All About Greenhouses
 

I want to have my own greenhouse/conservatory attached to my home in the next few years. Who has a greenhouse and can provide me with good advice?

Where to build (sun exposure/ wind exposure)
Materials to build
Companies to build with/order materials from
Size needed to support family of 4-6 with fresh veggies/fruits in the winter months.
All kinds of stuff that I wouldn't even know to ask!

Re: All About Greenhouses
 

Source: http://www.portablefarms.com/howto_start.htm

"For more information on greenhouses, email us and we'll send you a list of links of companies we recommend for those who sell them. pdavis@portablefarms.com."

Re: All About Greenhouses
 

i have an interest in greenhouses for another reason

growing veggies AND winter shelter

also interested in unconventional/guerilla greenhouses
something small for seedlings/starter plants

Re: All About Greenhouses
 

Google "pit" greenhouse. It's a basement style greenhouse with a transparent roof above grade. It allows you to take advantage of the constant ground temp. and be able to control the conditions much easier. I am seriously thinking of building one of these (30' x 60' ish) as I live in Canada and our growing season is short.

Re: All About Greenhouses
 

Last year before I built my greenhouse I shopped around for a good reference book.
I bought this gem..GREENHOUSE GARDENER'S COMPANION. By Shane Smith
It covers all the basics in 500 pages of info.
Construction, materials, soil, plant production, temp control, disease, do's and don'ts etc.

I highly recommend this book.

And now I have tomatoe, peppers, broccoli, bokchoi and salad lettuces good to go for this winter.

Re: All About Greenhouses
 

I need a greenhouse the local authorities can't see into ... any ideas ... ?

Re: All About Greenhouses
 

http://www.greenhouses-etc.net/glazi...e_covering.htm
I was researching building one and found this site. The panels don't seem to be too expensive.

Re: All About Greenhouses
 

Timely thread for me, so thanks to BigShiny for starting it and to Steel & Specs for their links. I have a dog run that I'm planning to turn into a greenhouse, hopefully before winter. It's ~6' wide by 8' long by 6' high, and made out of chainlink fence, and has a roof on it (also chainlink). We were planning on just sorta wrapping it in thick clear plastic. I figured we could use just about any type since it didn't need to be structurally sound, but looking at that greenhouses-etc link, I'm now wondering whether this is too simplistic and we need to put more thought into the covering. I'm looking at the polyfilm page from http://www.greenhouses-etc.net/glazi...yfilm_ow5c.htm, maybe the Sun Saver IR/AC
Clear 6 mil cover film. Could I find something similar or a suitable makeshift at the local home depot?

I'm looking for something bare-bones cheap and it doesn't have to be pretty. I'd be interested in any opinions or feedback from other GIM'ers on whether this design/material would work.

Re: All About Greenhouses
 

Clear 6mil poly is strong and lets through the appropriate bandwidths of light for growth. A really inexpensive greenhouse is to take 2 6x6 posts and drill 2" holes thru it with a hole saw. Holes on 2' centers.

Lay the posts down at the proper width and parallel to each other, holes facing up. This acts as the foundation.

Insert pvc or abs piping (cut to length) in the holes. Complete a tent-like frame using the appropriate fittings (45's, 90's tee's and crosses) and then stretch and secure 6mil poly.

This can be ghetto-cheap if you are resourceful enough to scrounge up materials.