Greenhouse
 

There have been a few members on here on there interested in the greenhouse. I have finally decided to make a greenhouse thread. It's 8ft x 9ft and around 7.5 feet tall. So far I've been able to use it year round for various plant that are actively growing. I do have a few things that are completely dormant like bougainvilleas, cannas, ginger, and bananas. The only trouble is raised beds were never put in as containers are not nearly as good. Raised beds will be a spring job for sure. The night temps must be around 40-45F. Hope this gives you some inspiration that yes it can be done! Thanks for checking this out.

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Very nice!
Do you have a heat source in there?

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Thanks! A small heater and a fan that circulates

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Heating would sure help.

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Looks amazing Matt. What type of haskap do you have? Do you have 2 varieties to pollenate?

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single layer of poly?

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Thanks Brady! Yes borealis I think and something indigo. I've neglected these for some years.( I got them for free from a nursery I worked for) I won't be getting any more fruit just the blooms. The other, planted in the ground doesn't look like it made it through the hot summer. Should have watered it well into Oct-Nov :( oh well they will be replaced with something else this year.

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double
next year it'll be better insulated

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what do you plan to change for next season?

how are the layers separated?

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My question also. It seems great minds desire a few more details. Hey, you started this thread, Matt! I tried one (single layer and less polished) when I lived in MD--hot zone 7. No heat but it did allow me to start seedlings 6 weeks sooner. Alas mine was not in an area protected from cold spring winds; it appears that yours is more "nestled". Is it? (No, I don't need even a hoophouse here; I could probably use a summer structure that involves shade cloth but instead I'm learning my sun/shade patterns involving my big and biggesh trees.)

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I will be adding boards of insulation. I've seen it before its silver half an inch thick or so. The layers are not separated but next time I re do the plastic I will keep that in mind. I know it would bump the night temp up a few degrees.

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i am not pro at this
you may want to look it up for more detail
you may be able to buy a small fan, make a small hole and direct air between the layers

maybe something like this?
4 in. Duct Booster Fan | Princess Auto
costs more than i remembered... maybe they were on sale at some point
should be able to get a cheap one with some shopping around
but look it up for people who have real experience

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i thought youre plants looked great btw
mine were inside and looking like they were dying back and yours were still nice and green

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Kat I wish mine was more nestled then it may look. It stands in front a row of trees that run north-south about 50 feet in length. Other then that it's all open.
lucky zone 7, sounds like you had decent success with one layer :)

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Thanks subsonicdrone, Oh I wish I had known about those fans while putting this thing together. otherwise I liked Mark's idea layered put pvc, plastic, pvc, plastic.

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why not put the haskap in the ground outside somewhere? i thought they were super cold hardy?
i was going to buy some this season on the recommendation of my neighbour but didnt get around to it

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maybe even some dollarama pool noodles between the poly
i am guessing it would be hard to do at this point

yes like another one just the same but slightly bigger

do you have a max min thermometer in there?
what has youre low been
pretty mild this year too that helps

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They're very different and after trying the fruit, I was not a fan. They were free so I took them haha letting it ride out it's last spring. Still nice to see the yellow blooms soon to come this time of year.

If I plan on doing another layer this year I might actually do the pool noodle idea sounds the cheapest yet still effective. Most of this month was raining off and on. today we got some snow. The mild temps have helped. Where are you located?
I am only using an old thermometer, the one you see in the second picture. I go out sometimes around 12-1 am If I remember and check temp or go out at 7 am and see what it got down to. I will have to invest in a digital one like what you are talking about.

for the few weeks of rainy mild weather it stayed around 48-50F
Recently in the last week back into the low 40's

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I have Aurora as well and use honeybee as a pollinator. Indeed they are insanely hardy, mine have survived several nights days below -30C. They have a very interesting taste.

Instead of coving the greenhouse with insulation sheets, which would block light (but are great for wintering palms), I would recommend using a small squirrel cage blower to inflate the space between the layers. I couldn't see the fan recommend in the link from Mark, but if you search "double layer poly greenhouse squirrel fan" you will find lots of options. It would not require much maintenance to install, just cutting a small hole in the inner layer of poly and some tuck tape. You could probably achieve a good 6" of gap between the layers. It's incredible how much insulation this dead space would provide.

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PS haskaps are a bit tart, not the biggest fan off the bush....But it you bake with them, they are hard to beat.

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I am a little jealous you have mangos growing in there.
:nanadrink:

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Congrats Matt for everything you are successfully growing in the Greenhouse!....:2723::bananarow::2723:

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Yesterday was the first day above 70F in a while and that was with the fan on. It's a much better feeling when the sun is doing the heating. Yes I realize I could probably update the thermometer.. but if it ain't broke don't fix it

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These old eyes have great appreciation for big numbered classics. ;)

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And you don't have to bend over to see them!!! That's a plus in my book!

