How big should I makes my Greenhouse?

madddawg · January 13, 2015

Its something that I should be able to figure out but I can't decide, Go big or keep it just big enough?

I am rebuilding my greenhouse because the old one was getting loose from putting up and taken down every year. I decided to build a permanent one to avoid that hassle. I was shooting for starting at 20' wide x 24 To 32' long, Maybe longer depending at how much more treated lumber I can scavenge. I am building like my old one
http://tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=31250

There isn't much reason for me to go so big except I can get plants in the ground early But last year I had plants in the ground In there on April 15th,(Chargers and Red Rockets) Planted the rest outside 2 weeks later. Production between the 2 wasn't much different.

Whenever I build something I always build it as big as I can, and never seems big enough ( A guy thing) I am thinking that would not be wise. Due to heating and cooling problems ( heating with barrel stove, cooling with 4' fan) I am thinking build it just big enough for 300 to 500 plants in 4 inch pots. What do you think, big or small?

taboule · January 13, 2015

Big, as big as you can.

JamesL · January 13, 2015

Whenever I build something I always build it as big as I can, and never seems big enough

I hear you on that.
How did the size of the last one work out? If this is going to be permanent, will you get any other use out of it? Add a storage area maybe?

clkeiper · January 13, 2015

I honestly don't think you can go wrong with the bigger or biggest size you can make it. We do the best with scrounging off of craigs list for take downs. We haven't bought one new house yet. I have a 16x32 greenhouse, a 12x16 leanto on the house (which we had fabricated specifically for this spot for all my seed starting) a 20x48 greenhouse and two 16x 32 high tunnels... I grow in all of them. I don't think I need anything more until my DH retires and can help full time. GO BIG!

PhilaGardener · January 13, 2015

No matter how large you build it, you will wish it was bigger :>)

dustdevil · January 13, 2015

I would consider using conduit bent in a half circle. Otherwise, paint or treat the scrounged pine boards to protect them from the elements...perhaps raise the framework up on some cement blocks to avoid ground contact. It would be best to keep it narrow and long. You have plenty of space, so I would build 25% bigger than the last one.

Here's your link I used from an earlier post:

http://s125.photobucket.com/user/tom...?sort=3&page=6

Cole_Robbie · January 13, 2015

My high tunnel is 18.5 x 48. The hoops are chain link top rail I bent by hand. The end hoops are composite decking boards. Cost for everything, including plastic, came in under $2,000.

Here's a pic: http://i.imgur.com/vkpzF0r.jpg

I've only built one so far. I am trying to get good at using what I have before I build more of them.

nickbolk · January 13, 2015

Go big, you always wish you had gone bigger after the fact. I do at least!

Fusion_power · January 13, 2015

either 23 X 32 or 23 X 40. Why?
Because you can purchase a single sheet of greenhouse plastic to cover it.
Because it is big enough for about 15,000 seedlings in cell trays.
Because you can put 150 to 200 tomato and pepper plants in the ground inside it if you choose.
Because it is big enough to store your lawn and garden equipment inside if you choose.
I could give you a lot of other reasons, but these are enough.

Note that I have had a greenhouse since 2007 and have worked through many of the issues and questions you are facing. I put up a 30 X 50 greenhouse for my son 2 years ago. It is big enough for commercial use.

Worth1 · January 14, 2015

If it were me I would build it 12×20 with a gothic arch roof.
I would also use polycarbonate panels and not plastic sheeting.
The dampers would be on a thermostat as well as the fan and heater.
I would set the heat to come on at 40F.
The walls would be around 5 feet tall and the peak around 10 feet.
Put the exhaust fan at the peak on one end and the intake damper at the other end at the bottom.
Then halfway through the project I would decide I wanted it bigger.

Worth

kurt · January 14, 2015

big enough for 300 to 500 plants in 4 inch pots. What do you think, big or small?

