Home Improvement

Heating Your Garage

Maybe it is time to consider heating your garage if you do not already do. There are several types of heaters to be used in an attached or detached garage.

  1. A radiant (infrared) heater heats the objects that are near to it. The drawback is it does not heat the air. The advantage to this type of heater is if the garage is open a lot, this heater is more efficient than other types. Infrared heaters placed on the propane tank work well in small areas.
  2. A convection heater will heat the air throughout the garage or area by heating the cold air as it sinks. The warmed air rises circulating the cold air down to the heater. This heater is more efficient than a forced-air heater.
  3. A forced air heater is the most common. It heats the air directly and blows the air around disturbing the heat more evenly. This heater works well in larger garages.
  4. The mini-split heat pump is a very efficient way to warm a garage or your house. They can either heat or cool.
  5. Wood stoves can heat an area fast. The drawback is you need the wood (or pellets) and getting them started can be a hassle.
  6. A propane blower unit is a small blower fed by a propane tank.

Electric heaters are the easiest to install and operate. The newer ones have a solar panel which provides the electric source. Many electric heaters run on a 120-volt system, some need a 220-volt system for commercial heaters.

Propane heaters are less expensive. These heaters should be vented if you are in the garage or workshop for long periods.

All the heaters mentioned can be mounted to conserve on floor space or portable on the floor. Most come with thermostats to control the temperature.

Most of these heaters have guidelines determining how many BTUs (British Thermal Units) they can heat. Figuring out the BTUs needed can be difficult and involved. Luckily there are online calculators which are easy to use figuring the BTUs.

  • Convection Heater with Blower
  • Forced Air Propane Heater
  • Kerosene Heater
  • Mini Split Heating and Cooling
  • Radiant Heater
  • Wood Stove
Flowers (annual and perennial), Vegetables

All American Selection of 2022

All American Selection Committee has released its new winners for 2022. These varieties offer new performance and are considered best in class for new varieties. These flowers and vegetables will be found as they become more available to retail stores and garden catalogs.

Bee’s Knees’ Petunia

A petunia called ‘Bee’s Knees’ is a vivid yellow which does not yellow. The plant has a mounding growth habit making it good for groundcover or hanging baskets.

Icicle Eggplant

Another winner is a cylindrical white eggplant called ‘Icicle F1’. The bright white color of the fruit does not tend to fade like other white eggplants. It claims the plant has an improved flavor and texture (we will see about that).


‘Bauer’ lettuce is an oakleaf type that claims to be very easy to grow harvesting either by the leaf or head.

Bauer Lettuce

Another pepper called ‘Buffy F1’, the second pepper winner. A thick-walled, red-hot pepper adds ornamental value to the garden. Similar to the Tabasco pepper in size and taste.

Century Star Watermelon

Lastly, the ‘Century Star F1’ watermelon with dark green rind plus yellowish spots is very similar to the older ‘Moon and Stars’ variety. Producing 10-pound fruit that is sweet and crisp.

Christmas, House Plants

Poinsettia as a Gift

Now you received a poinsettia as a gift, now how do you care for it?

Give it bright light (a sunny window if not too hot) and keep out of cold areas like drafts. The biggest problem you may have is the dropping of the leaves. The main cause is how you water the plant. Too much water or too little water will cause leaf drop. Water when the top of the soil medium is dry and wait till it dries out to water again. Be sure to remove the foil wrapper to let the excess water drain away. Also if the plant got chilled before receiving, the leaves will drop. A few leaves will drop as the plant ages. Do not worry about this.

As the plant ages, the bracts will fall off sometime in February. Prune your poinsettia back to 6 inches tall leaving a couple of leaves on each stem. The plant will grow new shoots. At this time fertilizer with a houseplant fertilizer every two or three weeks. In May, repot into a slightly larger pot and prune back if needed. Now if you want, move your plant outside when the night temps are above 55 degrees with afternoon shade. In mid-summer pinch out the tops of the stems to promote side branching.

Now the next part is critical. In the fall take your plant indoors before it gets too cold. Place the plant in a dark spot for around 14 hours of COMPLETE darkness every day like a closet around the first of October. Then return to a sunny window each day. Stop fertilizing. Keep doing this until the bracts start to color and then treat as a new poinsettia.