buckeye5755

I've thought about doing the same thing here in Columbus, Ohio for next winter. Some of my ideas to combat the colder ground temperatures was the heating cables. I was thinking around the perimeter of the structure and then up and down the interior area of the greenhouse. Also, I wanted to build a raised bed, that would hopefully make it a little easier to raise the soil temperature. Good luck if you decide to!

chasbear

Matt, it looks like your project is off to a great start, and I commend you for wanting to take on such a courageous endeavor for your region. I would suggest a couple of things that will help ensure your success. One of the easiest methods of keeping the soil warmed up inside your greenhouse is to provide a barrier/insulator from the frozen soil surrounding it, simply by digging a trench down a few feet deep around the perimeter of your box frame; it looks like the frost level in your area is at least 1.5 meters (?) so the closer you get to that depth the better, but even 2 feet is a great help. Then place cut-to-size pieces of sheets of closed-cell foam insulation on edge, like Styrofoam (the cheapest solution) or a sheet product used for insulating roofs (more expensive, but more effective). A minimum thickness should be 1", using thicker material will provide better protection, but 1" will do a lot! Work within your budget, of course, but this will last for many years. This will help the all-important root and corm zone to be much more comfortable.

The next thing I would do is to try to put something called passive solar mass storage above the ground. This could be as simple as several pails of water which warm up during the day and give off their warmth during the nightime hours. Of course, the larger the storage the more the storage, as you can see here:

So any kind of tubes or containers of water, cement blocks, bricks, etc. will produce the results you're looking for. And, if you'll keep them raised off the ground with merely a 2x4 or something, it gives them a better opportunity for absorbing the daytime solar energy without competition from the cool soil.

Best of luck, keep us all posted on your progress as the months go by!

Dean W.

I put a black barrel in mine and it really helps. At night you can feel the heat radiating off it.

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kaczercat

If i do get black barrel could I set small palnts on it to use more space up ? will this change heat effect?

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Matt

Dean W.

That's what I did. I bought it off Craig's list. I had to spray paint it.

Your right, the only problem is they take a lot of space. Use milk jugs too. Anything will help with passive solar heating.

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kaczercat

that is a great idea you should go for it! just yesterday I had the idea of actually getting around to it. now there are so many ideas coming, solar blankets, barrals for heat, raised beds like you sadi I am going to dig down a bit bout 7 in and level it and make a large raised bed. But for now I have to finish constructing it . it's really exciting how much more you can do ith a greenhouse.

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Matt

KBaron

Hi Kazercat,

Unless you are rearing dwarf nanas, Be prepared for 3-5 metre (9-15 foot)tall shoots, and fruiting with it!

I also warn you of aphids, and in abundance after or by Xmas!

I would just let them grow and succumb to nature whilst in the ground, musa basjoo is the hardiest that I am aware of....

kaczercat

yeah dwarf like real dwarfs, truly tiny, sdc. I do have a musa basjoo in ground other side of the yard.gonna see how that did in a few weeks.

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Matt

Cecil

Hi Matt
Sorry for butting into your little hot-house project,however i guess by now you should be getting used to it.I live in Australia and i am impressed just how much trouble you all go to to get a hand of BANANAS.
I love eating bananas, and as a result i have about nine Lady-finger trees growing at present,yesterday i noticed two of them have flowers on them,thank God.
Keep up with the hothouse i know you will win in the end,we alway's do.
Currently i am building my own hot-house to house some Dragon fruit cuttings, i am importing from The Phillipines,all being well.
It is Autumn over here so Winter is just around the corner.
All the best Matt.
Cheers Cecil

Blake09

My home built pvc hot house (it is 10x12):






m. basjoo







I can tell you that My bananas have out grown the greenhouse in 1 season, so If I were you I would not plant bananas (except for dwarfs in the greenhouse). During the winter my greenhouse is only 5-10 deg. warmer than the outside. During the summer the greenhouse gets well over 100f. My greenhouse is in full sun, summer and winter. This summer I will try and plant some sunflowers or bananas in front of the greenhouse to give it some shade so I can use the greenhouse during the summer. Also a thing to warn you, weeds will grow like crazy in the greenhouse!




If I were to make a new greenhouse again, I would build it in shade-part shade, be closer to the house, have power ran out to it for lights, heater, fans.



Hope your greenhouse turns out good, and you see how I build my greenhouse.



M.basjoo (shortest), Ice cream 'blue java' (tallest) after 1 season's growth. Look at the greenhouse in the back...

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A banana plant in the autumn gale -
I listen to the dripping of rain
Into a basin at night.
~ Basho Matsuo (1644- 1694)

kaczercat

Here it is today

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Matt

Dean W.

What direction are those trees on? They could help make a wind break. To bad they're not evergreens.

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kaczercat

east and there is a big shed if you keep going down the line of trees to the right that blocks some of the N winds. I wish they were evergreens we got these Mexican/Brazilian neighbors who are so weird. They hide 85% of the year. never come outside. the're yard looks like crap everyone on the street tyhinks they are weird. Iwish i didn't have to see their yard everyday. but in the spring/summer its nice when those leaves fill in.

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Matt

Dean W.

That shed will help block some wind then. I got some hedges I planted as a wind break prior to doing mine. Yours is looking great.

It's defiantly exciting to see your plan come to fruition. You have plenty of time now to start thinking about winter.

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kaczercat

Thanks Dean, I saw a pic of yours in your Gallery. if I lived in the states thats what I would have something that nice and large. But for the next 2 or 3 years till I can get a good job finish school this is alright it'll do what I need it to do

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Matt

Jose263

Hi Matt - Good luck on the greenhouse project and nana plans.
Since you apparently have been pondering and planning a greenhouse for quite awhile do you have any advice, good links to look at, maybe a design or two you can share.
I live in zone 8 but not having much luck with citrus and I want to grow avacado - After losing almost all of my citrus trees last winter, I'm thinking seriously about putting up a greenhouse. whatever you can share is appreciated.
Jose

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Growing: Orinoco, Rajapuri, Dwarf Cav, SDC, TT, Dwarf Red, Dwarf Namwah, Tall Namwah (aka Ice Cream), Dwarf Brazilian, Veinte Cohol, California Gold, Double Mohai, NOT-Goldfinger, Gran Nain, Velutina

kaczercat

well his site is where i got the idea from shows and discribes how to build the one i am making step by step. i used a different pvc. and much smaller. I wish I couls have made a huge one like in the picture. good luck you should make a plan and build one.


links w/pics
How to Build an Inexpensive Hoop-Style Greenhouse | Alberta Home Gardening


How to build a small, cheap, simple and easy greenhouse


the bottom one is my orginal first page when I thought about building this a year or so ago. did not use this one but similar structure. best of luck ! they are really fun to build and simple. The size is always up to yyou. mine is just 6 ft tall thats the minimum you would want is 6 ft.

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Matt

Bob3

Heck, they're probably AFRAID to come outside for fear of frostbite!!!

My friend up in the Maritimes has me ship stuff to him all the time.
It goes to a store on the US side of the border & every so often someone makes the run down there to pick up stuff. You might want to look into that sometime.
Personally I think you're going about it in a better way; it'll be good practice for when you can talk your folks into that attached one!

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Recipes & links for Cajun, Creole, & other goodies.

kaczercat

update


April

raised bed

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Matt

Cecil

Just a quick one,

I knew you would do it,sure hope you enjoy your achievement,only better things can grow out of it.

Keep your mind active,and remember,we are all on your side.

Kind regards

Cheers Cecil.