Multi-Crop outdoor Greenhouse-D.I.Y.

[slunt]

Well folks, it's that time of year again when the outdoor Gardener begins to prepare for the upcoming season.
For reference, in this Do It Yourself Guide,The first day outdoors will be May 1.Which should be after the last frosts and has just over 14 hours of good light, so plants do not trigger into bloom.
While this is a Do It Yourself thread, I fully encourage everyone with anything to add, to jump in and enlighten us or add their 2 cents worth.
Since you want to put healthy,3-6 week old plants out on May 1st, remember that you will have to obtain clones or start seedlings around mid March, early April.That's six weeks away!!!.If you are budget minded, you will need time to buy pots,soil,ferts and other gardening needs.On top of that you will need lumber in the form of 2x4's in 8',10' and 12' lengths, as well as plywood, plastic and wire(Fencing wire,Stucco wire or large Gauge chicken wire).
That's why this is coming out now in Mid February.
I will try to break it down into sections for easy perusal.

[slunt]

The Theory and the Project...

You will be erecting an easy build green house which will allow you to produce two crops,(One after another) on Mother Natures dime.How do we do that Mr. Slunt, you may ask. And I'll tell.
You will be erecting(by these plans) a greenhouse with the dimensions of 12 feet long,10' wide and 8' high.Why those dimensions...cause thats the size 2x4's come in and I want to do minimum cutting.
The Greenhouse you build will be divided into 2 sections, front and back.The front section will be the length(12')facing South, so the sun can traverse across it's length from East to West.It is 6 feet deep.
The back section will be 4 feet deep, but fully sheeted in plywould so sneaky neighbours and others can't see anything from the back side(Non-Sun).This back section 4x12' will have doors and walls and a roof.

Since Mother nature tends to reduce itself in light around mid to late August, count back 8 weeks to say June 15, and realize that with a dark section in your growhouse, you can artificially trigger bloom early, and get a full Mega-Summer crop out, and can then Put in another crop and let Mother Nature do her thing naturally.
So far So Good.

[slunt]

Supplies...

I wouldn't go cheap if possible.This green house will last years, and the better constructed it is, the longer it will last.
You will need 3/8"(minimum,1/2" better)Plywood in 4x8 sheets.12 full sheets and 1 half sheet 4x4'.This will supply walls,doors, ceiling and shed 1/2 roof.For a bare minimum of framing you will need approx. six 12'- 2x4"s and six 10'-2x4's.You will need about 20 of the 8 footers.
a cordless drill and a few pounds of 3" and 2-1/2" screws and you are in business.Screwing is quieter than hammering and allows you to correct mistakes.You will also need a roll of 8' high heavy duty clear plastic or poly(not to clear) about 72' feet long to double wrap your exposed area.(Clear walls and 1/2Roof).All of this will be reinforced with large gauge checkered wire to stop animals, wind, and humans from coming through the sides.
The recommended amount of plants is 30, in 5 gallon pails,pots,tubs or recycling containers.Each plant will produce decently and there will be 2 crops...you do the math.

[slunt]

By the way, the Beauty of this design is that it can be used as a Sauna with benches, with a cool down room in the winter that has say a beer fridge and a stereo. Invite the neighbours over to sweat and chill.
A big part of Stealth is doing things right out in the open with a little mis-direction.
more tomorrow....

[Cerebro]

10' x 12' could work.
I might look into this, as I only have a small area available.
From you photos I thought you might be erecting a monster.
Do you just extend the frame pattern?

[slunt]

The shed could be built in any dimension, depending on your carpentry skills.This simple shed is big enough to have multiple purposes, but still easy to erect and build.My first shed was 8x8x8 using all 8' 2x4's.The 12'x 10' shed is ideal for our multiple crop usages.
Begin by screwing the first 2 12' footers to two of the 10 footers,forming a rectangle.Make sure the 10 footers are screwed onto the side of the 12 footer near it's end.This makes sure your length stays at 12 feet and not 12 feet plus the thickness of the 2x4's from the 10 footers.This is important because three sheets of plywood will be standing up in the back and they are 4 feet wide and will cover exactly 12 feet.
Take the next two 12 footers and the nexttwo 10 footers and build an identical rectangle.Now seperately, attach two 8 footers together along the sides lengthwise, forming an overlapping corner(for strength).Put a corner piece standing up in each of the corners of the first rectangle(8-2x4's).Lift the other rectangle on top and attach with screws at the corners.You now have a lightly framed 10 by 12 shed, which is 8 feet high.No cutting so far.Along the 12 foot length attach 2x4's of 8 foot length, every four feet.(3 per side-6 total)On the back side this will allow something for the plywood to anchor to.On the front side the wire mesh and plastic can be attached.On one 10 foot side, place 2x4's-8 footers every 2 feet for strength(4 of them). On the other side you will have to build a door and a frame, so probably another 7 2x4's.

