Discussion forum for the various methods and structures used for getting an early start on your growing season, extending it for several weeks or even year 'round.
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November 24, 2010 | #1 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Alabama 7.5 or 8 depends on who you ask
Posts: 727
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Greenhouse advice and help
I have a courtyard that is walled off on three sides by the house and the fourth side by a brick wall. The top of the area is open and was wondering if this can be made into a greenhouse area (I have two of these courtyards one on each side of the house.
Here's a basic drawing of the area. |
November 24, 2010 | #2 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: near Houston Texas, zone 8b/9a
Posts: 114
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How tall are the walls? Also outside the walls, describe what surrounds the walls and how far it is away?
For example I live in a big pine forest so there are tons of 60 and 70 foot tall or taller trees around. Also it matters which way is North and all that. If your courtyard walls are 10 foot tall they can cast shadows pretty far. Without being there to actually measure and see the orientation to the sun it may be difficult to tell. What one option MAY be would be to use one of the walls that runs east and west and on the south side of that wall put up a small lean to type greenhouse. Before you haul off and do that though, mark off the area you want to use (maybe put stakes in the ground) and monitor how much direct sunlight it gets for a day on a good sunny day. |
November 25, 2010 | #3 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Alabama 7.5 or 8 depends on who you ask
Posts: 727
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Quote:
no trees on north side on the south side about 50 or 60 ft are some tall pines - the one that shadowed the house came down in a storm some years ago. coloken and alamo5000 Is there some cheap way of finding out how much sun the area gets? |
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November 25, 2010 | #4 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: SE Ohio
Posts: 253
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Quote:
Now is near to solar minimum so sun will be as low in the sky (just about) as its gonna get. Look around now for where rain water is going to have to go. Think about a rain barrel too.
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Beyond the mountains, there are more mountains. |
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November 25, 2010 | #5 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: near Houston Texas, zone 8b/9a
Posts: 114
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Quote:
Then I went out several times a day and marked the shadow line. I went out at 8am. Then like 11am. Then like 1pm then like 3 and then like 5. I marked my stakes with a little piece of masking tape ahead of time with the time. In your case you may need 2 or 3 stakes for each time because you may have more than one shadow line. By the end of the day and actually before then, you will have a really good idea how the sun travels across the area and how the walls cast shadows which is your main concern. This information could help you determine if you can do it at all, or if you do, what dimensions to make your greenhouse. I am pretty sure (not positive) than an 8 foot wall will cast a shadow 10 to 15 foot out. But because you have walls on all sides the best is to measure it. One somewhat sunny day devoted to tv and a few trips out will help you determine if yes or no. |
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November 24, 2010 | #6 |
Tomatovillian™ Honoree
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: NE Co
Posts: 303
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I think it all comes down to one question "does the sun shine into/on that area?" And how much of the day?
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