greenhouse 16 x 80

I havent done much in the past few days. Been lazy mostly. But that has to end cause I have to transplant everything this week starting today. So that little greenhouse will be full by the end of the week. I'll be begging for extra 200 square feet. No matter how big you build a greenhouse--its never big enough.

TOMATOES IN GROW BAGS

UP CLOSE

Cricket: What material did you use for the floor?

I put commercial ground cover down.
www.atlasgreenhouse.com

allows water to flow through but wont let weeds come up.

got HOT today----i didnt know how hot it was gonna get til I went out to greenhouse and it was 105*. Pulled up the side curtains and brought it down to 85*

2 questions, please.

Where do you get your grow bags?
What mil is the plastic?

hm I think i bought the bags from either one of these places------by the bulk. (500 5 gallon bags for about $100)
www.cropking.com
or
www.hydro-gardens.com

Im not sure what mil they are---but they are uvray protected---made for growing vegetables in, and you can reuse them a few times. They have pre- punched drain holes.
They are great if you dont have the money or means for building grow boxes.
There is a site that sells them individually. I think its:
www.living-learning.com/store/containers/growbags.htm

Cricket,

Thank you for starting this thread.
I am extremely impressed by all of the things you've done and plan to do. Everyone involved in making this happen deserves the best that life has to offer.
I'm an older man and I would love to do something like this but I'm only doing a road side stand to sell a few things to make up for the plants and seeds I bought for this year.
I went to every site you posted and then some. I hate to admit it in public but, I don't know the difference between an Azalia Pot and a Standard Pot. LOL And........where do you get all the tags that go with each plant? You know, if you are selling tomatoes, then each pot has one of those tags that go inside the pot that tells the type of tomato and gives some instructions as how to plant?
Oh God, I wish I could do this. I am really impressed.
Keep posting more and more. I want to learn as much as I can from you and others. Maybe one day I can do the same up here in Canada.
Thanks again. :)

God Bless
Darrell

I order tags from
www.mastertag.com
or
www.hpsseed.com seed and tags

I order my containers from several places.

www.dixiegreen.com which is local in my state
or
call caSSco for a catalog: also in alabama: 1800-962-1922
caSSco has containers, watering systems, fertilizers, greenhouse kits, poly, ground cover, shade clothe, heating systems, cooling systems, Aqua systems and supplies, insecticides.

Thank you Cricket.
I've added them to my favorites. It's exactly what I was looking for.
I hope you are still around in a couple years so you can see what I'm doing.
After I saw what you did for a "Seed House", I had a great thought. I will post the picture as soon as I find it.
It's a picture of the old shed here with an attached lean-too/ sometimes called a car port. lol But have never used it for the car. I could use the shed for storage and there is an old door way that has been covered up that could be re-opened that would go out into the car-port. The car-port could be transformed into a "Seed House".
I'm getting more and more excited every day I come in here to DG and read everything that I'm following/watching the Threads/Forums.
I'll look for it and post the pic. It was in pretty bad shape when I bought the land here a couple years ago.
I'd like to get your idea or feelings on the idea. :)

Darrell

Here it is.
This is a before picture. It shows the lean-too better than the rest.
Shed on right.
Lean-too on left.

Here is the back of the lean-too.
The roof is very bad.
I'm thinking, why not convert that lean-too into a "Seed House"

It was a mess. LOL
Much better today though. :)

This is how it looks now. All the way around. A lot of Cedar Shingles later.
I can't find the rest of the pictures, but the whole thing is shingled now and the shed itself has a new roof.

What do you think of my idea Cricket? Don't you think that lean-too could be transformed into a Seed House?

Darrell

looks like great idea---make top of lean-two plastic and you got it made in the sun. (made in the shade)

We bought an old house too with old garage. I wanted ot make it a seed house soooooooo bad---but we moved my grandfather over here beside the house--hes in a trailer . Had to tear down that old garage. boohoo.
The roof was in bad shape---shingles---and i wanted to take those shingles off and fix some of the wood---and put plastic over it. But we didnt.

poor old garage went bye bye.

and she came tumbling downnnnnnnn ( we pushed it down---pulled it down with a pick up truck--

pulled it peice by peice to the clearing area with the pick up truck and burned that sucker!

BURNING

You can make a seedhouse out of just about anything if you have an imagination. Some people just make cold frame boxes that are about 12inches high on the ground. Just make sure you have a convient way to release the heat during the day. Some people use Swing set Frames to make Seedling house----Some use Old large Satelite Dishes as a roof frame--give it some legs--through the plastic over it and you've got a greenhouse. Even seen someone take a few Landscape timbers and made A frame structure---threw plastic over it---used dirt to hold the ends down on ground--and called it greenhouse. So what ever works is a great idea. Seen someone take some old pallets and made a small greenhouse frame too. your brain can come up with a million ideas when your desperate.
Have fun and Good Luck planning.

cricket

up date picture
Its not alot but im happy
transplanting 1700 more tomato plants this week then im done with the bedding flats. I have to sow my squash seed this week too.

