Green house plans

[Guest]

Who here has a green house, what size is it, and did you build it yourself or from a kit?

If you did not build it from a kit, where did you buy the clear panels?

Thanks

[EX121]

We have one. We used a couple of big picture windows and 2 sliding doors for the wall. The roof is that semi-clear rippled fibergalss sheeting. I wish I had been able to spring for the clear lexan sheets for the roof instead. I think you can order the clear lexan from Home depot or Lowes. It works pretty well, we mainly use it to start garden plants.

[goatlady]

I built two 14 x 25 greenhouses when I lived in Western SD in the Black Hills. I used PVC pipe, a few boards, some rebar and THIS wonderful covering http://www.northerngreenhouse.com/

It lets in 80% of the sunlight, withstands hail, punctures of any kind, is UV treated so does not degrade or discolor. When I left they had been in use for 8 years and going strong last I heard.

[MustangGal]

We are building one based on this plan: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gd9mNKuRtSE

We have it about half finished and probably won't finish until fall. We have too many things going right now! Hopefully, we will be in the "new" house by the end of July and can start working on other stuff.

[boltgun308]

Thanks for the link. Some good, cheap ideas in their catalog. Rebar and PVC plans are included also.

[BioG8r]

In our area Tobacco was King for years.
Now that many are out of business, there are greenhouses everywhere that are not being used.

This winter we purchased a 20 x 50 frame of 1-3/4 pipe bent for straight walls and a hoop top, all of the anchors and endwalls for $200.00, we had to take it down.

It is not setup yet but will be covered in 2 layers of poly plastic to provide an air insulation. A small fan is used to keep it inflated.
I have a "Swamp Cooler" from a project we did in florida, It is a 14' x 4' wall of 4" thick corrigated cardboard the water trickles though and a Large fan at the other end draws air through it cooler the air on average about 20 degrees.
While there is power it will be a year round greenhouse, when (if) power goes down it will not be utilized in the summer.

There are also many quality resources and ideas for crop planning and alternative heating methods on youtube.

There are many greenhouse designs that use PVC, REBAR, WOOD and conduit for supports. All are functional and can be very long lasting with proper care and planning.

I would like to suggest that all who are attempting to utilize greenhousing at least consider the Aqua-Ponics system of growing. It can be done on a small to very large scale and provides a number of benefits - double cropping, Protein and Vegetable, A heat sink and water that is readily available in times of no power.

The Corrigated Polycarbonate Panels (Lexan) that boltgun is asking about are very expensive yet with proper care and maintenance will last for 20 years or more. The poly covering I will use will last for an average of 7 years, some have gotten double that but....

The downfall of many greenhouse operations is they become infested with PESTS (bugs/bacterium and fungii) brought in by the operator, and take over to an extent that they can't be eradicated with an easy fix.

**Like any project that will be an integral part of survival take this serious and gather as much knowledge and expertice as possible or it is a colossal waste of time, effort and resources.
KEEP YOUR SCOPE SIGHTED IN and PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT!

For many a simple cold frame (or a few) is the answer. Very cheap and can be built from scraps. Many plants/seeds can be sprouted in a small space.

[boltgun308]

How do you control fungus and bacteria in a green house?

I really like the idea of using cattle panels. Seems like it would be a lot stronger.

[BioG8r]

The main issues are; Pithium, Rhizoctonia (root rot), Gray Mold and Powdery Mildew (molds and fungii) Bacterial infections are things like Tomato Canker, Bacterial wilt. There are many others.

These are all pretty devastating diseases in the greenhouse and are kind of like Herpes. Once you've got it you gonna play hell gettin rid of it. They will pop back up when you are in greatest production.

Cleanliness is next to Godliness.
Keeping the area and tools clean and using good quality soiless mix is the best. If you are going to reuse pots CLEAN them well. We keep the school greenhouse in near lab like conditions to avoid these situations.

Most growers that experience these say things like; "I used to have a green thumb, now I can't seem to keep a plant alive.", "We just can't seem to get the seeds to germinate, must have gooten bad seed.", "This isn't as easy as I thought.", "How do people grow all those plants, they must use different _________.", "We must have over fertilized OR we didn't fertilize enough."

When really they have a persistent disease going on and are unable to keep things alive because of it.

Don't be afraid to use bleach on tools especially for seeding, cutting and harvesting tools, Just don't leave it on there. Try not to bring plants from other homes or poorly ran greenhouses. MANY times people say "I have had great luck with those let me take a few home and I'll bring them around." which ends up being the disease entry vector.

It is REALLY easy to be a GREAT horticulturist!! Plants are extremely easy to grow and propagate!! Some people break all the rules and have good results. MOST ARE NOT SO LUCKY! Just like many will be promiscuous and not end up with a disease of an unwanted pregnancy - - are YOU willing to gamble!!?

Just don't make unprofessional mistakes. Treat it like your livelihood depends on it. It likely MIGHT! Again I go back to the Weapon references, YOU WOULDN'T WILLINGLY GO TO BATTLE WITH A WEAPON THAT IS DIRTY - RUSTY AND NOT PROPERLY CARED FOR. Nor should you trust a greenhouse that is in the same shape to feed you through a long winter.

All it takes is one BEAUTIFUL poinsettia brought in after christmas to give you unending fits with whiteflies which are famous for transmitting disease. A banana peel left in the garbage can for a weekend WILL result in fruit flies that will breed like mad. A Mum brought to the greenhouse that has a few mites, scale bugs, fungus gnats and you will have repeated outbreaks until you STERILIZE the entire house.

There are many chemicals that can be used to attempt to control the infestations once you have them, but, they are less than desireable and must be repeated based on the lifecycle of the pest you are combatting. There is ONE SURE WAY TO RID YOURSELF OF ALL OF THESE PESTS - - - FIRE!!!

There are people who will blow this off and say I take it way to serious. Yes I do. MY Life MIGHT depend on it. Like all advice - take it for what you will

[SeldomSeenSlim]

I made a shade house for my girlfriend with cattle panels for the first time this year after she saw an article in Mother Earth News. It's working well and holding up good against the wind. It's 10' wide x 30' long. The only thing I don't like about it is the height. I did raised beds made out of 2"x10" that the panels are attached to. I'm 6'4" with boots on and I have to scrunch down a bit to fit inside. The panels are 16' long and my math was off somehow because I though I should have the height. She's much shorter than I am and as I'm often reminded it's HER garden. :)

I use a lean-to style greenhouse made from translucent corrugated panels attached to a connex box. The panels I bought from the local hardware store. The winter here is short so it's not very big. 8'x10'. Just enough to grow salad fixings in the winter, start seeds and keep some heirloom tomatoes for cloning.

[barfife]

Tractor Supply sales a couple of reasonably priced kits....if you can get by with a smaller unit.

[FAMILYMAN]

This has got me really considering starting on one. I really like the design with the cattle panels, it makes it pretty affordable to have a good-sized greenhouse. I still live within city limits so I'll have to check my local ordinances to see how large I can go.