Had an idea on a greenhouse for bananas

Starstryke · 03-05-2017, 01:02 AM

Need some advice on this one. I live down in SE Texas and while I did successfully keep my potted bananas alive this winter I need to re-pot them and when I do they will grow taller. I have been meaning to put in a greenhouse in the backyard and was probably going to go with one of the 20'x10'x7' that I see advertised on ebay. I would probably replace the plastic covers however. I had a thought today though that perhaps I could dig a pit and put the greenhouse over the top of it to increase the height for tall bananas. Anyone have any experience doing something like this or thoughts on why I should not do it ? If this is in the wrong place let me know.

cincinnana · 03-05-2017, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Starstryke

Need some advice on this one. I live down in SE Texas and while I did successfully keep my potted bananas alive this winter I need to re-pot them and when I do they will grow taller. I have been meaning to put in a greenhouse in the backyard and was probably going to go with one of the 20'x10'x7' that I see advertised on ebay. I would probably replace the plastic covers however. I had a thought today though that perhaps I could dig a pit and put the greenhouse over the top of it to increase the height for tall bananas. Anyone have any experience doing something like this or thoughts on why I should not do it ? If this is in the wrong place let me know.

There are 4-5 members in the forum whom have done this and have created time lined posts/threads on their successful projects.
Youtube has some informative projects also.

I put a link to some of them. Sorry if I have missed anyone.

.My New Banana House

Mark's Banana Forest Paradise

banana sphere pit greenhouse

edwmax · 03-05-2017, 11:51 AM

I just finished one about 1/2 that size, but not with a pit. As Matt have point out, other members have constructed greenhouses over 3 to 4 ft deep pits to increase interior height without increasing the greenhouse framing height. An additional advantage reported, is the ground temperature (heat) easily keeps interior temps in the mid 40s without additional heating during very cold freezing temps outside.

Should I need a bigger greenhouse, I would consider building it with a pit.

Starstryke · 03-05-2017, 02:41 PM

Yep, I think I am going to do it. I just have to figure out the ground water level and if that will affect the pit. Almost no one has basements down here so this may be a problem. Might have to remove a tree now that I think about it. Ah well I have 8 months to figure all of this stuff out.

Tropicman · 03-05-2017, 06:55 PM

I live up outside Amarillo,Texas.I grow bananas in my greenhouse,which is 20x30x12,lean to,greenhouse,I have to grow bananas which are the dwarf variety ,I'm growing Raja Puri Cuba Red Dwarf nah wah.I have fruit on trees now,what I wanted to say if you don't make it where the rain water runs completely away,so it does not flood you should be okay,but if they get wet one too many times,you'll just have rotted corms,and I believe you get quite a bit of rain there late winter early spring,as I use to live in Louisiana.

edwmax · 03-05-2017, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Starstryke

Yep, I think I am going to do it. I just have to figure out the ground water level and if that will affect the pit. Almost no one has basements down here so this may be a problem. Might have to remove a tree now that I think about it. Ah well I have 8 months to figure all of this stuff out.

Dig a hole 4 ft x 4ft 4 ft deep; cover with a pvc hoops & poly. Then observe water levels during dry weather and after rains for the next 8 months.

In the greenhouse, you can lay a couple of pvc french drains in the pit bottom draining to a sump to be pumped out if flooding might be a problem.

john_ny · 03-07-2017, 08:57 PM

Should be OK, provided the water table isn't high, and it doesn't flood.

Starstryke · 03-07-2017, 09:14 PM

Yep, it has never flooded here and we have had hurricanes come through.

Pia · 09-23-2017, 12:43 PM

Hi, couple weeks ago I found a tour of the Climate Battery Greenhouse at 7200 feet on a mountain in Colorado https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKMi4Vlt_Ys

obdiah · 09-23-2017, 07:36 PM

welcome to the forum

2 years back I built a 20x12 greenhouse in the ground I store some banana plants in it to keep till spring but grow most out doors this house has performed well above my exceptions the lowest inside night time temperature recorded last winter was 43 F if I remember right with the outside temperature 8F this is with no heat at all I dug a six ft deep 20x12 trench with the track loader and bermed it up an additional 4 ft on the north side then framed the top with 10 in I beam salvaged from an old mobile home frame with I beam rafters on 34 in centers and glazed with 14 salvaged sliding glass double Paine patio doors beaded on the rafters with rtv silicon total cost was about $800.00 would be easier if you had a steep south facing hillside to build it on also keep an eye on drainage the great part was 0 heating cost all winter

03-05-2017, 01:02 AM	#1 (permalink)
Starstryke Location: Texas Find me on the map! Zone: 9a Join Date: Jul 2015 Posts: 137 BananaBucks : 31,914 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 47 Times Was Thanked 141 Times in 80 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2 Times	Had an idea on a greenhouse for bananas Need some advice on this one. I live down in SE Texas and while I did successfully keep my potted bananas alive this winter I need to re-pot them and when I do they will grow taller. I have been meaning to put in a greenhouse in the backyard and was probably going to go with one of the 20'x10'x7' that I see advertised on ebay. I would probably replace the plastic covers however. I had a thought today though that perhaps I could dig a pit and put the greenhouse over the top of it to increase the height for tall bananas. Anyone have any experience doing something like this or thoughts on why I should not do it ? If this is in the wrong place let me know.

