Building a Greenhouse

I grew up living next to my grandparents and spent many days working side by side, starting seeds and transplanting plants, with my grandfather in his greenhouse. It was a fairly good size with a stone foundation and glass panels. It was attached to his garage which had a furnace to heat the garage and greenhouse and had running water and electricity. I have many fond memories of spending afternoons with my grandfather in his greenhouse.

Now that I am older I often dreamt of having my own greenhouse so I could start seedlings in the spring, extend the season in the fall and possibly relive some of those childhood memories. For several years I looked into purchasing a kit but was discouraged by the high prices and cheap plastic panels they came with so I decided to do some research and design and build my own.

Three years ago, after spending countless hours deciding what size to build, what materials to use and what accessories to add, I finally built my greenhouse.

My original plan was to build the greenhouse out of cedar, but because this was my first attempt I didn't want to invest too much into something that might not be exactly what I wanted, so I decided to use pine 2 x 3's for the framing and 6 mil greenhouse plastic for the covering. The entire cost for the 6'-10" x 8' greenhouse the was less than $150.00 including all the hardware.

Framed greenhouse.

Covered greenhouse.

The greenhouse has two work benches, the one on the south wall is 24" high and the one on the north wall is 36" high. There is a vent/window on the wall opposite the door. The floor is covered with landscape fabric which seems to work well for now. The late spring sun can really raise the temperature inside, so I have added an automatic vent opener to the window this year. The vent opener can be adjusted to open and maintain a constant temperature inside. It has been working perfectly and has saved me on several occasions when I would have forgotten to open the vent in the afternoon or close it at night when the temps dip below 50 degrees.

This greenhouse has held up remarkably well considering the framing is untreated and unpainted pine. The greenhouse film is rated for 5 years and hasn't cracked, ripped or yellowed despite being exposed to the northeast bitterly cold and snowy winters.

This fall I am planning on building a new greenhouse. It will be a more permanent one so I am going to construct it out of 2 x 4 cedar. I am planning on making a larger one- probably 8' x 12'. It will have a crushed stone and paver floor, running water with irrigation system, more vents, shade screens and possibly a propane heater. I am also considering using polycarbonate panels instead of the 6 mil greenhouse film to try and better control heat loss in the winter.

****** Update 9/29/12 - Greenhouse Plans are now available! ****** 

* ***Many sizes available from 6'x6' to 8'x16'! ****

You can purchase them from my ETSY store

and they are available in both PDF and Print.

     

Planting by the Phases of the Moon

One of the most interesting, and controversial, techniques I have come across while studying biodynamic gardening is the planting of seeds by the phases of the moon. It's the concept that the lunar gravitational pull has an effect on the germination of seeds and the roots of transplants. I have often started the same variety of seeds at different times only to have one batch germinate almost immediately and the other take up to 2 weeks to germinate.  I never understood why until I read about the influence the gravitational forces of the moon has on plants.

The basic concept is you start seeds 2 days before a new moon, in the first 7 days after the new moon the lunar forces increase root and leaf growth, in the second 7 days the lunar forces increase the leaf growth rate. On the full moon you should transplant your seedlings, then in the next 7 days the lunar forces increase root growth and in the next 7 days there is a decrease (resting period) in root and leaf growth. With the next new moon the cycle starts all over again.

Cucumber seedling planted 5 days ago following the Biodynamic Planting Guide and Calendar.

The book, How to Grow More Vegetables by John Jeavons describes in greater detail the process of planting by the phases of the moon. There is also a Biodynamic Planting Guide and Calendar which you can purchase from The Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association which really goes into great detail describing the forces of the moon, starts and planets. It also gives you a daily calendar that tells you which seeds to plant on which days breaking it down by Leaf, Fruit, Root and Flower categories. This is my first year using the Planting Guide and Calendar and the results have been remarkable!

Starting seeds with soil blocks

Pepper seedling in 3/4" soil block

A few years back  I started using soil blocks for starting seeds after becoming discouraged by the low germination rates I was getting using plastic propagation trays. Soil blocks are easy to make, eliminate the need to buy pots, take up lees space and provide extremely high germination rates!