I sowed some squash seed today and put them on heat beds in the seedling house. The heat beds hold 14 flats.
Went to walmart bought some mulch and Mulched the tomatoes. Filled some flats with promix so i can transplant tomatoes in few days.
The temps outside yesterday was 80 degrees----heat wave. Today they were 56 and tonight they will go down to 38. After that the temps will stay low 40's at night for rest of the week but rainy/cloudy every other day.
Next week I will sow Okra in Flats and put them on the heat beds after the squash has germinated.
Then I will sow more Squash again after the okra has germinated. The okra will stay in the seedling house (smaller isolated area of heat) for a few weeks to keep them warmer than other plants. The squash will go to the big greenhouse after they germinate.
I think i need a train goin back and forth from the big greenhouse to the seedling house.( lol ) They are about 300 feet apart from each other.
I have a riding lawn mower but need one of those trailers that hitch to the back.----maybe i could have mini train. riding mower with 3 trailers. haha
hmmmmmmmmmmmmm

chat with yall later.

Did you have a weiner and marshmellow roast? lol

That sort of looks like some of what I did around here. It was pretty ruff. Still is, in area's. Lots more to do before I can do a greenhouse.

Yesterday, I traded an old car I have with a guy that will come in and cut down part of the woods that are about 1 foot from my kitchen window. I'm having him clear an area about 60 feet wide and 300 feet long. His brother in-law has a bull-dozer and will flatten the rest of the area where it is a little hilly and then bring in large truck loads of clean fill dirt. Then he'll come back and level the new dirt. (I have to pay the brother in-law. darn it.) lol

You are planting tons of stuff, Cricket. This is your first year in business, right? I'd be up at nights thinking about if I could sell it all or not. But then again, I know I can't pass up a place if I'm out driving. I have to see what their place looks like and I always end up buying a ton of stuff. lol Also, I've arrived late in the season at new places and they have slim picken's. Not much left.

I just looked at all the pic's you posted, (again). Its hard to believe that just a few weeks ago it wasn't even built yet. Now look at it. WOW!!!

I know this is a lot to ask, but would you tell me what you planted or potted and how much of each you did?

I don't know if it was you that posted this, but I'm thinking it wasn't you. So, here is a place you can get stuff really cheap. www.novoselenterprises.com You might be interested in this site. It's the cheapest place I found for pots and hanging baskets.

This message was edited Mar 15, 2005 7:55 AM

cricket looks like you must be feeling better n better. wow wow wow
you have been busy. I sure hope everything keeps growing wonderfully for you!

I been working my butt off. Hubby aint gonna like that part. lol lol lol.
By end of summer I wont have no Asatal. ( as-at-al ) Rofl..
Wish the belly area would work off.

hmmm---what i have planted.
not alot of anything really.
36 to a flat
8 flats of sweet banana
7 flats of california wonder
5 flats of jalapeno
3 flats of cayenne
24 flats of Big boy tomato----12 still to be done
24 flats of Big Beef tomato
8 flats of Roma
12 flats of Celebrity
12 flats Rutgers
8 flats of Mt. Pride
11 flats of begonia vodka
11 flats of begonia gin
10 flats of mixed impatiens
13 flats of mixed wizard coleus
13 flats of dusty miller silver dust
13 flats of mixed cooler vinca
6 flats celosia tall red cocks comb
6 flat of mixed cleome
12 flats of petunia madness midnight blue
12 flats of petunia madness red
12 flats of petunia madness white
8 flats of janie mixed marigolds
40 6 inch eggplanty
36 6 inch sweet banana
36 6 inch jalapeno
36 6 inch golden bellpepper
36 6 inch garden salsa hot pepper
36 6 inch bertha bell pepper
48 6 inch Lemon Boy tomato
48 6 inch Better Boy tomato
48 6 inch Big Beef tomato
75 6 inch Better Bush tomato
48 6 inch Sweet Million tomato
20 6 inch Parks Whopper tomato
germinating 12 flats of crookneck squash
50 hanging baskets---petunias, begonia, impatiens.
I AM USE TO DOING 4 TIMES THIS MUCH--- but since this is my first year after moving---I'm not doing as much as i normally do.
Then of course---I have my tomatoes in the 5 gallon grow bags
so far: 240 Big Beef, 12 lemon boy, 10 Sweet Million, 108 Early Goliath,
And Adding 152 more Big Beef next week.
Out side will grow Eggplant for the market, and Squash for the market, and bellpeppers for the market.

