of potted vines and trailers, propagates her plants in a basement fluorescent setup. When the weather is mild, she moves the plants to the lath house. In the lath house are top and side hooks for the plants. Moss-lined baskets of achimenes and columneas hang from the ceiling. Many varieties of ceropegia and episcias are grown on the sides. Here, too, are strawberry begonias, asarina, philo-dendron, and ivy.

Another Kansas grower who specializes in rex begonias and ferns starts all of her plants in the cool greenhouse. In April they are moved to the lath house. She sells both retail and through the mail. The lath house provides such a beautiful setting for these plants that it is easy to sell them to visitors. A grower in our area has made a lath house of discarded fluorescent light tubes. In it she grows for sale tuberous begonias and trailing geraniums. And in the shade of this same lath house she works at her favorite hobby, grafting shrubs and trees.

A Missouri grower uses the lath house for summering orchids. During the winter they are grown under fluorescent light and in a tiny greenhouse extended from the basement. Early in April the orchids are moved to the lath house. Here they remain until late fall.

Keywords: Greenhouse Gardening, Landscaping, Plants, Pool, Gardener, Landscape, Trees

Tags: home greenhouse

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