Q.
We would like to grow vegetables year-round for ourselves
and family unless it is too expensive. We have power (110) available and plan
to do as much construction ourselves as possible. We were thinking of
constructing the perimeter with a 3 foot high block wall and then enclosing the
top with some type of metal hoop structure with a translucent skin. Inside the
greenhouse, the floor plan would be 3′ wide and 3′ high raised planters around
the perimeter, and a 3×3 down the middle. We are getting too old to be on our
knees. We have water available on a timer. We aren’t sure about the hoop
structure or the HVAC. What do you think?
A. I am
hoping you are already good vegetable gardeners. Jumping into greenhouse
production without being a good gardener will result in failure. I would
recommend that you don’t even attempt it unless you have solid vegetable
growing experience already.
We would like to grow vegetables year-round for ourselves
and family unless it is too expensive. We have power (110) available and plan
to do as much construction ourselves as possible. We were thinking of
constructing the perimeter with a 3 foot high block wall and then enclosing the
top with some type of metal hoop structure with a translucent skin. Inside the
greenhouse, the floor plan would be 3′ wide and 3′ high raised planters around
the perimeter, and a 3×3 down the middle. We are getting too old to be on our
knees. We have water available on a timer. We aren’t sure about the hoop
structure or the HVAC. What do you think?
A. I am
hoping you are already good vegetable gardeners. Jumping into greenhouse
production without being a good gardener will result in failure. I would
recommend that you don’t even attempt it unless you have solid vegetable
growing experience already.
-001.JPG) |
| Temperatures in small hobby greenhouses are very difficult to manage properly. Greenhouses in the hot desert should be as tall as possible to get the heat off of the crop. |
If
you are hoping to save money by constructing a greenhouse and growing your own
vegetables, you won’t. Those vegetables will be expensive.
On
the other hand, they could be better quality vegetables if grown correctly. The
reason I say could is because you can get some very good quality vegetables in
many of the grocery markets at different times of the year.
the other hand, they could be better quality vegetables if grown correctly. The
reason I say could is because you can get some very good quality vegetables in
many of the grocery markets at different times of the year.
I
personally believe that you should try heated hoop houses first before you
invest into a greenhouse. Inexpensive hoop houses will help you understand the
management practices you will need to adopt to make growing vegetables under
protected culture a reality in the desert.
personally believe that you should try heated hoop houses first before you
invest into a greenhouse. Inexpensive hoop houses will help you understand the
management practices you will need to adopt to make growing vegetables under
protected culture a reality in the desert.
 |
| Shade is important in the summertime in desert greenhouses. |
Hoop
houses allow you to start your growing season 6 to 8 weeks earlier in the
spring and extend this season 6 to 8 weeks in the fall. Doing this allows you
to grow vegetables all year long here.
In
fact, you can grow vegetables all year round here without any hoop house. You
will not be able to grow any vegetable you want at any time of the year but you
can grow vegetables in their appropriate season.
fact, you can grow vegetables all year round here without any hoop house. You
will not be able to grow any vegetable you want at any time of the year but you
can grow vegetables in their appropriate season.
There
are a lot of things that are going through my mind that you could try if you
want to build your own greenhouse. It is not going to be cheap. In the hot
desert you want these houses to be as tall as possible to get the heat up and
off of the crops instead of captured under the canopy or roof.
are a lot of things that are going through my mind that you could try if you
want to build your own greenhouse. It is not going to be cheap. In the hot
desert you want these houses to be as tall as possible to get the heat up and
off of the crops instead of captured under the canopy or roof.
These
houses have to have very good ventilation. They need to have at least one air
exchange every minute so you need excellent ventilation. This is usually done
with exhaust fans that are sized so that you get the correct air movement and
ventilation in the greenhouse.
houses have to have very good ventilation. They need to have at least one air
exchange every minute so you need excellent ventilation. This is usually done
with exhaust fans that are sized so that you get the correct air movement and
ventilation in the greenhouse.
There
are two exposures that I think will work for you depending on the type of
greenhouse. The first is an east facing greenhouse that receives protection
from late afternoon Sun in the summer months. The house is oriented North and
South. This exposure would require a minimum of six hours of full sunlight
during the summer months. In the winter months it is best to get as much sun as
possible.
are two exposures that I think will work for you depending on the type of
greenhouse. The first is an east facing greenhouse that receives protection
from late afternoon Sun in the summer months. The house is oriented North and
South. This exposure would require a minimum of six hours of full sunlight
during the summer months. In the winter months it is best to get as much sun as
possible.
.JPG) |
| Hoop houses like this one covered in shade cloth can be a valuable ally for quality desert vegetable growing. |
You
could keep it cool enough in the summer months using a swamp cooler and a
ventilation fan or fans pulling the cool air through the house.
An
alternative for an east facing house is to construct the North end wall as a
very large evaporative pad with ventilation fans in the South end wall. The
west wall would be a solid, insulated wall.
alternative for an east facing house is to construct the North end wall as a
very large evaporative pad with ventilation fans in the South end wall. The
west wall would be a solid, insulated wall.
The
Chinese style greenhouse is a south facing greenhouse with the North wall a
solid block wall that can capture heat during the winter months. Extending from
the top of the North wall is a shade cloth of about 30 or 40% shade that shades
the vegetables during the summer when the sun is directly overhead.
Chinese style greenhouse is a south facing greenhouse with the North wall a
solid block wall that can capture heat during the winter months. Extending from
the top of the North wall is a shade cloth of about 30 or 40% shade that shades
the vegetables during the summer when the sun is directly overhead.
.jpg) |
| Plastic covered houses in Egypt. |
In
the winter months when the sun is at a lower angle the sun will shine directly
on the vegetables. This greenhouse usually has a solid wall about 3 feet high
along the east, south and west sides. Hoops or lumber is used to construct the
supports for the greenhouse clear “skin” on top of this low wall. Ventilation
is from the East to the West wall. The house is oriented east and west.how to make a greenhouse,
I
hope this helps you a little bit. Perhaps I should put together some classes
but like I said, it will be expensive to build these. My recommendation is to
start with the hoop houses.
hope this helps you a little bit. Perhaps I should put together some classes
but like I said, it will be expensive to build these. My recommendation is to
start with the hoop houses.
this was tremendously helpful. thank you