Areyou just doing seedlings?If not use your final container size,the spacing(2-21/2 foot),height(cherrys versus reg rounds) two good work surface(seedling,seedling transfer,sink,storage area)then add some walkway widths,maybe raised beds for greens,herbs.

harleysilo · January 14, 2015

Big as you can. You could store items that don't need to be heated on the end with the door large enough for your equiptment. And then you could just put up a wall to lessen the heated space with additional door. Or even hung plastic.....lke a curtain....

clkeiper · January 14, 2015

12x20...is too small. Go Big...ger. recycle off of craigs list if at all possible. It is the cheapest way to build (or re-build) a greenhouse unless you already have the materials to use. You will need to purchase new ground posts most likely and they will be pretty expensive, but old ones are usually rotted off up here. Plastic needs to be replaced, but sometimes equipment is reusable, such as a heater or ventilation fans and louvers. We recycled a deck for the treated lumber (someones neighbor was throwing it away) and we picked up all the 2x6's for the skirt boards.... for free, all we had to do was remove the deck screws. In the Spring before I need the whole house I hang a sheet of plastic so I am only heating 1/2 (or whatever size you need) of the house.

madddawg · January 14, 2015

Hmmm After I got un-sober last night, I was thinking I am tired, need to slow down from work and garden and go small, but after all the feed back, Ok big.
But here is a little more insight To my need for the greenhouse. Mainly from 4"pots to ground. Yeah I can get plants in the ground earlier then most locals, but is a week or two worth (not you Worth

) the trouble?
As for using it in the off season to store stuff in. Well I already have built 6 buildings in my .75 acres ranging from 36' 32 (garage) 12'x 8" (club house for the kid) I have amble storage. I am already downsizing and getting rid of stuff on Craigs List.

As for spending money on it, I dumpster dive and scavenge. And I also have some connections. For instance last spring I asked a concrete guy I know if he had any short rolls of 6 mil plastic he could spare, we looked and couldn't find any. So he gave me a brand new roll( 20' x 100')!!

. ( I hooked him up with some mators later). I prefer free or next to free.

Heating and cooling... I only have a barrel stove to heat and I have "acquired" a fan like this http://www.lowes.com/pd_416731-11292...fans&facetInfo= ( needs a $40 blade)
I would have to figure out a ventilation system and would it be enough to cool? I do have a thermostatically controlled outlet for it.

One side of my mind (the lazy side, also smaller apparently) says quit working so hard. The other side ( the one that kicks the other sides a$$) says Build BIG! Choice choices.

Time to go get un-sober....

clkeiper · January 14, 2015

That plastic won't work. You won't even get a season out of it, but if that is all the time you need, then the price is right. Greenhouse plastic is UV resistant and is usually up to 4 years of use out of it. That plastic from the store will degrade in a few months. I tried using it my first year of growing.

January 13, 2015	#1
madddawg Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Missouri Posts: 407	How big should I makes my Greenhouse? Its something that I should be able to figure out but I can't decide, Go big or keep it just big enough? I am rebuilding my greenhouse because the old one was getting loose from putting up and taken down every year. I decided to build a permanent one to avoid that hassle. I was shooting for starting at 20' wide x 24 To 32' long, Maybe longer depending at how much more treated lumber I can scavenge. I am building like my old one http://tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=31250 There isn't much reason for me to go so big except I can get plants in the ground early But last year I had plants in the ground In there on April 15th,(Chargers and Red Rockets) Planted the rest outside 2 weeks later. Production between the 2 wasn't much different. Whenever I build something I always build it as big as I can, and never seems big enough ( A guy thing) I am thinking that would not be wise. Due to heating and cooling problems ( heating with barrel stove, cooling with 4' fan) I am thinking build it just big enough for 300 to 500 plants in 4 inch pots. What do you think, big or small? __________________ I grow a garden not just for the food I harvest, but for the creation of life itself. Johnny Cash Last edited by madddawg; January 13, 2015 at 10:22 PM. Reason: added a T