THE END---------- i think


oh i forgot about the OKRA for the market too.











This message was edited Mar 15, 2005 11:46 AM

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!

LOLOLOLOLOLOL

I get the biggest kick out of you sometimes. Gotta love ya.

I'm feelin kinda bad now. Asking you what you planted. I didn't realize it was so much. God bless ya. Takin the time to type all that out.

4 Times as much? Yer kidding.
I'm sitting here shaking my head back and forth as in, "unbelieveable". That doesn't mean I don't believe you, cuz I do. It's overwhelming to me, is all.
wow

Well---where i use to live---i had seedling house that was 14x16.
I had 2 greenhouses----19x64 and 12x64. Just when it was time to put every thing outside----I transplanted again just as much as what was in the greenhouse. And all I have now is 12x15 seed house and 16x80 greenhouse.
It really doesnt take long to complete all the transplants if you have your assembly line set up to fit your needs.

My fence rails will be delivered in the morning. They go in top of greenhouse for tomatoes to string to. ($260.00) I sure hope these tomatoes produce well. I want my money back, lol.
ANd since this is my first year growing fresh tomatoes---I think i better just stick to one long crop instead of trying to do two crops. ( til nov-dec)

I havent taken any pics yet---but those tomatoes sure are turning darker green now. Ya

well I sat here today deciding which tomatoes i wanted to try that i have never ate before. So here is my list of tomatoes that im growing in the greenhouse:

big beef
early goliath
lemon boy
sweet million
burpee delicious
rutgers
mt pride
tom cat
cluster grande
big zac

lol Cricket.

all except for 'tom cat' could'a been the menu at a fast food joint .....hahahaha

Speaking of assembly line and getting things set up.
I thought I understood the pegs in the bottom of the flat but then when you posted a picture, it blew my idea out of the water.
I thought the pegs that you were going to put into the bottom of the flat, to make the holes in the flat underneath were going to be pencil size pegs. Then you would drop a seed in each hole.
But the pic you posted looked like they were those pegs that you hang a coat on. Do you just make a general imprint in the flat with those? And then put a seed in the impression and then put the soil over the entire flat?

Since I joined DG, not to long ago, I have watched the threads in the different forums and I'm addicted. DG has become part of my daily routine. I turn on the computer, make a pot of coffee and sit here reading everything I can while I'm waking up. lol

I called to see if it was ok to build a greenhouse today. You won't believe what I was told. I find it hard to belive anyway. The guy looked up where I live for Zoning. I live in the country with cows on the right of me, a woods on three sides of my house and horses on the left of me.
The guy told me I could have a greenhouse. BUT....it could only be 1,000 sq feet. That would be a 20' x 50' greenhouse. He went on to say I couldn't plant a garden and sell vegetables on a road side stand on the property unless I grew them 250 feet from the road. He went on to say, "however, you CAN grow things inside the greenhouse within the 250' . I told him I wanted a larger greenhouse and he said I couldn't. So, I asked him if I could have two greenhouses that were 1,000 sq feet each and he said, "You can have as many as you want, as long as they are no larger than 1,000 sq feet." I think it's crazy. But, that's what he said. I asked him about selling and he said I should call the Department of Agriculture. So I did.

Dept. of Ag told me I didn't need a license or permit to sell anything I grow in my garden. I don't need a license or permit to sell at the Farmers Market. I can sell plants, flowers, shrubs, vegetables, etc., with no license or permit.

Crazy world, eh?
Darrell

All those grow bags that you planted with tomato plants are for the greenhouse, right? and then you will sell the tomatoes from inside the greenhouse, right?

Well, if you plant them outside, the wind, birds, bee's, polinate the flowers, so I am wondering if you have to go around an do it by hand. Or ?........ Like how does this part work? a Q-Tip?

This is gets more and more interesting every day, being in here. I love it.

Howdy DarrellR...and by the way, a Hearty WELCOME TO DG!

Saw your question about the pollination (above). Tomatoes are self-pollinating, no bees required! (Talk about self-sufficient, eh!?)

Matter of fact, most tomato flowers have pollinated themselves almost before they are fully open. Wonderful system, I think!

Hope you get your greenhouse(s) up and running. I think you'll have a great time with them. And please, go ahead and sell from your front yard...sounds to me like you got permission from the gov!

Hope to see you around the site!
Shoe.

I go along with Shoe on the pollinating thing.
I don't know where the idea comes from about electric toothbrushes, bumble bees & who knows what else.
We have been raising tomatoes in a greenhouse for years. The only time pollination is a probelm is when it gets to hot. Then it is abortion of flowers. Good ventilation has controled that.
Bernie.

