Backyard greenhouses

[JubaeaMan138]

So as a dive into this addiction even deeper I find myself wanting to start plants from seed . I’ve been considering building a green house for the last couple months something smaller 10 x 20 or a little smaller . Was wondering if any fellow palms talkers could share pictures of there green houses for ideas and how they feel about them . Looking to do something I guess you would say like a hobby greenhouse. 

[kinzyjr]

Out of curiosity, how many different seeds/plants are you looking to take care of?

Depending on how many seeds and what kinds of seeds you're going to sprout, you might be able to get away with some heat mats and a vertical shelf.  I had to "expand" my nursery recently due to an unexpected increase in the number of seeds I had on-hand.  Conveniently, I received some ~2 ft. x 3 ft. "mini-greenhouses" that can hold all of my community pots and small seedlings.  Between that and a small aluminum desk in my garage, I have ~300 seeds germinating on heat mats and ~50 seedlings with a lot of room to spare.

[JubaeaMan138]

Well I only have a few months we’re it is really necessary . And I’ve done the heat mats and all of that I just hate the chords and dealing with all of that I have a wife and 2 young kids so indoors Wouldn’t really work due to space so I have to take advantage of my 1.62 acres . I have a spot south facing we’re I believe the previous owners had a green house slab poured in the middle of the dirt with rusted posts and drip lines sprawled around . So I was planning on constructing a green house over that slab . As for how many seed . No clue I don’t normally purchase or get seed but if I had a green house I’d get as much seed as I could fit into a small hobbyist green house 

[joe_OC]

Looking to build one this winter as well.  Going to frame it with pressure treated wood and cover with two walled poly-carbonate sheets.  

[JubaeaMan138]

Exactly what I had planned looking to start here in the next week or so hoping to see how others set there’s up

[joe_OC]

10'x20' is a pretty substantial greenhouse!  You are going to need to have good air circulation or the critters are going to have a gourmet buffet on your palms.

[Vari805]

That’s how I built mine!  I’ll see if I can share some pics and info. 

[JubaeaMan138]

Yes I plan on having fans and all that . Figure it’s a good project for me and my 8’year old as well during the down season . Although the way the weather has been last winter and so far this year it might be unnecessary haha. And out here in no mans land surrounded by empty hills I have the critters for sure I have a rat problem in the yard so far no damage to plants or smaller plants . The pack rats do like to run off with my small silver pruners . I found them in the weirdest places in the yard . 

[JubaeaMan138]

12 minutes ago, Vari805 said:

That’s how I built mine!  I’ll see if I can share some pics and info. 

Pics would be great

[Silas_Sancona]

Some pictures of my own Greenhouse / Shade house.. Basic idea was to create a structure in which the Panels could be changed according to the time of year.  Frame sits atop approx a 10' X 14' corner of existing patio slab. Panels fit into the frame itself and are held into place using metal bracts / smaller chunks of 1" X 1". 

Original goal was to create two sets of panels: One being skinned with shade cloth for the summer. Second set would be skinned with thick plastic (pos. 2 sheet thickness) with a layer of shade cloth sandwiched between the plastic. All sides, and roof can be removed /changed out as desired / needed.. There is an additional 10' X 16' area of patio behind it where, if we were staying here, i could build onto the existing structure for more growing space..

While the design is basic, and are planning on tweaking some structural aspects later on, the rewards are priceless.. Palm seedlings / other seedlings have done well situated here, and i get optimal growth on Summer sun-sensitive Cacti / etc.  Additionally, placement allowed for the perfect "Shade Alley"  between the shade house, and house itself ( Last picture) where i keep the "good stuff" that can't handle full sun exposure during our summers.. Keep in mind, the back faces due west, with no overhead tree canopy on this side of the yard.. That's 13 hours of Brutal sun / heat during the summer.. Perfect exposure this time of year though.. 

Front of the "Cube" 


Looking in. Open gap above the door helps w/ air circulation during the summer. 


