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Greenhouse Idea ???
"chaz" wrote in message ink.net...
Rick, How do you handle heating, ventilation, etc? Where can I buy plastic for this project? I am not rick, but here is what I have to say: 1) I buy the clear plastic at the store. Yes, it is not UV resistant. You will have no UV damage until late in the season. I usually uncover my beds on April 1 and store the plastics in the dark. Plastic lasts two years at least and is usually done in by pulling it while it is covered with ice (it breaks). One roll of 4mil clear poly, from the Home Depot paint Dept, is some $25. Plastics never broke under heavy snow, though it did form puddles. Also the PVC hoops are quite flimsy. I bought clamps for plastic at Territorial Seeds. 2) don't ignore irrigation. my tunnels are over a depression in my yard, where runoff water collects, and so even though I don't water in the winter, they get plenty moisture a few inches below the surface. But the first few inches of bed soil are Sahara dry by January. 3) the soil provides enough heating and cooling, at least for low plants like salad greens, as long as mulch is removed so that there is good thermal contact. I never had a problem with kale or collard either. Otherwise, the standard way to cool/heat a greenhouse is to cover the North wall with 55 gallon drums filled with water. Each has a thermal capacity of 40 MegaJoules, which sounds like a lot but it is not. This is a little project in itself, as you probably have to stack them two high and secure them with chains to sturdy posts to avoid them falling and killing people. 4) ventilation for cooling is needed only in some cases (not for my tunnels, though it will be needed for my greenhouse). The standard way is to have two temperature operated louvres, one at the door, one opposite. They open ad create a draft when the temp exceeds 85F. They are thermal powered. I bought mine at Territorial, but I have not installed them yet. ventilation is also needed for CO2. My soil has enough organic material that CO2 is not a problem. If in doubt, a pile of manure in a corner will provide enough. |
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