Thanks Shoe for the welcome.

The greenhouse won't happen for a while. I have a lot to learn. I'm thinking after I spend a year here at DG, I might be prepared to take on the challenge.

For example of how much I don't know;

I went to a site to see how much BTU I would need for a greenhouse. It had a calculator that you entered the length, width, hieght, and a lot of other things including low temperatures, and at what temperature you would want to keep in your greenhouse.... Well, I ended up with something like 308 Billion, 478Million and something BTU. I had to laugh at my stupidity and said, "Lordy, might as well put the sun in my backyard." LOL

I'm anxious to build one, but I need to learn a heck of a lot more than I know now.

As for the road side stand, you bet. I'm gonna grow, grow, grow and sell sell sell.

Correct me if I have this all messed up.

Tray Size 512 (I don't know what that means)
Count Per Tray - 480
Trays per Box - 10
1 Case, Price per plug $ .49

Is this saying there are 480 plugs per tray and there are 10 trays per box, which would be 4,800 plugs x $ .49 ?

There are actually 512 holes in the tray. They are gaurenteeing 480 plants to a tray. The rest is right.
That small of plug must be .049¢, not 49¢ each.
Our cutting plugs were 46¢, but there was only about 78 to a tray.
I looked in a catalog I have. Regular petunias, Daddy's, sell for .079¢ each in a tray. 384 size, 375 plants.
You are way better off finding a local source for your plants. Will save you money. All these others add shipping, which can be big cost.
There should be somebody around you. Ask other greenhouse people.
Bernie

You're right Bernie, it was .049 cents
That was from a place that is up here in Canada.
I am only starting out and I wouldn't be able to afford 4,800 plugs of just one plant and then order other plants besides. I really do need to find someone up here to talk with. I'm getting overwhelmed. I'm trying to learn as much as I can but, asking questions in here is probably not a good thing. It's the wrong time of year to be asking a lot of questions. Everybody is way busy. I think I'll try to relax about it all and be an observer for a while.

Darrell

Actually, asking questions at DG is one of the best features of the site! It helps people get new ideas, knowledge, offers fun, hope, and happiness along the way!

There is a Market Growers forum you may want to peek in on, Darrell. Over there you can ask away and get advice, words of encouragement, great sources of supplies/products, and hear of successes and failures! (Better than any book on the market!)

Darrel----that pegged board was for pressing holes in the Big Flats of 36 for the seedlings(baby plants) to be put into. But, I didnt like it. It didnt work right cause the edge of the pegs are rounded out---and they need to be straight-----so ill have to take them off and sand the down so its straight. and hubby has one of those thinga-ma-dig---i forgot what ya call it lol. Its bolted to the egde of work table---and sands or sharpens things. Any way. The pegs are wrong.
To make inpressions in my seedling Trays---I just use another tray to press on the the main seedling tray --sow my seeds, cover with soil, then water. I dont always use the seedling trays. I use open flats too---just sow my seeds, then seperate them as I transplant. Only thing is --you have to transplant sooner when you use open flat instead of plug flat. Plug flats just allow you to grow your seedlings longer before you transplant so the roots dont get too tangled. So i use plug flats for all my earlier seedlings and use open trays for the later on seedlings. Like Now ---I just sowed some tomato seeds in ( dont laugh) foam plates cause its warm enough in big greenhouse that I can transplant about a week after they germinate.
I sowed more better boy, lemon boy, better bush, and parks whopper for 6 inch pots (about 300 total).
And yes---I am growing tomato plants in the grow bags to sell the fresh tomatoes in May--Nov. I used the grow bags cause that was cheaper than building grow boxes right now. I had so much to do---expenses---that I will build the grow boxes about June. Not sure If I will grow these tomatoes til Nov or do second crop by July. ( replace the old plants with new plants)


Gosh---they sure make building greenhouse more complicated than it has to be. They have to be in control of something i guess.
I didnt call no one about building a greenhouse on my property. Or about growing produce and selling it. I have a bad attitude about that I guess. I live in the country, with cows and horses too. I own this land, its not in city limits or town limits and they can kiss my buns.

Pollination----Recon Horseshoe and Country are right. Plus my curtains on greenhouse will be up---bees will come in. Wind will blow. But I will still go around tapping my blossom stems on none windy day. Nothing major. And if you do tap the blossom stems---do that midday when humidity is higher. Some books say---if its kinda dry air---to mist your plants slightly just before your ready to tap your blossoms. Misting will raise humidity.
www.foodforeveryone.com
has a book on raising tomatoes in grow boxes or pots. I think its about $10. Plus they have books on other veggies too. Gardening by the foot. Grow boxes. Fertilizing.

well---guess i'll give you a reading break------later

cricket