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if you checked in the early morning after the coldest night so far it should be a good approximation

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Here is an update for February. Lots happening now! I hope it's not too shaky lol!
https://youtu.be/YAzA0XHnj3E

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Nice video.

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Friday I started putting up my greenhouse. This one is about 8 ft by 10ft. Whereas for the past 4 years I've been using a small 5ft x5ft to start garden seeds. This one is big enough for me to move a few DC bananas out of the den.

This morning I put in the plastic fencing (1"x1") in the 2 bottom rear side opening (2ft x5ft) to keep the chickens, ducks, and cats out when the vents are open. I have to frame the door at the front, install a fan, and put the poly on.

I'll post a completed picture when complete. ... The frame is 3/4" PVC with 1x4 wood and lattice strips across the top. So far I have about $35 invested in this one.

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I got the door frame built today and installed the last wire brace in the front wall. The wire braces are tight with almost no sway (1/2" ??) in the walls. Now to build the door, side vent panels, and cover the frame with plastic.

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A very inexpensive way to insulate a small greenhouse is to cover between the poly layers with the 1/2" bubble wrap. 4'x250' non-preforated roll under $50. I used 3 layers on shady side and 2 layers on sunny side. Works great as a light diffuser too.

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Humm ... I was thinking (next fall) to install wood spacers over some the 1x4s & lattice strips then cover with ploy. The wood spacers would cost around 10 bucks plus poly. ... I'll give the bubble warp some thought. Its been mentioned before as insulation.

However, the temps have been to 80s in my area this week. And, the dame mosquitoes & nats are out. I pull out my propane fogger that hasn't been used for the past 3 years and got it going. H'll its only February and I'm fighting mosquitoes! ... I don't think I really need double wall poly on my greenhouse.

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Door Framing & Door:

Enclosed:


Inside View:


A little work left to fix small details and level the floor/ground. Then move plants in.

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Great job! I like the roof idea

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yes looks good. are you going to anchor it? just to throw something at you, might be a little late in the game, might not. old trailer windows are screwed on from the outside edge, easy to mount on something like this. one with a good screen would make a good vent and allow fresh air to be brought in.

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It's anchored. I drove 20" of 1/2 PVC (30" length) into the ground. Then slide the 3/4 PVC over the 10" above ground. ... If you look at the above inside photo you can see the 1"x1" black fence. There is another on the other side. These were to make a 2ft x 5ft vents and to keep the chickens out when open. ... The outside temp is 77 deg F and inside is 120 deg. I may have to cut the plastic open now for cool air.

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I cut & put in the 1x4 verticals; then stapled the poly to the 1X's. Then cut the opening.

The temperature dropped from 120 plus down to 90 deg F with the door open. This can work until I get the fan & electricity next week.

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Thanks for reminding me. I've seen these before. Harbor. Freight has these at $20.

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I always build a green house WITH a roof! Don't you? ...hahaha :bananas_b

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small update
sold all the mango seedlings, will be starting a new batch this week.

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Update on my GreenHouse construction. I built this because I needed to start my garden seeds; a place to move a few potted bananas out of the house; and to grow TC banana plants if needed. For the past 4 or 5 years I've started seeds under a 5ft by 5ft pvc frame with ploy draped over it. That was ok for the seeds, but now I needed something a little bigger and more stable.

Anyway, this past Thursday & Friday nights the temps drop into the mid 30's; and last night down to 44 deg F. With a small electric space heater the interior was easy to keep at about 65 deg F. during the night. During the day with out temps in the 70s the interior temp can go over 120 deg F if vents and doors are closed.

I completed and closed up the side vents last Wednesday afternoon. A few small details are left, but the basic construction of the greenhouse is complete. This was really easy to build.

Picture of one of the two side vent panels:


Interior views:

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Just a note on my Greenhouse. I have 10 flats of tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants grown from seed. At the High School FFA plant sale last week, flats were $15 each. So I have $150 (about $300 retail) of vegetables for the garden. I'm also rooting azalea, rosemary, and Cherokee Roses. ... There are 14 pots of bananas being rehabilitated and I have saved my dying Myers Lemon (too much chicken manure). The Myers had regrown it leaves and has already bloomed.

The cost of building the little greenhouse (less than $100??) has way-more than paid for itself with just the saving of buying vegetable plants for the garden. And there is the learning I had to save the bananas and the lemon.

OK ... pictures:




Current improvements, to extend usability during the spring & fall, that I'll be working on are:
*more air flow & cooling. On sunny spring days of mid 70's, the greenhouse temp is over 100. Not good for the bananas although the tomatoes didn't seem to mind.

* installing a timer & misting system for plant rooting.