Removable Lean-to Greenhouse
 

I am designing/building a removable lean-to greenhouse to gain may be more than a month's growing time in Zone 6/7. I hope to put my plants in ground 4/15. In my area I think normally it should be 5/15.

Because I don't have the room, the greenhouse will be in the same space as the final patch, so it has to be removable once the plant get to be may be 30" tall.

Once complete, I think the greenhouse can be installed and dis-assembled in less than 15 minutes and be stored away in very little room.

dcarch
[IMG]http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i240/dcarch/lean-to.jpg[/IMG]

That brick/stone wall will be your friend. It will collect heat during the day and release at night!!! Do you have a place to vent it? It will heat up quick! Very cool!

[quote=IMISSCOLO;49138]That brick/stone wall will be your friend. It will collect heat during the day and release at night!!! Do you have a place to vent it? It will heat up quick! Very cool![/quote]
Thanks.
Regarding venting, I will have small vent windows.
Regarding brick/stone wall, I will post a question in "General Discussions".

dcarch

dcarch - how is your lean-to coming along? I hope you are taking pictures of all steps of construction and will show us the end result. I will be very impressed if indeed you can take it down and re-install it in 15 minutes. I have a south facing wall on my attached garage that could take a narrow lean-to.

Dee

[quote=ddsack;49667]dcarch - how is your lean-to coming along? I hope you are taking pictures of all steps of construction and will show us the end result. I will be very impressed if indeed you can take it down and re-install it in 15 minutes. I have a south facing wall on my attached garage that could take a narrow lean-to.

Dee[/quote]

[COLOR=black]A few more parts I need to get. [/COLOR]

[COLOR=black]The concept of putting this thing together will be unique (I think) and a first for a lend-to greenhouse construction. If it works, those of us who are space-challenged and climate-challenged will have more options.[/COLOR]

[COLOR=black]I hope to finish up in the next couple of weeks. My seedlings are growing tall.[/COLOR]

[COLOR=black]dcarch[/COLOR]

Just a crazy thought: for a project of this dimension, the top could be made out of PTFE film, Tefzel [Dupont]or Hostaflon [Hoechst].

Tefzel used to be available in a form that had one edge with adhesive. See Eden Project, Cornwall, UK, visualize, longitudinal 'pillows'. Very good lightweight double-walled, high-insulation top requiring comparatively less structural support while shedding snow/wind/rain.

Tallman & Demarest, architects, Ithaca, NY, well-versed in these pillows. I have no financial connections whatsoever with them.

PTFE can also be used for a lightweight half-hoophouse, 2 layers, inflated. Much, much lighter than plastic, high light transmission, strong. Worth a thought for future projects.

m

[quote=mouse;50377]Just a crazy thought: for a project of this dimension, the top could be made out of PTFE film, Tefzel [Dupont]or Hostaflon [Hoechst].
Tefzel used to be available in a form that had one edge with adhesive. See Eden Project, Cornwall, UK, visualize, longitudinal 'pillows'. Very good lightweight double-walled, high-insulation top requiring comparatively less structural support while shedding snow/wind/rain.
-------------------------
PTFE can also be used for a lightweight half-hoophouse, 2 layers, inflated. Much, much lighter than plastic, high light transmission, strong. Worth a thought for future projects.
m[/quote]

Very interesting material. I haven't seen it being commomly used. Must be very expensive. I have gotten 4mm Twinwall poly panels for the project.

Can't wait until the snow melts so that I can complete the project.

thx

dcarch

Progress pics.

dcarch

The three hinged support frames are attached to the base and the stone wall by screws.
[IMG]http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i240/dcarch/1DSCN8521.jpg[/IMG]

The 4mm Twinwall poly-panels are attached to the frames by velcro and packing tape.
[IMG]http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i240/dcarch/1DSCN8528.jpg[/IMG]

Dcarch -

This is how you're going to beat me for earliest tomato ...
A couple just went ripe in my window - I know they don't count, and I've seen yours all winter -
But we're on !!!

~ Tom

[IMG]http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e94/tomstrees/Start2007Cont.jpg[/IMG]

[quote=Tomstrees;52647]Dcarch -

This is how you're going to beat me for earliest tomato ...
A couple just went ripe in my window - I know they don't count, and I've seen yours all winter - But we're on !!!

~ Tom[/quote]

Trying to get my seedling s in ground 4/1!!!:)

dcarch

Very cool ! I've never heard of that before ~
Growing them in a greenhouse, that you can "take apart" once
the weather gets better ... huh !

What ? Me worry ??? lol

~ Tom

Is there a place to vent? It is amazing how quick that gh will heat up.;)

[quote=IMISSCOLO;52971]Is there a place to vent? It is amazing how quick that gh will heat up.;)[/quote]

Just completed the thing yesterday.
You are absolutely correct that heat builds up.
With a little sun, 58 degrees outside, it was 108 degrees inside!
Night time; 36 degrees outside, it was 55 degrees inside (nice!)

I have put together a thermostat controlled fan to vent it. I will install it tomorrow.

dcarch

Target has the remote stats pretty cheap. In the morning the first thing I do is check the outside temp then the gh temp, just habit. It is getting to the time that the vents and fans aren't cutting it and it will be time to shut it down. I also found some cheap clip on fans at walmart that I move around. Helps with pollination.

Dcarch -

Once its on - is it going to be easy to get off without damaging plants ?

Also, is it just going to be a cold frame with plants in pots - or plants rooted in the ground ?

