Our New Greenhouse!!!

Posted on Monday, October 6, 2008 at 12:31

Ma and I worked all weekend to get our new greenhouse built.

It was much more involved than I thought it would be. There is still more work to do but we are very excited to have the plastic completely covering it now. I took off work on Friday and worked from sunrise to sunset. Ma helped after school and then we both worked on it all day Saturday and after Church on Sunday. The girls helped with the final plastic installation.

It is 14 feet by 12 feet. Next year we will expand it to 24 feet long. Instead of explaining the whole process, why don't I just show some pictures from the construction phase? Here goes:

First we had to make a spot to put the green house. Ma had this great idea to build a retaining wall to extend the space by the fence out another 6 feet. We had to move a lot of dirt to back fill the wall, but it worked well. Later we will finish the other half of the wall and fill it.

This wall created the perfect footprint for our new structure.

We had to drive metal stakes in the ground at each corner and every 4 feet in the middle and then cut them to the right height.

Is that straight?

1 and 1/2" PVC pipe, 20 feet long fit perfectly over the pipes and bend in a nice arch to make a 14 foot width.

After it was completely framed, Ma consulted the book again to see what the next step would be. We got this particular style greenhouse idea from a library book. It is a great book by Jeff Ashton, called The 12-Month Gardener: Simple Strategies for Extending Your Growing Season. I plan to buy a copy because it also has  lots of great cold frame and cloche ideas.

After the PVC pipes were secure, we had to frame up the ends with 2x4s and add pipe supports to the wood and the PVC hoops. In the above picture, I am putting tape over the wire used to tie everything together in order to protect the plastic sheeting.

Laura came out to check on the progress and decided to come on in.

After the walls were finished and everything secured, we put the plastic on the end walls.

Here Ma was hammering the staples that secured the plastic.

After the end walls were done, it was time to tackle the top plastic sheeting.

Ma and Laura lifted it up to me. Mary took the pictures.

We got it put in place, used about 1,000 staples connecting it to the framework, and trimmed off the excess.

We finished just before the sun went down. At this point, the outside temperature was about 65 degrees. Inside the greenhouse it rose to 100 degrees! I still need to install an exhaust fan and get vent windows put together to control the inside temperature but I am encouraged by the fast temperature rise. We plan to grow salad crops in there all Fall and Winter and then start many early plants in the Spring.

We have more to learn about how to care for plants inside a greenhouse, so its back to the library for us. We'll keep you updated on our progress. Does anyone reading this post have a greenhouse or poly tunnel? If so, we'd love some advice.

Happy Fall Gardening!

Blessings,

- Pa

Untitled Comment

Posted by CatherineAnn on Monday, October 6, 2008 at 02:55 - Link

I love that greenhouse! You did a great job, and it will be great to have fresh green things growing all winter. I'm off to check out the book you mentioned...one can never have too much gardening info.!
Blessings,
Catherine

Untitled Comment

Posted by homesteadinthemaking on Monday, October 6, 2008 at 04:00 - Link

You did such a great job. We don't have one but hope to one day soon.
Blessings,
Trixi

Hope you don't mind...

Posted by HSBFrontPorch on Monday, October 6, 2008 at 04:21 - Link

if I post a link on the Front Porch! This is a great post and will certainly inspire others to build their own greenhouse :) .
Blessings,
Catherine

NICE!! WIll you build me one, Pa?

Posted by safords on Monday, October 6, 2008 at 06:40 - Link

: -) I am just going to have to show this to my dear hubby and see if he will make me one just like it. We've been talking about one forever, just didn't want to spend too much $$ on a pre-made and we needed some ideas.. Thanks!

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Posted by blessedmomof10 on Tuesday, October 7, 2008 at 01:41 - Link

Great job on the greenhouse! You will love it! We had a greenhouse for a few years and loved it!
Blessings,
gloria

Greenhouse

Posted by fcusick on Saturday, October 18, 2008 at 04:00 - Link

Do you have plans - this looks great!

flossie4him@hotmail.com

Greenhouse

Posted by farmliving on Monday, October 20, 2008 at 07:33 - Link

Wow love the greenhouse. You guys did a great job. The pics are wonderful!!