Gave Up on Spring (Low Tunnel)

whoose · May 23, 2016

So every night it is right at 32f, days 45-70f. I can't just put my toms and peppers out and hope they will not freeze, so I went low tunnel.

Less that $45 and 2 hours to construct. Trial run tonight to see if I dare pant out tomorrow.

Anyone else having Spring problems?

sjamesNorway · May 24, 2016

You might want to check this thread, if you haven't already.

http://www.tomatoville.com/showthrea...ghlight=tunnel

Steve

oakley · May 24, 2016

We seem to be at about the same in temps though i had snow flurries but no accumulation last week. Advanced shows a steady rise the next ten days, two weeks.
My rhubarb is thigh-high and have harvested a few lbs. The younger transplants are knee high...yours looks like mine. Lilacs just at budding, no flower. Chives at flowering.

Rare that i plant out before the first of June. Any earlier, (and have done that with some percentage of my starts), ....no real advantage. Peppers i wait even longer, middle of June. They like heat so happier as 'house plants' till the soil warms up.

I still think it is worth trying a push as i've done so many times. Nights with a risk of dipping below 40 is just too risky for me. The battle is just too exhausting.

I have a coil of tubbing on a rock face connected to an outdoor shower that i can use to drip water the garden...never took its temp but very hot by late morning. We've had a wood-fired cedar hot tub for about 15yrs now. Gets away from us and easily 108 in a few hours so we drain 10-20 gallons and have to add cool spring water. That could easily be drained into my garden or into more pipe like a radiant floor concept. Win-win, spa and soil heat.

whoose · February 2, 2017

Just posted in the General disscussion are how to build a raised bed with a low tunnel

sdambr · February 3, 2017

Looks great!

wildcat62 · February 3, 2017

Nice set up. Did you build the greenhouse yourself?

whoose · February 3, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by wildcat62

Nice set up. Did you build the greenhouse yourself?

Yes 25 years ago and then I got a job, not much use until 2012 when I retired, now I am always making improvements.

wildcat62 · February 3, 2017

I was curious about the glass panels on the side. I'm considering building something in the next year or so. Retirement is fast approaching for me.

whoose · February 3, 2017

They are sliding glass door, double glass replacements. They are tempered and relativiely cheap

February 3, 2017	#5
sdambr Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 421	Looks great! __________________ Sue "There are only two ways to live your life: as though nothing is a miracle, or as though everything is a miracle." Albert Einstein

February 3, 2017	#9
whoose Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Bozeman, Montana Zone 6b Posts: 333	Glass Door They are sliding glass door, double glass replacements. They are tempered and relativiely cheap

May 24, 2016	#2
sjamesNorway Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Norway Posts: 1,049	You might want to check this thread, if you haven't already. http://www.tomatoville.com/showthrea...ghlight=tunnel Steve

May 24, 2016	#3
oakley Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: NewYork 5a Posts: 2,303	We seem to be at about the same in temps though i had snow flurries but no accumulation last week. Advanced shows a steady rise the next ten days, two weeks. My rhubarb is thigh-high and have harvested a few lbs. The younger transplants are knee high...yours looks like mine. Lilacs just at budding, no flower. Chives at flowering. Rare that i plant out before the first of June. Any earlier, (and have done that with some percentage of my starts), ....no real advantage. Peppers i wait even longer, middle of June. They like heat so happier as 'house plants' till the soil warms up. I still think it is worth trying a push as i've done so many times. Nights with a risk of dipping below 40 is just too risky for me. The battle is just too exhausting. I have a coil of tubbing on a rock face connected to an outdoor shower that i can use to drip water the garden...never took its temp but very hot by late morning. We've had a wood-fired cedar hot tub for about 15yrs now. Gets away from us and easily 108 in a few hours so we drain 10-20 gallons and have to add cool spring water. That could easily be drained into my garden or into more pipe like a radiant floor concept. Win-win, spa and soil heat.

February 2, 2017	#4
whoose Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Bozeman, Montana Zone 6b Posts: 333	Just posted in the General disscussion are how to build a raised bed with a low tunnel

February 3, 2017	#6
wildcat62 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2014 Location: Zone 6 Northern Kentucky Posts: 1,094	Nice set up. Did you build the greenhouse yourself?