3/4" and 1-1/2" soil block makers

Soil block makers come in 3 different sizes - 3/4", 1-1/2" and 4". You can make your own soil mix or purchase specific soil block mixes. Smaller seeds are started in the 3/4" soil blocks.When the seedlings germinate and the roots start to grow out of the blocks you "block up" to the next size. The 1-1/2" maker has 3/4" square dibbles to allow the 3/4" blocks fit perfectly into them.

1-1/2" and 3/4" soil blocks

The compact soil blocks stay together so they are easy to handle. The roots will grow to the outside edges of the blocks and develope a healthy root system. In the photo above you can see the roots of the cucumber in the 3/4" block on the right coming out at the bottom. The soil blocks can be placed directly on the heating mats, but I use recycled lettuce containers from the grocery store. Each container holds 80 - 3/4" blocks and creates a mini-greenhouse preventing the blocks from drying out too quickly.

Recycled lettuce containers, each holds 80 - 3/4" soil blocks

When planting in the soil blocks, I place the seed in the dimple created by the block maker and tap each seed in making sure it has good surface contact. I don't cover with a layer of soil becasue the seeds seem to germinate better when exposed to air. I get 80%  to 100% germination rates using this method. Seeds seem to germinat quicker - the photo below of cucmber seeds was taken 2 days after planting, every seed germinated (the 2 blocks in the lower right hand corner weren't planted).

Cucumber seedling in 3/4" soil block

Johnny's Seeds has a great video that explains soil block makers in more detail and shows you how to use them. Another excellent resource is Eliot Coleman's book The New Organic Grower. Eliot goes into great detail explaining how to plant in soil blocks, why they work so well and even shows you how to make your own soil block mix. The New Organic Grower has become one of my most valuable tools in organic gardening. 

Let the planting begin!

It has been a long, cold and snowy winter so far. The mini-greenhouses are still producing lettuce, cabbage and kale and the carrots are buried under a foot of snow, protected by their row covers on hoop frames. Most of the seeds that I ordered have already arrived and it is just about time to start the tomato, pepper and other seedlings.

This year I wanted only organic (non-hybrid) and heirloom seeds because I am planning on saving seeds for future seasons. I purchased seeds from Johnny's, Seeds of Change and Bountiful Gardens and ended up getting several varieties of heirloom seeds that have come from generations of farmers, saved by Seed Savers Exchange to preserve their legacy. I am also making the shift to biodynamic gardening - recognizing the soil and the garden as living organisms and growing in a way that replenishes the soils nutrients instead of depleting them. There are a couple great books available, How to Grow More Vegetables and The Backyard Homestead Mini-Farm & Garden Log Book by John Jeavons of Ecology Action, that discuss the Grow Biointensive method, a sustainable farming and gardening program.


Another project I have been working on is to create a record keeping system. One of my goals is to someday operate a small organic farm and, like most gardeners, I have always struggled to find a system of record keeping that works well for me. I wanted to have a place to store all the useful information I have collected over the years and be able to add to it and access it easily. I have tried simple composition books, loose leaf notebooks,  and garden planner software, but they all seems to have their short-comings.  Over the winter I have developed a database where I can keep all my information, record and keep data for the seeds I purchased, the suppliers, the information on germination and harvesting, crop planting dates, germination temperates, maturity dates, and harvest (yield) records. I have all my information in one place and can easily create and print reports if needed. This will be my first season using (an most likely modifying) my database so it will be interesting to see how well it works.

Winter wonderland

Friday and Saturday we were hit with two small storms that dumped a total of 7" of snow creating a winter wonderland.

The mini-greenhouses are still working great and have been providing us with fresh greens throughout the winter. The plants are growing slowly, but nonetheless continue to grow and seem very healthy. The ground inside the mini-greenhouses hasn't frozen at all and is full of earth worms enjoying the winter protection. In the second picture above you can see the snow covered mounds of the row covers protecting the carrots.