More later...

[slunt]

That's exactly the kind of input needed.I have noticed that as the weather changes and cools, the outdoor grower becomes more and more dependant on the whims of mother nature.Rain leads to bud rot,cool leads to powdery mildew,warm and dry...spider mites, etc.etc. etc.
With a green house with controlled conditions, you have an excellent chance for success.Anywhere you can take over, for natural conditions, will be a help.
Having a sulphur burner in the contained area also helps, when fall arrives.
I am suggesting people use 5? gallon pails with handles so they can be moved in and out of the light and dark, and if neccesary, totally removed to a secure area,while family visit, or there is a backyard event.

[slunt]

Now that the greenhouse/shed is framed, you must build the back section, dark room(storage area).This is the easy part.3 sheets of plywood along the back, standing up(8')x(12'),and their edges will anchor into the 2x4 -8ft. studs which you have spaced every 4 feet..One piece of 4'x8' plywood on both corner ends, to enclose 4 feet of your 12' foot wall.Run a 12 footer,four feet out from the corner across the top, and another across the bottom and frame inthe 4x 12 room. As on the back place 2x4's 8 footers along the front and put up another 3 sheets of plywood.One of these sheets will need hinges(middle one) so it can act as a large door into your dark room.
One more sheet, plus a half sheet finishes off the top of the box.
Please feel free to add extra wood for cross bracing or support any where along the lines of this plan.Strength is important, and if you live in an area with seasonal rough weather,you will be happy you used extra cross bracing, or thicker plywood.The rest of the ply wood is to sheet the roof you will build on that side.
More later

[slunt]

Before we add a peaked roof, it is important to paint all exposed wood, now while it's easy, so that rain and bugs don't eat away at it.
Try to paint it so it blends in,same as house color, or background,or matching garage. Whatever, so long as it doesn't catch the eye more than other things around it.Painting it green against tree's or bushes works well.

[blazen]

wow you people on the mainland have to work at it here on lost island it grows like a weed 4 crops a year we never even water wettest place in the world over 600" a year good luck house plants are allways fun

[slunt]

With the artificial environment created by a well constructed green house,I can imitate almost any environment on Earth. Plus maintain security, ease of access, and convenience.Soon as they create a Pot Plant that grows in the snow, we'll have 4 crops too.

[slunt]

It is now March and babies should be ready to go out in the next 6-7 weeks.Time to start gathering containers,and get seeds happening.

[Cerebro]

Originally Posted by slunt

Soon as they create a Pot Plant that grows in the snow, we'll have 4 crops too.

The Nepalese ones would do the trick?

[slunt]

Well I know what I want from Santa next Xmas.

[slunt]

For those counting the days...approx. 30 to go til launch.

[stonerkid]

have you considered using one inch pvc pipe as a lighter/cheaper/easier to handle alternative to your green house?

[slunt]

It's a weather, security issue here.Others in milder climates which don't freeze in winter or have high winds combined with freezing temps, may consider a lighter ,portable type shelter/greenhouse.
Broken down to it's basics, the concept is simply a divided room.One side dark, the other exposed to light.You could build it out of anything.
Here in B.C. I don't want anything thats easy for a bear to break into and sleep.

[Cerebro]

re bear ; true dat.

[slunt]

Day after 420...it's outdoor time!!June 21 is summer solstice, then bloom begins about 8 weeks after that.Harvest 8-10 weeks after that...for a total of about 180 days growing and blooming=Monsters.

[JJMMPR3]

I am new at this!!

Is there a pic of your greenhouse?