Interior space. If i were utilizing it for just propagation, id have built higher, 2 or 3 shelf benches along the walls.


Shade Alley between Shadehouse and back wall of house.

[Pal Meir]

Quite empty during summer, but overloaded in the winter months:

[Josue Diaz]

I have one of those 6x8 hobby greenhouses from Harbor Freight. They aren't very tall, so I built a 18" tall wooden frame and set the greenhouse over that frame. This allows me to easily fit shelving on all sides up to four tiers high. Even with all that shelf space, I quickly ran out of room. Like you, I only need the greenhouse for about a month or two for winter protection, but you'll find that the added heat and humidity will make most of your plants grow much, much faster. You might end up keeping plants in there year round. 

[Vari805]

Here is my experience and plans I followed on my most recent greenhouse.

For starters, This is my 4th greenhouse.  I have had a hoop house, a Walmart greenhouse kit, a aluminum frame kit, and now this one.  All were at different locations, and I have learned many things from each one of the previous greenhouses.  Deciding to go custom built, it was easier to design and implement the water supply, electrical, fans, humidifier, and vents, as well as benches, which the previous kits I had in the past lacked some or all of these items.

http://www.ana-white.com/2012/05/plans/barn-greenhouse

I would like to add the following advice to the plans above.  I first built the GH per plan.  I like the plans because you could technically make the GH any length you wanted, but due to my somewhat small lot, I chose to stick to the 10' x 12' footprint.  Plus it was a very simple design with very easy to follow instructions.  Costs of lumber was minimal, and I did do the skirt of galvanized metal roofing, as I like the look.  In a hurry at the end of the season, I quickly wrapped the roof with 6mil plastic and 1x2 cleats.   That didn't last long.  In another hurry between storms, I ran to HD and picked up the smoke colored SunTuff panels, for the upper section of the GH.  One thing I did not like about this design was the gable ends meeting the roof.  The SunTuff panels work great with wiggle mould, but on the profile of the gable ends there were many open gaps.  I decided to add benches on both 12' runs, which is when I noticed another pit fall to the design.  Due to the 'barn style' pitched roof, it really limited the size of plant I could put on benches.  So I road through winter, taking notes of how I would change the design.

The ultimate goal was to have a self sufficient GH, on timers and etc.  But I first had to correct the 'style' of the GH

I decided to change the roof pitch.  I framed the upper section conventionally with vertical walls and a 3/12 pitch roof.  This enabled the full use of my benches.  At that point I supplied the GH with electrical for a humidifier on a humidistat, exhaust fan with temp sensor, and intake vent which opened 3 seconds prior to the exhaust fan starting, electrical outlets for circulation fans, outlets for heat mats, and of course a overhead light for the dark winter evenings, when I can go and check on the babies.  I also decided to bring in water, and an RO system, so the humidifier has filtered water and reduced mineral build up within the unit.  There is an RO spigot, and hard water hose bib.    Once the amenities were complete, I purchased 10mm triple was poly carbonate panels with aluminum trim.  This eliminated the previous issue with the SunTuff panels at the gable ends.  After installation of the panels, I put shade cloth over the top.  

In the end I am quite happy with the result.  In all I ended up spending about 3k, but most kits cost that amount, and you don't have all the essential mechanics with those kits.

Ill have to dig up some photos in the meantime.  

[Vari805]

[joe_OC]

GREAT looking greenhouse!  Now, did you build it or get your guys to? hehehe  

[JubaeaMan138]

Definetly likee the  look of vari805s killer looking green houses . Like Silas idea with the changeable panels 

[palmad Merc]

I don't have much space in my backyard but in purchased this greenhouse from Sproutwell greenhouses  down in Victoria, its called a lean too, 4.3 by 10.5 feet.

6 mm polycarbonate sheet, it defuse light perfect.

 

It has 2 self opening solenoid louvers that open as temps rise.

I've added a heater which is controlled by a thermostat and I made a humidifier with a 12 headed mister I purchased from house of hydro based in Florida, which is also controlled by a thermostat.