~ Tom

[quote=IMISSCOLO;53197]Target has the remote stats pretty cheap. In the morning the first thing I do is check the outside temp then the gh temp, just habit. It is getting to the time that the vents and fans aren't cutting it and it will be time to shut it down. --------.[/quote]

I got a remote thermometer to read the GH temp. Just installed thermostat controled vent/fan. Set the temp at 90 degrees.

dcarch

[quote=Tomstrees;53211]Dcarch - ---
Once its on - is it going to be easy to get off without damaging plants ?
Also, is it just going to be a cold frame with plants in pots - or plants rooted in the ground ?~ Tom[/quote]

All the panels are held together with Velcro and tape, so it takes less then ten minutes to dis-assemble, and the three support frames are secured with only 6 screws; that takes less then 10 minute to remove also.

The plants are already in the ground (4/1) a few days ago perminently. I will be removing the GH maybe 5/15. There is enough room to remove the GH without damaging the plants. I may put the whole thing back at the end of the season to grow some salad greens for the fall/winter season :) :) ;) 8)
dcarch

Done 4/1/07.;)

dcarch
[IMG]http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i240/dcarch/smlDSCN8575.jpg[/IMG]


[IMG]http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i240/dcarch/smlDSCN8539.jpg[/IMG]

that is awesome. What you can do next is take the downspout, put that garbage can under it, and have free water :-)

Ok dcarch I came over and looked at the green house as you requested.
I have seen it before and have seen the progress on it.
I think it looks fine and have only one question to ask.
(((What kind of rock do you have on the side of your house?)):)

Worth

carch, what the HECK ya worried about? of course you'll extend yer season, and I'd bet yu could grow leaf crops all winter. One thing that might happen, the boston Ivy on the wall may freeze out, as it's roots will think it's summer while the tops are exposed.
Only saying this 'cause I'm jealous and have to find fault. Hehehe.
The twinwall poly should be excellent, and any additional heat source, I mean even a lightbulb, possibly, would get crops like spinach and cool season crops through some pretty rough winters.

[COLOR=black][quote=garnetmoth;53433]that is awesome. What you can do next is take the downspout, put that garbage can under it, and have free water :-)[/quote][/COLOR]
[B][I][COLOR=darkgreen]That sounds like a fantastic idea!:idea:[/COLOR][/I][/B]
[COLOR=black][quote=Worth1;53436]--------I think it looks fine and have only one question to ask. (((What kind of rock do you have on the side of your house?)) [/quote][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][COLOR=darkgreen][B][I]I take it for granite.:oops:[/I][/B][/COLOR] [/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][quote=peppereater;53491]-------------------Only saying this 'cause I'm jealous and have to find fault. Hehehe. The twinwall poly should be excellent, and any additional heat source, I mean even a lightbulb, possibly, would get crops like spinach and cool season crops through some pretty rough winters.[/quote][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][COLOR=darkgreen][I][B]The next few days would be a nice test. They are predicting 28 degrees. Already passed 35-miles/hr wind test yesterday. I will be putting in a small electric heater just to be safe. BTW, the ivy is dead.[/B][/I][/COLOR][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][COLOR=darkgreen][I][B]dcarch[/B][/I][/COLOR][/COLOR]

Dcarch -

Have you amended the soil in this bed from last year?
I remember last year seeing photos of this patch heavily blighted, no ?

Anywho, looks great ~
We got snow yesterday down here in NJ ...
I have been eating cherries from my winter project .. but really looks like I'm not going to be able to "get-into" my garden until May 1 ... I'm still working on having tomatoes in June ~

Tom

[quote=Tomstrees;53530]Dcarch -
Have you amended the soil in this bed from last year?
I remember last year seeing photos of this patch heavily blighted, no ?
Anywho, looks great ~
We got snow yesterday down here in NJ ...
I have been eating cherries from my winter project .. but really looks like I'm not going to be able to "get-into" my garden until May 1 ... I'm still working on having tomatoes in June ~
Tom[/quote]
Tom, I turned the soil (using my famous:oops: hole digger) completely. Then the soil was heated by the sun to 110 degrees and I am using "Terraclor" to treat the soil. Wish me luck.

You (and all of you who have the same situations as mine) should consider a project like this, with seedlings in ground 4/1. Next year I will try 3/15!

dcarch


Thermostat controlled vent/fan and heat.

[IMG]http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i240/dcarch/DSCN8592sml.jpg[/IMG]

View of seedlings (note drip hoses)
[IMG]http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i240/dcarch/DSCN8591sml.jpg[/IMG]

Rock on ! Does look cool ~ You gonna stake or cage those maters ?

~ Tom

[quote=Tomstrees;53541]Rock on ! Does look cool ~ You gonna stake or cage those maters ? ~ Tom[/quote]

Hey Tom, you are not a very nice person! You want to know all my trade secrets right?:arrow: :twisted:

Now that I have this "no-greenhouse" greenhouse system done, would you believe you are also looking at a "no-stakes" staking system and a "no-cage" cage system I have built for my removable greenhouse?

Since this is a "undercover" forum, I will post my other "secrets" somewhere else some time.

dcarch:)

Dcarch,

You are not a very nice person keeping secrets ...
As I'm sure you know ... secrets aren't "cool" at parties ~ :arrow:

Tom :lol:

Looks really cool Dcarch!

Where did you locate the panels and how expensive are they?

[quote=ZBQ;53594]Looks really cool Dcarch!

Where did you locate the panels and how expensive are they?[/quote]

I bought 5 4'x8' 4mm poly panels from Farmtek for about $40 each.
They are UV treated and with a 10-year garantee. In my case they will last forever because they will be used about two months every year.

dcarch

Question: Do you have a dummies version of what you've done? :oops: I look at it and still can't figure out how you got to the final stage or maybe I'm just tired. For me it would be an accomplishment to get my seedlings out by 05/15. Maybe a second look tommorow will help, but I'll use the I'm a girl excuse for tonight.