New Greenhouse – Page 3 – Greenhouse & Outside Protection – PalmsNorth.com

wxman · 2012-08-13T21:50:29Z

I'm in the process of building a new greenhouse that's 8'x10'. I went with 8' because that is the maximum width I have to work with and I went with 10' because 12' wide x 100' long poly is what I have to work with... that gives me a little on each side to seam over.I've put down a 2x6 base and a 3/4" PVC frame. I'm framing the end walls in with lumber and running a 4x6 beam down the ridge which will keep the PVC from collapsing. End walls will be poly or plywood -- haven't decided yet. Poly will be stretched over the "A" frame and fastened to the 2x6 base. Floor is going to be pea gravel.Here is a picture of my progress thus far:Now for the hard part ... I want to heat with a wood stove because I have unlimited access to wood. I'm not paying $200-$400 a month for propane to heat this thing. I'm interested in using a Vogelzang cast iron wood stove. The problem is -- they are 32" long by 21" wide. Add in the clearances and I think most of my greenhouse would be unusable either due to the wood stove being in the way or the air would be too hot near the wood stove for plants.Is there anyway I can install this outside the greenhouse and use the heat inside? Something simple? Someone has had to have this idea before.I could add another "room" on in front of the greenhouse to put this thing in, but I'm trying to keep costs down as much as possible. More room=more lumber=more pea gravel, etc.I thought of putting it outside and running the flue pipe through the greenhouse as sort of a radiant heater -- but I think that will be wasting a lot of heat?Thanks for the suggestions.

oppalm

(@oppalm)

Posts: 694

Honorable Member

thats impressive. somebody has some serious constructions skills. nice work Tim. keep us updated.

Kent in Kansas
where it's cold in winter (always)
and hot in summer (usually)
<object width="290" height="130"><param name="movie" value="http://www.wunderground.com/swf/pws_mini_rf_nc.swf?station=KKSOVERL7&freq=2.5&units=english&lang=EN" /><embed src="http://www.wunderground.com/swf/pws_mini_rf_nc.swf?station=KKSOVERL7&freq=2.5&units=english&lang=EN" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="290" height="130" /></object>

Posted : 01/12/2012 9:26 am

hasty22

(@hasty22)

Posts: 178

Estimable Member

Hey Tim the greenhouse looks great. I am also thinking about doing a greenhouse next year. The other thing I am interested in is the windmill palm seedlings. They look great! would you mind letting me know what you do to germinate the seedlings. I am new at this so any help would be appreciated! thanks
Keith

Posted : 06/12/2012 10:45 pm

wxman

(@wxman)

Posts: 574

Prominent Member

Topic starter

Hey all sorry for the late reply. I thought about a rocket stove, but the barrel stove just seemed to fit better with my greenhouse.

As for germinating windmill palm seeds, I place them in a tupperware bin, place a small amount of soil on top and just keep them moist at room temperature.

Posted : 17/12/2012 11:31 pm

wxman

(@wxman)

Posts: 574

Prominent Member

Topic starter

Phase 2 of the greenhouse is now complete. I installed shelves 7' off the ground between the poles. This allows me to germinate seeds and put small plants up there and still be able to easily walk underneath. Got to make use off ALL space, right?

Also installed a motorized intake shutter and exhaust fan. Kicks on when the greenhouse hits 85F and pulls 100% outside air in. Tested it out today -- cooled the greenhouse from 77F to 70F in 6 minutes. Under normal operation it would cool from 85F to 83F and then shutoff. This will mostly be needed from March-May when the sun gets strong. I don't want it getting up to 100F in there.

Pics to come shortly.

Posted : 13/01/2013 9:05 pm

wxman

(@wxman)

Posts: 574

Prominent Member

Topic starter

Here's the additions. Looking into the greenhouse. You can see the shelves.

4500 windmill palm seeds up on the shelf.

Exhaust fan.

Intake on right side. I built a sheet metal fitting so the air blows in toward the center of the greenhouse to mix with the fan. Otherwise it would blow directly on my plant table.

Closeup.

Last year's windmill crop.

Musa basjoo.

Meyer lemon still blooming.

Banana pups that I separated in fall. Not doing much, hoping they pull through. Note to self -- never separate pups in fall!! Daylight sucks for new growth!

Closeup.

Fresh strawberries still? Oh yeah!

Posted : 13/01/2013 9:27 pm

canadianplant

(@canadianplant)

Posts: 2398

Famed Member

Wow dude... what kind of temps you see in there? Im assuming you got warm the other day, and then it went cold as hell? Did the temps stay stable in the greenhouse?

"The definition of insanity, is doing the same thing over and over, and expecting different results" - einstien

Check out my new Blog! http://canadianplant.wordpress.com/

Posted : 13/01/2013 9:35 pm

wxman

(@wxman)

Posts: 574

Prominent Member

Topic starter

Wow dude... what kind of temps you see in there? Im assuming you got warm the other day, and then it went cold as hell? Did the temps stay stable in the greenhouse?

The temps range from 50 to about 85. I have electric heaters set at 50F to keep that as a minimum. My wood stove or the sunlight does the rest of the heating. I have another thermostat set at 85F to make sure it doesn't get warmer than that. When it does, the exhaust fan kicks on and the cooler air rushes in through the intake!

Posted : 13/01/2013 11:47 pm