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Garden Gate:  Greenhouse Questions  |
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willowtreecreek
True Blue Farmgirl
4813 Posts
Julie
Russell
AR
USA
4813 Posts |
 Posted - Jun 16 2010 : 7:03:34 PM
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I am getting a greenhouse! It will be a wood frame house and I will be covering it with greenhouse plastic. Do I need to use the clear plastic which transmits 91% of light or the white plastic that transmits 55% of light?
My green house will be 14x24 feet and will have ground beds down both sides and one down the middle. It will also have shelving down both sides where I can start seeds etc. I am SO excited about this addition to my garden! I mentioned something about wanting one and my hubby said "do it!". I am so excited!
Farmgirl Sister #17
Blog
www.eggsandherbs.com
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graciegreeneyes
True Blue Farmgirl
3107 Posts
Amy Grace
Rosalia
WA
USA
3107 Posts |
Posted - Jun 16 2010 : 7:12:18 PM
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That's fabulous Julie - I'm hoping someday....
Not sure about the plastic though, I'm sure someone will know. Congratulations!
Amy Grace
Farmgirl #224
"use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without"
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vegetarian farmer
True Blue Farmgirl
249 Posts
Jane
Freedom
pa
USA
249 Posts |
Posted - Jun 17 2010 : 04:51:01 AM
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Julie, Are you using it for winter growing? I am not sure of your zone but mine is zone 5. I got the greenhouse to grow vegetables in the ground all year. I have to have the film that transmits the most light because I want the heat in the winter. First thing you need to do is get Elliot Coleman's 'the winter harvest'. He really explains using a greenhouse in winter seasons well. Buying the greenhouse was by far one of the best things I have done and I am looking to get another. Mine is 16x30 and I was very surprised that I had a large selection of greens with two feet on snow on the ground. If you get snow in your area be prepared to be up every hour, all night to remove snow or you could lose it. You will love yours it is so much fun. You may need greenhouse specific seeds, they just do so much better because of the different growing conditions in there.I have "trust" tomatoes in mine now, they are a greenhouse specific seed that I was able to get in the ground 2 months early and if I heated my greenhouse I could have put in sooner. Oh, and watch the fertilizer because it is not a natural environment with wind and rain and you can get to much nitrogen in the soil. Johnny Seeds sells very well marked great greenhouse seeds. Make sure you put lots of vents in because a 40 degree sunny day is 110 in the greenhouse and can kill everything. Have Fun!
Jane
http://hardworkhomestead.blogspot.com/ |
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willowtreecreek
True Blue Farmgirl
4813 Posts
Julie
Russell
AR
USA
4813 Posts |
Posted - Jun 17 2010 : 1:09:33 PM
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I am right on the line of zones 7 and 8. We do not NORMALLY get much snow.
Farmgirl Sister #17
Blog
www.eggsandherbs.com
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vegetarian farmer
True Blue Farmgirl
249 Posts
Jane
Freedom
pa
USA
249 Posts |
Posted - Jun 17 2010 : 2:23:34 PM
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Just my opinion, I would get the clear plastic and a shade. You will need the most natural sunlight you can get for plant growth during winter months when the sun is not up as long. Then in spring and summer you can put up the greenhouse shade and keep some of the heat down. Oh and make sure you get those anchors that screw down into the ground about 1-2 feet. It keeps the wind from picking it up or knocking it down. You would be surprised what even 30 mile an hour wind can do.
Jane
http://hardworkhomestead.blogspot.com/ |
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willowtreecreek
True Blue Farmgirl
4813 Posts
Julie
Russell
AR
USA
4813 Posts |
Posted - Jun 17 2010 : 5:35:25 PM
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Thanks. My green house will be wood framed permanant structure with the posts all cemented into the ground. The only thing that could pick it up would be a tornado and lets pray we dont get any of those!