03-05-2017, 11:51 AM	#3 (permalink)
edwmax Location: Cairo, Ga Find me on the map! Zone: 8b Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 2,891 BananaBucks : 98,173 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 1,740 Times Was Thanked 4,437 Times in 2,093 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 414 Times	Re: Had an idea on a greenhouse for bananas I just finished one about 1/2 that size, but not with a pit. As Matt have point out, other members have constructed greenhouses over 3 to 4 ft deep pits to increase interior height without increasing the greenhouse framing height. An additional advantage reported, is the ground temperature (heat) easily keeps interior temps in the mid 40s without additional heating during very cold freezing temps outside. Should I need a bigger greenhouse, I would consider building it with a pit. __________________

03-05-2017, 02:41 PM	#4 (permalink)
Starstryke Location: Texas Find me on the map! Zone: 9a Join Date: Jul 2015 Posts: 137 BananaBucks : 31,914 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 47 Times Was Thanked 141 Times in 80 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2 Times	Re: Had an idea on a greenhouse for bananas Yep, I think I am going to do it. I just have to figure out the ground water level and if that will affect the pit. Almost no one has basements down here so this may be a problem. Might have to remove a tree now that I think about it. Ah well I have 8 months to figure all of this stuff out.

03-05-2017, 06:55 PM	#5 (permalink)
Tropicman Junior Member Tropicman's Photo Gallery Location: Wichita,Ks Find me on the map! Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 147 BananaBucks : 42,966 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 131 Times Was Thanked 220 Times in 66 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 9 Times	Re: Had an idea on a greenhouse for bananas I live up outside Amarillo,Texas.I grow bananas in my greenhouse,which is 20x30x12,lean to,greenhouse,I have to grow bananas which are the dwarf variety ,I'm growing Raja Puri Cuba Red Dwarf nah wah.I have fruit on trees now,what I wanted to say if you don't make it where the rain water runs completely away,so it does not flood you should be okay,but if they get wet one too many times,you'll just have rotted corms,and I believe you get quite a bit of rain there late winter early spring,as I use to live in Louisiana.

03-07-2017, 08:57 PM	#7 (permalink)
john_ny Member john_ny's Photo Gallery Location: Staten Island, NY - southernmost county in NY State. Find me on the map! Zone: USDA7- Sunset34 Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2,014 BananaBucks : 713,661 Feedback: 5 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,057 Times Was Thanked 2,284 Times in 832 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 37 Times	Re: Had an idea on a greenhouse for bananas Should be OK, provided the water table isn't high, and it doesn't flood. __________________ John

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03-07-2017, 09:14 PM	#8 (permalink)
Starstryke Location: Texas Find me on the map! Zone: 9a Join Date: Jul 2015 Posts: 137 BananaBucks : 31,914 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 47 Times Was Thanked 141 Times in 80 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2 Times	Re: Had an idea on a greenhouse for bananas Yep, it has never flooded here and we have had hurricanes come through.

09-23-2017, 12:43 PM	#9 (permalink)
Pia Find me on the map! Join Date: Sep 2017 Posts: 33 BananaBucks : 9,463 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 26 Times Was Thanked 55 Times in 21 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Had an idea on a greenhouse for bananas Hi, couple weeks ago I found a tour of the Climate Battery Greenhouse at 7200 feet on a mountain in Colorado https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKMi4Vlt_Ys

09-23-2017, 07:36 PM	#10 (permalink)
obdiah Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 307 BananaBucks : 96,056 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 162 Times Was Thanked 576 Times in 186 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 22 Times	Re: Had an idea on a greenhouse for bananas welcome to the forum 2 years back I built a 20x12 greenhouse in the ground I store some banana plants in it to keep till spring but grow most out doors this house has performed well above my exceptions the lowest inside night time temperature recorded last winter was 43 F if I remember right with the outside temperature 8F this is with no heat at all I dug a six ft deep 20x12 trench with the track loader and bermed it up an additional 4 ft on the north side then framed the top with 10 in I beam salvaged from an old mobile home frame with I beam rafters on 34 in centers and glazed with 14 salvaged sliding glass double Paine patio doors beaded on the rafters with rtv silicon total cost was about $800.00 would be easier if you had a steep south facing hillside to build it on also keep an eye on drainage the great part was 0 heating cost all winter

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