[Errol]

I have accumulated enough old salvage windows & door to build a 8ftx12ft greenhouse I have always wanted. Hope some of you here have experience's with greenhouse growing. Would I need any lighting for the plants since 85% of the greenhouse will be glass and plastic roofing. what type heat when the temps drop down below 40 degrees at night. I have no experience with greenhouse growing except with cold frames. So any tips or advised is very much welcome! thanks
have a great day
Errol

 

[stephanie]

you shouldn't need any heat unless it gets below freezing and then a heat lamp or conventional old school light bulb should keep it above freezing. green houses tend to retain the days heat especially if you put bricks or dark colored pavers on the floor of the green house to absorb the warmth from the day. the pavers will slowly release the heat through the night.

 

[Errol]

thanks Stephanie, I will have !2"x12" concrete pavers for the floor. I plan on having a couple of 50 gallon barrels of water also to retain heat. I am also thinking of building the benches to hold a couple inches of sand (sand is good heat holding) and using rope lights buried like I do with starting seedlings under my lights. well with wintersowing jugs, and starting seedlings under lights and now a greenhouse, I should stay busy!! lol
thank you again Stephanie for your suggestions
happy gardening
Errol

 

[PHONETOOL]

That sounds nice Errol take some pictures if you can.

 

[Tammy]

I'd love to see pics also. I have seen pics of greenhouses made from salvaged windows and think they are so unique! I just love the look of them.

 

[Errol]

Yes Phonetool and Tammy I will post some pictures of it as I get further along with the greenhouse. I have now started it 2 days ago, got the 4"x4" post set in concrete and yesterday got the base and top supports done for the rafters. I'm going today to get the pvc corrugated clear roofing I will be using. but the weather is showing bad all next week with rain, snow, and cold here. So maybe I can get some done next week. I need it now because I have so many seedlings I'm running out of room! started a lot under lights in my heated work shop, and have over 230 wintersown jugs and some are already sprouting. Wish some of you guys were closer, since I have about 450 tomato seedlings already sprouted and I potted 49 Cherokee purple yesterday morning. I would sure share with you since I will have only 125 tomato plants for my own garden. But I will have plenty to share with our Middle Tennessee Plant Swap this spring. And don't ask why I sow so many seeds! I guess I just love to see things grow, lol
thanks to my friends
have a wonderful day
Errol

 

[PHONETOOL]

Wow 450 sprouts that's quite a bit If I lived closer it would take you up on your offer

 

[Tammy]

I wish I lived closer too Errol! That's alot of seedlings. do you provide all the fresh produce to the town of Beech Grove?? lol

 

[Errol]

LOL Tammy! well not quiet but I do give a lot away to neighbors and family. I know I put out more then I can use but I just enjoy doing this. And I enjoy growing things. But I belong to the Middle Tennessee Plant Swap. We hold 2 different swaps a year and the spring swap is coming up in may then the fall one is in October, so I do get rid of a lot of veggie and flower seedlings there. If anyone that belongs to this forum live in Tennessee then you would be welcome! we have a ball, swapping plants, seeds and just giving away to anyone that's interested and you would not believe all the food we all bring! We hold it both times at a Tennessee state park called Henry Horton state park.
happy gardening my friends
Errol

 

[jillybean]

Hi Errol,

Here is a link to a couple of posts about sun rooms and green houses I have build and used over the past 25 years.

http://cricketsongfarm.blogspot.com/2014/03/the-sunroom-evolution.html.http://cricketsongfarm.blogspot.com/2014/04/green-house-made-from-cattle-panels.html

Good luck with your project!