Farmgirl Sister #17
Blog
www.eggsandherbs.com
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msdoolittle
True Blue Farmgirl
1160 Posts
Amanda
East Texas
USA
1160 Posts |
Posted - Jun 18 2010 : 07:16:09 AM
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Jane,
I agree with you. I have a greenhouse which allows a LOT of light in, but I have used a shade in the past. The sunlight gets SO INTENSE in the summer. My greenhouse now gets morning sun and afternoon shade. I am in Zone 8 in TX, so the heat is INTENSE. I also love Elliot Coleman's book. You really need to read it, Julie, you'd love it! :0)
FarmGirl #1390
www.mylittlecountry.wordpress.com |
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willowtreecreek
True Blue Farmgirl
4813 Posts
Julie
Russell
AR
USA
4813 Posts |
Posted - Jun 18 2010 : 4:55:07 PM
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Well Amanda - do you think I should do the 55% plastic on top and the clear on the sides? It will get Sun most of the day in the summer until late afternoon.
Farmgirl Sister #17
Blog
www.eggsandherbs.com
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Mama Jewel
True Blue Farmgirl
435 Posts
Jewel
Sweet Peas Farmette,
Bend, OR
USA
435 Posts |
Posted - Jun 18 2010 : 8:38:18 PM
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I also agree that Eliot Coleman's Four Season Gardening book is excellent. Be sure your greenhouse has vents. Mine open automatically with the sun & then I leave the door open to allow cross ventilation I don't have electricity hooked up with mine. You'll also probably want to give consideration as to which direction to face your greenhouse. Mine is set up with the door facing south with the right side of greenhouse facing east. We live in Zone 5. I need to get a roll-up shade as I have fried many of my starts just by things getting too hot inside. You'll love your greenhouse for extending the season as well as being able to start your seeds early for the season. I'm excited for you!
Love...always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 1 Cor 13:7
Farm Girl Sister #1683 Living Simply & Naturally
http://www.piecemama.etsy.com |
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Ms.Lilly
True Blue Farmgirl
826 Posts
Lillian
Scotts Mills
OR
USA
826 Posts |
Posted - Jun 19 2010 : 05:57:00 AM
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Julie- My greenhouse is somewhere around the 14x24 size, it is covered in the white plastic and gets plenty of light. In a normal weather season (this year has not been normal here)I would have the shade cloth over the greenhouse by now and remove it around october to let more light in. When DH moved ours to a different part of the property he put down a cement pad, I was a bit leary as first, but I am so glad he did it. The cement floor helps absorb heat in the winter, and when the floor gets too dirty I can just sweep or hose off.
I also have a raised bed and a hot bed in my greenhouse. I love the raised bed. I pretty much grow in my greenhouse 10 months out of the year. Probably could get the other 2 in with a little more effort. The hot bed is turned on and used for starting my seedlings in late Feb.
I hope you love your greenhouse as much as I love mine. It is a worthwhile investment!
Lillian |
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TJinMT
True Blue Farmgirl
211 Posts
TJ
Billings
MT
USA
211 Posts |
Posted - Jul 18 2010 : 3:00:52 PM
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The Greenhouse Topic is a hot one at our house right now! I'm hoping and praying to buy one from a family member, which has sat dormant for about 8 years and is about 10 years old. It's a Solar-Optic brand, out of Canada (a company now defunct). It's hard-sided, the whole thing is molded opaque fiberglass. 8x16. We can JUST fit it into one good spot in our yard, against a privacy fence, with southern/western exposure. In the summer it will be somewhat shaded by my darling Sugar Maple tree.
We're in zone 5 - with possible opinions ranging down into zone 4b! So it gets pretty cold here... I'm wondering if anyone else does greenhouse gardening in the northern zones?? I put Eliot Coleman's books on order with our library after seeing you guys' reviews above!! Does anyone else have a fiberglass greenhouse? Are they any warmer than ones using the plastic film or panels?
We also have a 3 and a 4 year kiddos, so the idea of something "sturdy" that could withstand the occasional whack with a ball or bicycle or Beagle might be good too...
Your thoughts would be so appreciated!! The aunt who owns this is asking more than we think we can afford... I'm trying to decide if it would really be worth it to try to go any higher (with a payment plan! :)) or if we could do just as well with another type of greenhouse!!
Thanks in advance, you guys!!!!
~TJ of Green Willow House
"You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me." -CS Lewis |
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Garden Gate: Greenhouse Questions |
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Greenhouse Questions