Self watering system while I'm away plus a germination heat box set at 28 to 30 degrees celcius.

She's my pride and joy and I'm amazed by how much I can produce out of it.

 

 

 

[Missi]

I've been getting the greenhouse itch as well. Hopefully I'll have one before next winter. Many of my super tender potted palms are getting too large to bring into the dining room (several Pinanga specimens, a couple Verschaffeltia splendida, some Anthuriums, etc.)

[Missi]

22 hours ago, Silas_Sancona said:

Some pictures of my own Greenhouse / Shade house.. Basic idea was to create a structure in which the Panels could be changed according to the time of year.  Frame sits atop approx a 10' X 14' corner of existing patio slab. Panels fit into the frame itself and are held into place using metal bracts / smaller chunks of 1" X 1". 

Original goal was to create two sets of panels: One being skinned with shade cloth for the summer. Second set would be skinned with thick plastic (pos. 2 sheet thickness) with a layer of shade cloth sandwiched between the plastic. All sides, and roof can be removed /changed out as desired / needed.. There is an additional 10' X 16' area of patio behind it where, if we were staying here, i could build onto the existing structure for more growing space..

While the design is basic, and are planning on tweaking some structural aspects later on, the rewards are priceless.. Palm seedlings / other seedlings have done well situated here, and i get optimal growth on Summer sun-sensitive Cacti / etc.  Additionally, placement allowed for the perfect "Shade Alley"  between the shade house, and house itself ( Last picture) where i keep the "good stuff" that can't handle full sun exposure during our summers.. Keep in mind, the back faces due west, with no overhead tree canopy on this side of the yard.. That's 13 hours of Brutal sun / heat during the summer.. Perfect exposure this time of year though.. 

Front of the "Cube" 


Looking in. Open gap above the door helps w/ air circulation during the summer. 


Interior space. If i were utilizing it for just propagation, id have built higher, 2 or 3 shelf benches along the walls.


Shade Alley between Shadehouse and back wall of house.

Come visit Naples and build me one please!!  This is AWESOME!!

[Silas_Sancona]

9 hours ago, JubaeaMan138 said:

Definetly likee the  look of vari805s killer looking green houses . Like Silas idea with the changeable panels 

JM138, the great thing about creating your own Greenhouse design is that you can include ideas from what aspects you like most, that suit your needs. Like i'd said, regarding what i built, It is very basic.. as more of a " build it and see how it works for now.. add /change X aspect later".. After getting it up, i decided on not putting the finishing touches on it, ie: painting the outside, finishing the trim on the panels.. Believe it or not, it was constructed by hand, with just a hand saw based off what i'd sketched out on paper.. Didn't have a circular saw at the time..  

When  re-constructed after moving next year, i'll take care of the more detailed details.. and tweak things such as perhaps creating the Greenhouse panels from the same, solid plastic material as Vari805's Greenhouse, Vs. my original thinking.

My thought regarding having 2 sets of panels is simply, in the Summer /Fall, forget having an enclosed greenhouse here that time of year, especially anything smaller.. You'll cook everything in it.. During the winter, it sits in an ideal position to take advantage of the sun's position / our relatively mild winter conditions.. I'd guess i might need to utilize a heater maybe 10-15 days between Dec.- early Feb.. if the weather were cooler than usual.. ( we might have had 8 days last year where lows dropped to / below 33F )

For now, it will be easy to disassemble when the time comes.. and i'll already have one set of panels done and ready to go.. 

[JubaeaMan138]

Agree your answer with the panels answered exactly what kept me from doing a green house . Worrying about frying everything how was I going to manage that during summer . Only thing I would change is smaller panels . Only because it’s easier to store in the garage . Will definetly be doing interchangeable panels for sure thanks for the pictures and idea!!!

[NatureGirl]

My GH was built in 2004, and is 7’ x 10’ and ONLY used for Seed Germination and seedlings. Keeps the squirrels from eating everything. In the summer certain seedlings have to go outside in wire cages cause it gets too hot in there for them.