| "> | | | | starter guide on How to start your first greenhouse |
| Are you thinking about starting a backyard | | | | kit addition. |
| greenhouse? If so, let's first review what we know | | | | As you may know, there are many articles out there |
| about growing vegetables and plants. Most often we | | | | about these subjects, and everyone has a different |
| all know what we want to grow but depending on | | | | twist. I'm no different except for the fact that I |
| what zone of the country you live in, you may have | | | | speak from experience. From the many greenhouse |
| to choose, your vegetable selection, with what | | | | kits and solar structures that I myself have |
| works in your climate zone. | | | | personally sold and built over the last 16 years of my |
| The success of your greenhouse will depend largely | | | | life, it has basically been a true education. Including |
| on the usage of your greenhouse and weather or | | | | the many greenhouses that I have personally visited |
| not you decide to provide heat during the colder | | | | and witnessed to see what works and what doesn't. |
| months of the year. | | | | The number one rule is the orientation of your |
| You will then need to ask yourself, despite the fact | | | | greenhouse, preferably southern exposure. For |
| that you have a greenhouse, whether it's new or | | | | freestanding greenhouses this isn't much of an issue. |
| existing, how are you going to use your greenhouse? | | | | Except for the fact that you don't want to place it in |
| Is it for starting seedlings? Is it to house existing | | | | the shade. Duuuh! If you plan on attaching a lean to |
| plants? Is it for actual growing in the ground or in | | | | type of greenhouse to your existing house or |
| plant benches? Is it for seasonal use April through | | | | garage, southern exposure is very important. |
| September. | | | | For the brave hearted...If you're growing in the |
| Unheated greenhouses do provide a longer growing | | | | ground dig a 36" deep perimeter trench 8 -10" wide. |
| season because it does capture the suns warmth | | | | Remember to insert ( 2" thick x 24"w x 8 ft long) |
| and is able to maintain that warmth for a certain | | | | rigid polyurethane foam, don't use the pop corn type |
| amount of time. However, a greenhouse with a good | | | | of foam ESP Expanded Poly Styrene. Always use |
| heat sink such as contained water with 50-70% of | | | | rigid and stiff foam panels, between the dirt trench |
| glycol in painted black 55 gal drums will provide that | | | | and concrete, all around the inside and outside |
| added radiant heat during those brisk cooler evenings | | | | perimeter of your trench. If you do it this way, your |
| and early mornings. | | | | trench will need to be at least 10" wide since your |
| By the way you don't have to have 55 gal drums; | | | | inserting 4" of rigid foam on either side of the trench |
| sometimes they can be a bit cumbersome, so try | | | | with 6" of concrete in the middle. |
| and utilize smaller containers. And for those who don't | | | | If you are on level ground, form the concrete with |
| know what Glycol is. Propylene glycol which is a non | | | | wood 3/4" plywood forms or 2 x 8's at grade level |
| toxic antifreeze for winterizing drinking water | | | | and allow the concrete to come up 6 - 8" above the |
| systems and in applications where the used | | | | grade. If you have a door to the outside of your |
| antifreeze eventually will be drained into the soil, | | | | greenhouse remember to step this area down by |
| water, or a septic system. Always go green, protect | | | | blocking it off to whatever dimension your door is |
| your earth. Solar thermal energy is a technology for | | | | and allow a little play, check your rough opening for |
| harnessing solar energy to thermal energy ( heat) | | | | your door before blocking anything off. If you're on a |
| I myself reside at 10,000 ft elevation and you can | | | | slope raise your concrete form accordingly, you do |
| forget about growing tomatoes outdoors, it just | | | | not have to keep the insulating rigid foam above the |
| does not happen. We grow tomatoes indoors. Unless | | | | grade. |
| you have a well heated and ventilated greenhouse. It | | | | Note: keep the concrete above the grade keep the |
| would be best to stick with a hardy variety of plants | | | | rigid insulating foam just slightly below the grade.This |
| and vegetables that can take a little abuse to the | | | | will help your dirt stay warm for tender roots that |
| elements. | | | | don't like to be cold. If you're planning to use plant |
| A good hardy selection of vegetables is broccoli, | | | | benches instead of in ground planting you don't need |
| brussel sprouts, cabbage, lettuce, carrots, beets, | | | | to go through this type of foundation or as deep. |
| onions, radishes, greens, lots of herbs, and so much | | | | Nevertheless it isn't wise to just place your |
| more but more importantly grow what you like to | | | | greenhouse kit on the surface with out some type |
| eat! | | | | of stable foundation base to start out with. |
| Since we don't have a heated greenhouse at this | | | | The inside floor of your greenhouse can be whatever |
| time, we are in the process of building one around | | | | you like but I don't recommend a concrete slab, this |
| our existing garden and soon enough I hope to bring | | | | is a waste and unnecessary, if your growing in the |
| to you some real good stories about our vegetable | | | | ground, compartmentalize, your growing section. |
| growing journey at 10,000 ft elevation in the coming | | | | Utilize pea gravel for your floor base and lay down |
| months and years to come. God willing. | | | | small 1ft square pavers to create a walking path in |
| I thought that perhaps a short article to help those | | | | your greenhouse. This is a lot cheaper than a slab and |
| that are just stating out would be helpful to begin a | | | | less of a headache.. more to come!... |