greenhouse

[jimLE]

2 years ago i made a greenhuse with 2x4's and rolls of plastic.it's 6 feet by 10 feet.but the roll of plastic i used dont last that long.it becomes dryrotted all to easy.im gonna make the green house much larger soon as i have the money to do so.but what im wondering,is this.is it a good idea to use hard plastic thats shaped like coragated tin a good idea as long as i make sure i dont crack it and all?

 

[simoncarriere]

Are you following plans to build the greenhouse. I've seen some different ones online and some of them look pre good and include a heating/cooling/ watering system. Ill try to find the link for you but from what I'm know (not much) a strong plastic tarp would do the thing

 

[old_anorak]

I've seen the transparent fiberglass used before in greenhouses and it seems to work. I've also seen people get old window, screen doors, shower doors, and sliding doors off of Craigs List and use them as well for green houses and cold frames. There is also another type of rolled plastic that I've used and for the life of me, I cannot remember the name of it right now, but it is as clear as glass and thick and it comes in a roll as well. I think I bought it at a fabric store or maybe a craft store, but I used it on some cold frames and it held up for years.

 

[Haloray]

I've seen the transparent fiberglass used before in greenhouses and it seems to work. I've also seen people get old window, screen doors, shower doors, and sliding doors off of Craigs List and use them as well for green houses and cold frames. There is also another type of rolled plastic that I've used and for the life of me, I cannot remember the name of it right now, but it is as clear as glass and thick and it comes in a roll as well. I think I bought it at a fabric store or maybe a craft store, but I used it on some cold frames and it held up for years.

Maybe it's vinyl or polypropylene?

 

[old_anorak]

Vinyl most likely. I don't know. It works really good for putting over windows in the winter as well because it's so clear, you see through it just like glass.

 

[Haloray]

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Vinyl most likely. I don't know. It works really good for putting over windows in the winter as well because it's so clear, you see through it just like glass.

probably vinyl, that's what they make sheet protectors and card holders out of.

 

[old_anorak]

It's about 3-4 times thicker than that stuff, but I think it's that same material.

 

[jimLE]

great.i do need something strong enough and will last for years

 

[jimLE]

Are you following plans to build the greenhouse. I've seen some different ones online and some of them look pre good and include a heating/cooling/ watering system. Ill try to find the link for you but from what I'm know (not much) a strong plastic tarp would do the thing

i do have plans.but thier all up in head..top notch carpenter im not.but i make a ok amutur..the fiber glass/plastic shaped like the tin that goes on barn roofs is what im thinking of useing...

 

[Mike Quinn]

Corrugated sheeting is what your looking for , it comes in 2ft 6in wide sections and normally 10ft long ifn you speak nice to the supplier they may cut it to the required length for you

 

[jimLE]

yeah..but i have'nt decided on what hight to go with yet..pluse one side will be at least 2 inchs higher then the other side for the rain water to drain off like it needs to..i installed some plexie glass into some windows of a storage building for someone.and thats where i learned a nice lil trick to make sure it dont crack splinter or brake while im cuting it.it's a matter of marking it where i need to cut it at.then place see through packeage tape on each side where the mark is.then use a metal cutting blade for the cutting...then pre drill the holes where the screws/nails will be at..

 

[Mike Quinn]

yeah that's a handy tip Jim, also depending what you are using to cut it, let the machine do the work all the way thru, try not to force it , that's when it tends to split or crack.

 

[jimLE]

i use a jig saw with a metal cutting blade which works great.and like you said.dont force it.it'll cut quiekly and easly enough on it's own..

 

[Mike Quinn]

I have a raised bed that im going to convert into a greenhouse half will be paved for pots and staging and the other half will be direct into the soil . I just measured it, I thought it was bigger than it is, it actually measures 10ft6in x 5ft. a bit of rejigging is called for

 

[Mike Quinn]

Ideally I would like my greenhouse to be 12ft x 8ft. One side paved from the door for about four feet for pots and tubs,then the other 8ft into bare earth for tomato plants ,the other side of the greenhouse for the full length will be for succulent plants like peppers and cucumbers an things .

 

[Mike Quinn]

I am fortunate to have a frien who has his own lumber mill, he is 90 years old but still puts in a full day cutting boards , so I get me a good discount on my 2x2 and 4x2

 

[jimLE]

we go to lowes and buy paveings stones there for the green house.and seeing how i'll be makeing it larger.theni gotta buy more stones..