The lettuce, kale and scallions seem to be holding up the best in the below freezing temperatures. The cabbage is also doing very well, but like everything else is also growing very slowly. I have been harvesting some of the small cabbage plants for the rabbits so they can have fresh greens during the winter. The broccoli and cauliflower plants have wilted a bit but still continue to grow. The plants are now about 2' tall with new florets growing on the main stalks. It has been difficult to water steadily during the cold days which is why I think the plants are wilting, something I am hoping to address for next winter.

During these cold wintry days I have been sitting by the wood stove pouring through the seed catalogs planning the gardens for this coming year with plans on expanding the gardens and fencing them in, building new mini-greenhouse and placing them on raised stone beds, and adding irrigation systems to them. Another huge project, that we are excited about, is creating an organic school community garden at the elementary school. We received the go ahead in the fall and are already busy planning!! It should be a fun and rewarding project!!

Warm wishes...

Wishing everyone a Happy & Healthy Holiday Season!!!

Mini-greehouse update

Yesterday we enjoyed a nice fresh salad from our mini-greenhouse! The lettuce was buttery sweet and vibrant green, absolutely delicious! The units have been working extremely well! The nighttime temperatures have been dropping into the low 20's but the mini-greenhouses have been maintaining temps 6 - 8 degrees warmer than the outside, with humidity levels between 86% - 96%. There is always condensation on the walls and it never freezes even during the bitter cold nights.

The romaine lettuce is growing slowly, but it is still thriving and has been able to tolerate the sub-freezing temperatures.

The broccoli is starting to form now. The plants are about 2' tall almost touching the top of the mini-greenhouse.

The cabbage has been coming in nicely, starting to form the heads. I have been picking bottom leaves and some lettuce to feed the rabbits so they can have fresh greens!

This photo was taken when it was 34 degrees outside. As you can see the mini greenhouse was 41 degrees with 91% humidity.

So far the mini-greenhouse experiment has been very successful. The only thing I have noticed is on mornings after a really cold night the lettuce is a little wilted, but it perks right back up when the sun comes out. I imagine when it starts snowing and there is accumulating snow around the units the temps inside will stay even warmer at night. Everything seems to be thriving, even the kale, scallions and sage, and the garlic bulbs I planted are coming up as well. It will be interesting to compare their growth with the ones I planted outside in the bed. I have also planted some chestnuts in the units that came from a tree grown from nuts from a tree my grandfather had planted many years ago. I have tried growing trees before but when they are about 2' tall the squirrels always seem to find them and eat them. I have 12 nuts planted so hopefully this time I can get at least 2 trees to survive!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wishing everyone a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

This year, since we are vegans, we decided to adopt a turkey from Farm Sanctuary. Through their Adopt-A-Turkey Project donations go towards the care of rescued turkeys living at their sanctuary and educating the public about the plight on factory farms.

First Snowfall

Today we are having out first snowfall of the season here in New England. We are only expected to get an inch or two, but it is blustery and cold with high wind warnings. Most of the garden beds have been cleaned out and mulched with chopped leaves, the asparagus has been cut down and the garlic has been planted. We have already had our first frost and a few very cold nights where the temperature fell to about 28°.  During those freezing nights the temperature inside the mini-greenhouses has stayed around 32° with 91% humidity. I pulled the row covers over the hoops inside at night to give the plants extra protection, so the temperatures closer to the ground should have been a little warmer. None of the plants were affected by the freeze and the lettuce, which I thought would be wilted, was still looking great!

This morning the temperature outside is 30° and it is still 36° inside the mini-greenhouses with 93% humidity! The plants are all still thriving. Last weekend when I was cleaning out the herb garden, I transplanted some sage, parsley, basil and chives into the mini-greenhouses along with some garlic.

Happy Halloween !!!

Hay Day

Friday was "Hay Day" for our bunnies - when they get their annual bale of hay for their pen. It's become a sort of ritual every year, about the time I get the firewood all split and stacked for the winter,  I split up a bale of hay and spread it around to keep them warm for the winter. They have dug a series of tunnels under their pen which they sleep in every night. All three rabbits immediately come up to see what's going on and join in helping to spread the hay throughout their home.



Maisy at the opening to their tunnel.

