Building a Greenhouse

[cqaigy2]

Very nice PJ!

Any idea how much it will extend your growing season?

 

[pajoube]

Very nice PJ!

Any idea how much it will extend your growing season?

Considering I live at 4600 feet it should extend my growing season 45 days on both ends.
There will be years that I will only get 20 to 30 days on both ends but that will be enough for a good crop.
PJ

 

[flusher]

Considering I live at 4600 feet it should extend my growing season 45 days on both ends.
There will be years that I will only get 20 to 30 days on both ends but that will be enough for a good crop.
PJ

Neat greenhouse. I wouldn't have thought 6 mil plastic could survive the winds and snow load from a Montana winter. Or do you strip the plastic off for the winter season?

 

[Taylortractornut]

Im about to lite into a 36 by 50 I bought. Actually it was a 100 footer. Its got the uprights every 10 feet. I sold the other half to dad for a shed.

Its 3/4 by 2 inch galvanized arches. They couple with a galvanized cast elbow the sinerts in them. I plant to anchow 2 50 foor 3x3 angles on peirs in the ground and welding the legs in place after I get it tacked like I like. I plan on using it to starting plants for my market garden and a few for my customers that buy the excess. I do plan to have a few beds inside for later stuff and more winter greens.

 

[pajoube]

Neat greenhouse. I wouldn't have thought 6 mil plastic could survive the winds and snow load from a Montana winter. Or do you strip the plastic off for the winter season?

I live in the tropic area which has low winds and low amount of snow. Although last winter we had 3 feet of snow. I may brace for snow but as far as the winds go, we had 60 mph and it did very well.
PJ

 

[MossRoad]

Nice write up PJ. :thumbsup: I didn't realize your popcorn went up to 13'. Our giant reed grass goes 22, but it doesn't taste near as good as your popcorn. :laughing:

 

[pajoube]

Nice write up PJ. :thumbsup: I didn't realize your popcorn went up to 13'. Our giant reed grass goes 22, but it doesn't taste near as good as your popcorn. :laughing:

Just an update - tested a few ears of the popcorn and they look good. Will start earlier next spring which will help in development. Leaving on the cob until I get moisture around 13 percent.
Have had 7 days below freezing with temps in the greenhouse staying above 40 for low.
PJ

 

[Haoleguy]

PJ - Nice hoop house diary. Have you seen Eliot Coleman's "Winter Harvest handbook" that describes strategies to extend the growing season? He's been able to do some pretty amazing things without energy input. His farm is in Maine and he is able to supply veggies to his CSA members 11 of 12 months in the year. Thanks for thread.....Cheers, Gary

 

[jimmyj]

Nice post and great greenhouse. Thanks for sharing. I would love a greenhouse that size, amazing to get 45 extra days x2 !

 

[deerseeker001]

good job

 

[grsthegreat]

hmmm, send one of those here to north idaho... my wife would love it

 

[pajoube]

Now it is middle of winter and the snow is coming down. Anyone have a good idea of how to get the snow off the canopy? I currently use a very soft broom on a long pole to pull the snow down but wondering if there is another way.
PJ

 

[grsthegreat]

Now it is middle of winter and the snow is coming down. Anyone have a good idea of how to get the snow off the canopy? I currently use a very soft broom on a long pole to pull the snow down but wondering if there is another way.
PJ

my wife uses a roof razor... works great

Amazon.com: MinnSNOWta Roof Razor® Roof Rake Metal Roof Kit: Patio, Lawn & Garden

 

[joeyd]

I also use a roof razor for my home roof which is comp shingle. I don't think it would work too well on visquene. You may have the answer with the broom. Have you thought about a heater in the greenhouse? Just keeping it warm enough to melt the snow so it would slide off or not collect on the roof at all.

 

[grsthegreat]

I also use a roof razor for my home roof which is comp shingle. I don't think it would work too well on visquene. You may have the answer with the broom. Have you thought about a heater in the greenhouse? Just keeping it warm enough to melt the snow so it would slide off or not collect on the roof at all.

we use ours on the wifes polycarbonate greenhouse and a friend uses one on his plastic covered greenhouse. they work 100% great

 

[GrowFarmers]

Now it is middle of winter and the snow is coming down. Anyone have a good idea of how to get the snow off the canopy? I currently use a very soft broom on a long pole to pull the snow down but wondering if there is another way.
PJ

Are you located in an area that gets a great deal of snow? If you are, you probably want to look into getting cross braces to help with your structural integrity. I would be careful with any sort of metal roof rake, it is so easy to rip the plastic especially if you catch a corner. One way that works pretty well is to take a push broom and hit the plastic from the inside and the snow will slide right off. Watch out though, you can get soaked if there is a lot of condensation on the inside of the plastic.

 

[pajoube]

Are you located in an area that gets a great deal of snow? If you are, you probably want to look into getting cross braces to help with your structural integrity. I would be careful with any sort of metal roof rake, it is so easy to rip the plastic especially if you catch a corner. One way that works pretty well is to take a push broom and hit the plastic from the inside and the snow will slide right off. Watch out though, you can get soaked if there is a lot of condensation on the inside of the plastic.

We do get about 300 inches of snow a year but our area can be heavy or light depending on the year. I have used the broom from the inside and it has worked well except for getting the very top. If I do not plow the snow away from the sides the buildup does not allow for future snow to slide off.
PJ

 

[randy41]

thats a nice looking tunnel. the snow load sounds like it could be a lot. i agree with GF that a truss would help. i have a 26 wide tunnel and it has trusses and truss braces.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...216051d1307298550-high-tunnel-hightunnela.jpg

 

[GrowFarmers]

With that amount of snow, I would definitely recommend putting up some trusses and truss braces like randy41 shows in the link he posted.

I think any method of clearing the snow off the hoophouse, other than melting, will require you to clear the snow away from the bottom especially since yours is curved all the way too the ground. One idea that I have toyed with, but never tried it, is using a rope that goes lengthwise and you kinda "floss" the snow off. The problem is it probably takes 2 people, unless you maybe tied one end to the peak at one end. It might take some tinkering, but I think it has potential. Let me know if you end up trying it!

 

[grsthegreat]

With that amount of snow, I would definitely recommend putting up some trusses and truss braces like randy41 shows in the link he posted.

I think any method of clearing the snow off the hoophouse, other than melting, will require you to clear the snow away from the bottom especially since yours is curved all the way too the ground. One idea that I have toyed with, but never tried it, is using a rope that goes lengthwise and you kinda "floss" the snow off. The problem is it probably takes 2 people, unless you maybe tied one end to the peak at one end. It might take some tinkering, but I think it has potential. Let me know if you end up trying it!

I tried that rope trick on my barn about 2-3 years ago. had almost 3 feet of snow/ice on a 4:12 pitch roof. I was able to saw thru the entire thing, but nothing ever came off of the roof.

I ended up having to bring in 2 salamander heaters , each running 175,000 BTU to shed the building.