New High Tunnel

[Worth1]

After year 5 it shatters into.---100,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,00 0,000,pieces.

Worth

[Cole_Robbie]

Nah, that's painter's plastic. For the actual greenhouse plastic itself, I bet I could get 10+ years. But it falls apart at the seams. I could probably get away with just running 2x4s where it is seamed to re-attach it where it is separating.

[Worth1]

Cole can you tell me what kind you have and how thick.
Is it polyethylene.
I think why you are getting good results is because you live farther north than me but yet at a low altitude.
This has a lot to do with how long it will last.
I am asking because the add for the 6mil I looked at said 4 years even in high UV areas.
That it s me.
This stuff also said not to put it against PVC pipe.

Worth

[Cole_Robbie]

http://www.farmtek.com/farm/supplies...oductId=416869

It's 6-mil. The UV inhibitor that they put into it is stronger than the process they use to make the seams.

And yes, pvc pipe will eat poly, so will treated lumber. White latex paint as a barrier is the answer.


edit: I just noticed that link says: UV stabilized for up to four years of film life.

They must have been talking about the seams and not the plastic.

[natural]

Originally Posted by Cole_Robbie

http://www.farmtek.com/farm/supplies...oductId=416869

It's 6-mil. The UV inhibitor that they put into it is stronger than the process they use to make the seams.

And yes, pvc pipe will eat poly, so will treated lumber. White latex paint as a barrier is the answer.


edit: I just noticed that link says: UV stabilized for up to four years of film life.

They must have been talking about the seams and not the plastic.

I bought the exact same film. I am on year 4 and it appears to be in good shape. Mine even lays against cattle panels and yet it still holds up. I have had just a few minor tears and I jump on those with repair tape before they expand.

[Cole_Robbie]

It's been good for raising bedding plants to sell. I chose a different product for the high tunnel, Warp's is the brand. It is an opaque plastic, not clear. It does not have as much "solar oven value", which I need in the very early spring when starting young plants, but quickly becomes a cooling burden in hot weather. Once the temperature hits the 90s, the clear plastic is miserable to be under, even with the greenhouse ends and sides open. The opaque plastic diffuses the light and is much better for growing tomatoes in hot weather.

[Ricky Shaw]

What a good program to foster a smaller more local approach to produce distribution.

[PureHarvest]

Originally Posted by Ricky Shaw

What a good program to foster a smaller more local approach to produce distribution.

Ricky, I think you would be asking about stuff that other programs within the USDA agencies do. Each state has a USDA Service center that can better answer that question.

NRCS is about conserving soil and natural resources. There aren't any programs NRCS does that addresses your specific question. They would come in more to assist the production side of the equation, not the marketing/distribution.

However, the high tunnel program was started to foster the locally grown movement by encouraging season extension and the ability to provide local products longer into the season.
Other than that, I cant think of anything that would stretch into your request.

Hope that makes sense.

[Ricky Shaw]

Thank you for that PureHarvest. I was meaning it more as a comment, as opposed to a question. I think the programs are worthwhile and support the idea of a more local approach. No grant for me, I have a small suburban lot and it sounds like too much work.

[Cole_Robbie]

We got a little more done today.

[Worth1]

A thing of beauty.

Worth

[Gerardo]

It's looking nice!

[Cole_Robbie]

thanks guys

[PureHarvest]

Cole, will you do any truss bracing?

[PureHarvest]

Like this? Just to deal with wind load:

truss.jpg