I've never written to this forum, but was wondering...has anyone had experience with building a simple four season greenhouse? I would like to be more self-sufficient and am changing over my gardens from pretty to pretty and useful--more vegetable growing vs. flower growing. Have read Eliot Coleman's ideas about four season gardening and would like to incorporate them into my small plot of land in suburbia. Have heard, however, that some greenhouse structures don't stand up to wind and snow. Looking for inexpensive ideas and also simple designs...having never built anything before. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

-- Joanne Schaefer (JoOhio1@aol.com), January 02, 2001

Answers

JoAnne,

If your in a windy or cool place, one option is a lot like a grow frame, but a little bigger. Heating can be a big problem. Here is what I use for all season lettuces, swiss chard, mixed greens, and other EASY TO WINTER GROW veggies. (If your North of zone 6, forget winter tomatoes)

Dig a 4' x 4' X 2' deep whole. Find three glass storm windows (or two if they are AT LEAST 2' WIDE AND 4' HIGH)at a thrift store, through a cheap add, or at the junkyard. Build a very basic square frame 3' 10" inside diameter, from boards at least 4" wide. Use a carbide tipped 3/16 drill bit to put a whole through the frame at the corners. Screw the windows onto your frame. Caulk gaps between the two windows, and the windows and the frame. (Make sure that the windows open from the part of the windows facing away from the frame). Dig around the edges of your whole just enough for your frame to sit level with the dirt at the edges. This should stop all drafts, and allow the earth heat to keep your winter veggies warm. Sun shines in from about 10 am until 4 pm ideally. IF it's cold still, put fresh manure in the bottom of the whole, cover it with burlap or old sheets or something, then put your potted plants right on top. For summer, leave windows open. Small and effective. Write with questions.

My husband says that you might want to find a skid that fits into the bottom of your whole to raise the plants closer to the top during spring, and keep the rains from flooding them out. (oh yeah)

-- Marty (Mrs.Puck@Excite.com), January 02, 2001.

Two simple designs. 1) cover a swingset fram with plastic and anchor it. 2) get a couple of sawhorse bracket kits and 8 ft 2x4s. Be sure to look in the archives here, there are a few threads there on the subject.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), January 02, 2001.

Jay, the swingset idea is simply brilliant!!! Thanks!!!! Those things are rusting all over the place around here. I'll see if I can't barter my way to getting a couple of them!

-- sheepish (rborgo@gte.net), January 02, 2001.

Thanks for your input and interesting ideas! Yes, that swingset idea was pretty clever...great use for it! Wanted to further explain about the size I had in mind. Was thinking of a larger sized, unheated greenhouse. Plants, such as kale or root vegetables, would be grown in it for winter harvesting. It would be about 12 X 20 or 30 feet long. I looked into those pole huts (made with pvc pipe), but from what I understand, they won't withstand high winds or snow weight. I really appreciate all the advice already given...thank you. Thanks also, for any further information shared.

-- Joanne Schaefer (JoOhio1@aol.com), January 03, 2001.

Something I've seen mentioned a couple of times is to get a couple of stock panels (I think they are around 16 feet long) and bow them into a hoop. Stabilize the bottoms with lumber, add greenhouse film, and presto! Obviously no automatic fan or other ventilation, so you'll have to watch heat buildup. There are lot's of interesting do-it-yourself greenhouses on the net, too. Good luck!

-- Laura Jensen (lrjensen@nwlink.com), January 03, 2001.

We made our greenhouse (not heated) using big peices of metal mesh type of stuff - the ones that are used when you lay a foundation - we cemented two of these into cement blocks and covered all the metal with old clothes and then covered with plastic. We then covered the bottom part with earth - it is great for salad, swisschard, corn salad (I think thaat is what it is called) and some chinese veggies (a mixture between cabbage and swiss chard.

We've also had some cold frame things with old glass windows but for one reason or another the glass always broke.

-- kelly (kellytree@hotmail.com), January 07, 2001.

We live in Central Maine and have a 4 season greenhouse. It is 16 x32. We have visited Eliot Coleman's farm with a group of organic farmers. It is very impressive. But the group as a whole decided that the moveable greenhouse was a bit much for most farmers. Our greenhouse is based on a design that boat builders used to cover their workareas in the winter. It looks like a hull upside down. This greenhouse has stood up through the big New England ice storm about 3 years ago. It stands up through big wind storms also. It cost us $400 to put up. The largest expense is the greenhouse plastic. We do take the plastic off in the summer, fold it up and put it away. This extends the life of the plastic. If you are interested email me and I will write out more specific directions. I also have pix if your interested.

Mary

-- Mary R. (cntryfolk@ime.net), January 09, 2001.