Operating the hotbed

Regulate hotbed temperatures so the soil is 5 to 10 degrees warmer than the air; this encourages heavy root growth and stocky plants. Most plants and seeds start root growth at 70 to 80 degrees. All need proper ventilation, watering, and shading. Transfer to the hotbed any of the spring bedding plants you have started in the greenhouse; use the hotbed for starting summer-flowering bulbs; to hasten growth of flowering annuals or vegetables; for propagating cuttings of perennials; or for starting herbs from seed or cuttings.

Tubers, Bulbs, and Corms

Bury potted tuberous begonias, caladium, tuberose, tigridia, and other tender summer-flowering bulbs in the hotbed soil. Start with a bottom heat of 70 to 75 degrees and, as strong leaves appear, decrease the bottom heat to 65 degrees.

Perennial Cuttings

If you have wintered perennials in your greenhouse, take cuttings in early spring and transplant them into the hotbed, directly into the soil or into pots plunged in the hotbed. Most of them form roots easily making salable plants by mid-May. The following perennials are among those that are readily propagated from cuttings: chrysanthemums, clematis, dahlias, hollyhock, lobelia, penstemon, phlox, plumbago, and sedum.

Herbs in the Hotbed

There are not many herb specialists and with cookbooks and magazine articles stressing the value of herbs in cooking, gardeners have shown a renewed interest in them. Thus they may appeal to you as a specialty crop. These herbs are especially popular: balm, basil, borage, coriander, caraway, parsley, rosemary, sage, and sweet marjoram. (Other herbs, page 295 ff., can also be handled in the hotbed.)

Sow herb seed April 1 to May 15, to inch deep, directly into the hotbed or in flats. Give bottom heat of 70 to 75 degrees. When the plants have their second set of good leaves, transplant to small pots or thin them and grow them on in the flats.

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