New High Tunnel

[pmcgrady]

7 acre lake (35' deep) sitting about 100 yards from where I'm growing, plus city water, well water
would be good too!

[pmcgrady]

I'm sorry this post has been hijacked by me, I'll shut up now...
Apologies sent...

[PureHarvest]

Originally Posted by pmcgrady

I'm sorry this post has been hijacked by me, I'll shut up now...
Apologies sent...

Good point.
Sorry Cole. Wasn't trying to come on here and point out your ideas as wrong.
I like simple too. I've always wanted to build a small structure from scratch/scraps for the satisfaction of it. I like your tunnel.
Kinda like back in the day when you dump all your Lego sets together and make your own creation, disregarding the instructions.

[Cole_Robbie]

Originally Posted by pmcgrady

I'm sorry this post has been hijacked by me, I'll shut up now...
Apologies sent...

No worries. It's all good information.

[BigVanVader]

Well tbh I'm just doing it for fun ATM, but I would like to be able to do it full time so I'm getting more serious about it. Working full time makes it hard to "all in" because when it comes down to it I'm gonna play with my kids rather than work 16 hours a day, even if it isn't a sound business decision. That said growing is joy to me and I think it would be a outstanding business for a family.

I feel blessed to have found this site. Threads like this lead me to useful info and I follow that lead. Last year I learned a lot from here and from mother nature, which is why I chose to grow several regional hybrids this coming season.

Hellman's I would love to hear more about your operation like which varieties you grew, how many etc, any knowledge is appreciated and that goes for all of you. I am just getting my feet wet in this whole thing.

[Worth1]

I have Coles whole frame bent and everything I just need help to put it up.
It is out in the shed I have had it for years.

Worth

[PureHarvest]

Worth, I'll help you.
Just need an SASE to Texas LOL.

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by PureHarvest

Worth, I'll help you.
Just need an SASE to Texas LOL.

Right.

It looked good on paper but when I started to put it together it was huge.
Something like 15 feet or so at the peak with ten foot sides.
But I think I can do it by myself I have yet another plan.
I will use an A frame lever hoist thing and tie a rope to the other side to keep it from coming all the way over.

It is made out of 3/4 ridged conduit.

Worth

[Cole_Robbie]

http://www.buildmyowngreenhouse.com/...onnectors.aspx

I was pondering an Eliot Coleman Scissor door. It's just two pieces of pipe hinged at the end peak. They now sell a "bottom latch," but it looks like it clamps to a baseboard end pipe I don't have.

The door is a neat concept, but I'm not sure about securing and anchoring everything, both when closed and open. The swing of the doors is confusing. Trying to make it all workable and secure on a windy day sounds challenging.

[Gerardo]

PVC strip door? It is hand's free.

[Cole_Robbie]

I would think the strips would fly everywhere in the wind.

[natural]

Cole,

Are you considering roll-up sides for use in the Summer?

I was just reading my copy of The Hoophouse (High Tunnel) Handbook. The folks at GrowingForMarket have a lot of great material on high tunnels. I have reviewed a few different designs for roll-up sides. I think it can be done quite easily but I am not sure if that fits in with your plans for usage.

Let me know if you want details.

Bill

[Cole_Robbie]

My first greenhouse had roll-up sides. I agree they are very important. I never did get the bar to not sag, though. I don't know what I was doing wrong. I went without the bar and rolling part for the high tunnel. I just hold the plastic up with rope or bungee cords when I want them up. Sand bags hold them down when they are down. It helps to weave batten cord through the space so the wind can't push the plastic out from the sand bags.

[Hellmanns]

Originally Posted by Cole_Robbie

My first greenhouse had roll-up sides. I agree they are very important. I never did get the bar to not sag, though. I don't know what I was doing wrong. I went without the bar and rolling part for the high tunnel. I just hold the plastic up with rope or bungee cords when I want them up. Sand bags hold them down when they are down. It helps to weave batten cord through the space so the wind can't push the plastic out from the sand bags.

Woven, UV greenhouse curtain material is a must for durable roll up sides. A MUST! It will last for years with no issues.

[Cole_Robbie]

I did learn that if one uses an inflated double layer, to not double the poly that rolls up. It doesn't get inflated, so it rubs against itself and turns cloudy.

I'm coming into year 5 for my 3-5 year rated greenhouse poly in my first structure. I'm hoping to get through one more year. The weak part of the plastic is where it was heat-seamed at the factory. Those seams are the first part to go.