 

[bill harrell]

There is greenhouses all around me and that is a special plastic they use to cover them.but I see it lasting for at least ten years plus on them.PS there is several professional greenhouses around here that I could probably get you for free if you want to go through the trouble of coming here to take them down.if one of you is interested send me a private note.

 

[jimLE]

thatd mean pulling a trailer with the van when it comes to me.or a truck n trailer rental and i dont see either happening

 

[bill harrell]

Yes there is a lot of framework.it would also be simpler to leave trusses framed together. They are framed out of about one inch tubing and bolted together.they are pretty large though maybe 20 feet high 20 feet wide by maybe 100 feet long. And the plastic is there also

 

[bill harrell]

Yes there is a lot of framework.it would also be simpler to leave trusses framed together. They are framed out of about one inch tubing and bolted together.they are pretty large though maybe 20 feet high 20 feet wide by maybe 100 feet long. And the plastic is there also

 

[Chicknladee]

Hmmm...I would LOVE a free greenhouse...we bought 2 last spring...they were great but bigger is always better. We removed the covers over winter to prolong their lives. Last year we used tables...this year we have shelves.

 

[Mike Quinn]

Hey Chick did you have much success with this greenhouse , and what is the cost

 

[Chicknladee]

I don't remember the exact cost...but one was just over a $100...it was GREAT. Allowed me to put the plants into the greenhouse long before I was ready to plant them in the dirt. Then when I was ready to plant in the garden I didn't have to harden them off...the side vents and end vents allowed the breeze in to strengthen the plants. The only problem we had was cold night temps...I had to put a heater in there to keep the plants okay. We have freezing temps at night until mid may (this year probably end of may). Also, on sunny days if I forgot to open the vents before I left for work it would get HORRIBLY hot in there! I eventually would like one that has automated vents that open as it gets hot...lol...but I also want to do lots of things and I do NOT have the money for EVERYTHING!

I checked Fleet Farms website just now and they have a similar one on sale for about $140 that is 10ft long x 6ft wide x 6.5feet tall. The one that is on sale right now doesn't appear as nice as ours but looks bigger. Both our and the one at Fleetfarm were Shelterlogic grow-it kits. I found ours on Amazon.com this morning for $250. That is MUCH higher than we paid last year!

 

[Mike Quinn]

Thanks for that info chickn

 

[jimLE]

one thing i did when i built the green house we have now,is.i ran a cord from a electric outlet on the front wall of the garage to the greenhouse.i also ran it through a pvc pipe seeing how a part of it is outside and in the greenhouse.wanted make sure the weather stayed off of it much as possible.will be going with that again when i enlarge it..that way i have electric in green house when needed.pluse i plan on running plumbing to it as well.that'll make it easy on my mom when it comes to watering stuff and washing her hands while in the greenhouse..i've seen some of those greenhouses like you have chick.and they apear to be to small for what we need..pluse i dont see any way of attaching shelves to it for stabilaty when it comes to the shelves.

 

[Chicknladee]

You are right...there is no way to attach shelves to it. We had to purchase shelves for inside. It is TOO small now but last year it was HEAVEN! We run an extension cord to it and plug in a heater. I also have a hose from the house to the greenhouses. But eventually we need something more permanent and BIGGER! But this helps immensely for now.

 

[jimLE]

dont ya just love it when us men are right? lmao

 

[old_anorak]

I hillbillied an indoor green house this spring. Found a bread rack like what they use in fast food joints to hold bread and buns, it had 11 of the big, heavy plastic bread trays with it. Everything was by the dumpster of a restaurant that had closed for business, so I appropriated it. Anyhow, I took the heavy, clear vinyl and cut lengths of it to hang from the top of the rack to the floor and then cut a piece to fit over the top. I taped the sheets of vinyl together at the sides, but there was still good airflow to keep it from overheating. We can fit 2 big trays of seedlings per bread tray and left enough room between each bread tray for the plants to have space to grow in. Set the whole business in front of a window in the kitchen and we started close to 500 seedlings and have now got nearly all of it in the ground going strong.

I love scavenging. Free is wonderful!

 

[Chicknladee]

Anorak, that sounds wonderful. My problem with scavenging is that I don't get into town enough to FIND good stuff...once I'm done with my day job I go home and that is where I stay!!!