 They tunnel through the hay like moles, grabbing mouthfuls as they plow. Then they run down into their burrow filling it up and come up for another mouthful! They frolic and play and run around like kids playing in leaves! It is really a sight!

Mimsy




Niffer eating maple leaves that fall on their pen.



Now the firewood is all split and stacked, the quail have been moved from the greenhouse into the basement and the bunnies have their hay for warmth. We are all ready for winter!

Finishing the mini-greenhouses

There is a frost predicted for next Friday, so today I put the 6-mil greenhouse film on both of the mini-greenhouses. Both units have wire hoops inside with row covers rolled up on the side that I can pull over for extra protection when the evening temperatures go down into the teens. There is also a thermometer sensor mounted in one of the mini-greenhouses transmitting to a weather station in my home office so I can monitor the temps. If it gets too warm I can prop open the roof panels to let cool air in. I may eventually add solar operated vents to automatically open the roof panels if it gets too warm inside.

In the first mini-greenhouse I have planted leaf lettuce, romaine lettuce, kale and scallions. I will also be adding some spinach in next week along with successive planting of lettuce.

In the second unit I have planted red cabbage, green cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and more kale. 

Some of the cabbage will be for our rabbits during the winter!



Cabbage (Alcosa Savoy) planted on 8/1/10

I have had the plants covered with row covers to keep out pests and to protect them from cool evening temps until I was able to put on the greenhouse film. Except for an early attack of cabbage worms and an intrusive mole who burrowed through my carrots, everything seems to be coming in nicely!

In the spring I am planning on starting my tomato plants early in one of the mini-greenhouses, planting them directly in the beds and then removing the roof panels when the plants grow tall and the temps warm up. It will be nice to have early tomatoes!

This is my first attempt at growing a winter garden and I am keeping a crop journal to track the progress. I will be posting updates and photos throughout the winter to see how the mini greenhouses work for growing a winter garden. If the units perform well, I am planning on building some out of red cedar with removable polycarbonate panels, automatic solar vent openers and drip irrigation systems.

If you would like to build a mini-greenhouse for yourself you can download plans here. If you do build one, please send photos and let me know how it worked out for you!

 

 

Mini greenhouse (cold frame) - Part 2

With winter right around the corner I have been working on finishing the mini-greenhouses. The night temps have been fairly stable with a few nights in the upper 30's, but we still haven't had our first frost yet.

I have finished building the 2nd mini-greenhouse this past weekend. I have purchased some coiled row cover wire from Johnny's to support the row covers inside. The wire comes in a 60' roll that you can cut to the lengths you choose. I cut mine in 63" lengths for the lettuce and a little larger for the cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower.

The row covers should offer enough protection for now, but in another week or so I am also going to cover each unit with 6 mil greenhouse plastic. Eliot Coleman, in his book The Winter harvest Handbook, calls this method of double layered protection "twice-tempered". Eliot states that "the inner climate is moved three USDA zones to the south" and winter vegetables with thrive under these conditions. Everything seems to be coming in nice, so hopefully we will be harvesting lettuce  and other winter veggies throughout the winter!

Building the mini-greenhouse

I spent the morning building the first of the mini-greenhouses for my winter garden. . This unit is 4' wide x 8' long x 44" tall, is made out of 2x3's and has hinged roof panels. As I was building it I thought it might be too big making it difficult to reach inside to harvest or plant, but now that it is finished I am very pleased with how it turned out. Each roof panel is wide enough to allow room to easily reach inside. All four roof panels are hinged so there is access from both sides.

While the temps are still above freezing I am using row covers to protect the plants. I purchased some greenhouse film that I will install later this month as the nigh-time temps begin to drop. I am considering attaching the film to panels so I can easily remove them in the spring and go back to using row covers (for seedlings). In the summer I plan on leaving the mini-greenhouse in the garden (without covering) for the plants to grow inside, but I've constructed the mini-greenhouse in sections so I can easily break it down and store in the shed.

I have posted the basic plan if anyone is interested in building one. Click here to download. 

alt="Blogfest" width=160  src="http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj522/FreshEggsDaily/blogfest_zpse0dbf3ea.jpg"
/>