January 13, 2015	#4
clkeiper Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: ohio Posts: 4,350	I honestly don't think you can go wrong with the bigger or biggest size you can make it. We do the best with scrounging off of craigs list for take downs. We haven't bought one new house yet. I have a 16x32 greenhouse, a 12x16 leanto on the house (which we had fabricated specifically for this spot for all my seed starting) a 20x48 greenhouse and two 16x 32 high tunnels... I grow in all of them. I don't think I need anything more until my DH retires and can help full time. GO BIG! __________________ carolyn k

January 13, 2015	#7
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	My high tunnel is 18.5 x 48. The hoops are chain link top rail I bent by hand. The end hoops are composite decking boards. Cost for everything, including plastic, came in under $2,000. Here's a pic: http://i.imgur.com/vkpzF0r.jpg I've only built one so far. I am trying to get good at using what I have before I build more of them. Last edited by Cole_Robbie; January 13, 2015 at 11:00 PM.

January 13, 2015	#8
nickbolk Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Squamish, BC Canada Posts: 33	Go big, you always wish you had gone bigger after the fact. I do at least! __________________ Nick A young buck, hungry for tomatoes

January 14, 2015	#11
kurt Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Homestead,Everglades City Fl. Posts: 2,500	4 inch pots? big enough for 300 to 500 plants in 4 inch pots. What do you think, big or small? Areyou just doing seedlings?If not use your final container size,the spacing(2-21/2 foot),height(cherrys versus reg rounds) two good work surface(seedling,seedling transfer,sink,storage area)then add some walkway widths,maybe raised beds for greens,herbs. __________________ KURT Last edited by kurt; January 14, 2015 at 10:33 AM.

January 13, 2015	#2
taboule Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: MA Posts: 903	Big, as big as you can.

January 13, 2015	#3
JamesL Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 1,992	Whenever I build something I always build it as big as I can, and never seems big enough I hear you on that. How did the size of the last one work out? If this is going to be permanent, will you get any other use out of it? Add a storage area maybe?

January 13, 2015	#5
PhilaGardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Near Philadelphia, PA Posts: 1,940	No matter how large you build it, you will wish it was bigger :>)

January 13, 2015	#6
dustdevil Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: WI, USA Zone4 Posts: 1,887	I would consider using conduit bent in a half circle. Otherwise, paint or treat the scrounged pine boards to protect them from the elements...perhaps raise the framework up on some cement blocks to avoid ground contact. It would be best to keep it narrow and long. You have plenty of space, so I would build 25% bigger than the last one. Here's your link I used from an earlier post: http://s125.photobucket.com/user/tom...?sort=3&page=6

January 13, 2015	#9
Fusion_power Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,250	either 23 X 32 or 23 X 40. Why? Because you can purchase a single sheet of greenhouse plastic to cover it. Because it is big enough for about 15,000 seedlings in cell trays. Because you can put 150 to 200 tomato and pepper plants in the ground inside it if you choose. Because it is big enough to store your lawn and garden equipment inside if you choose. I could give you a lot of other reasons, but these are enough. Note that I have had a greenhouse since 2007 and have worked through many of the issues and questions you are facing. I put up a 30 X 50 greenhouse for my son 2 years ago. It is big enough for commercial use.

January 14, 2015	#10
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	If it were me I would build it 12×20 with a gothic arch roof. I would also use polycarbonate panels and not plastic sheeting. The dampers would be on a thermostat as well as the fan and heater. I would set the heat to come on at 40F. The walls would be around 5 feet tall and the peak around 10 feet. Put the exhaust fan at the peak on one end and the intake damper at the other end at the bottom. Then halfway through the project I would decide I wanted it bigger. Worth

January 14, 2015	#12
harleysilo Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2007 Location: Woodstock GA Posts: 418	Big as you can. You could store items that don't need to be heated on the end with the door large enough for your equiptment. And then you could just put up a wall to lessen the heated space with additional door. Or even hung plastic.....lke a curtain....