Calling all greenhouse people - HELP!

16 years ago

Hi, all. I did a forum search and see we have some very smart greenhouse people here! I am in in NW Oklahoma (Enid) and would appreciate your help. WARNING: I am not a gardener per se, so forgive me for using the wrong terms. *smile*

About 7-8 years ago, my dad bought this greenhouse. We hauled it home, put it together a few years later and let it sit. Last summer we finally had the plastic put on it and we have since installed the sliding corrugated plastic side things. This photo was taken the day the guys came to put on the plastic.

Dad has been tinkering in there since winter, but we would LOVE to start using it quasi-commercially, as my folks' home (which is just a few miles from me) sits on a very well-traveled road just outside the city limits. (People stop all the time wanting to know if they're selling anything from the greenhouse.)

Anyway, our plan is to do some -- gee, why can't I think of what they're called??? -- uh, like cold frames (?) along the outside edge beneath the bottom shelf to perhaps gain a zone and grow some cold crops in January-February. We also want to get an early start on tomatoes, too, of course!

Problem is, we know nothing about greenhouses, so I'd like to learn from some of your experiences. We have extension cords out there but will run power. How much power do we need for lights, heat, etc? What kind of heat do you recommend? We're thinking propane would be easiest, but what kind of heater? I'm also intrigued by hot water (in tubes?) to heat the soil. Do you just plumb a hot water heater and recirculating system? Do you have watering systems? What kind - and/or what do we need other than a hose? *LOL* What do you think we should plant and when should we start?

You'll probably need info I haven't provided - sorry! We're just a little overwhelmed. (Excited, but overwhelmed!)

THANK YOU in advance for any advice! Rita

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Comments (8)

steffieok
16 years ago
Rita, I dont have a greenhouse, but have several friends who do. Water cooler on one end for summer cooling and heat with coils along the bottom. YOu might check out the hgtv website, Paul James did a greenhouse segment and that could help you. Dave's garden website or national gardening club website could also be helpful. I am sure there are several folks on this website how will know exactly what you would need to do. But just to let you know I am now very jealous and we have not even been formally introduced.

Green with envy, Steffie
okwriter
Original Author
16 years ago
Hi, Steffie! No need to be jealous...you can come tinker in the greenhouse any time you'd like! *wink* My folks have free range hens - I'll send you home with some eggs!

Thanks for the tip on the Paul James segment. I'm surprised we missed it - he is one of DHs favorites!!! What is Dave's garden website?

We talked about a water cooler but I'd forgotten that. It does get pretty steamy in there! When you say "heat with coils," I don't know what that is. Maybe you (or someone?) can point me to a site that explains it. Then again, I could Google...

:)
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My suggestion would be to cover the window openings as you indicated, not bother with the space heater unless the weather gets bitterly cold, and use the area as a giant cold frame. That would be better than a heated environment for all your hardy plants. The small number of tropicals (mandevilla, coleus, possibly Confederate jasmine and tropical hibiscus) should be wintered IN the house, as you probably won't be able to keep the unfinished room warm enough to keep the non-hardies happy (especially given that it's a northern exposure). That's where your lights would be useful - don't waste them on the hardies in the unfinished room, as those should be dormant anyway. Other cuttings? woodies would be fine in that room - you're just doing normal hardwood cuttings. It would also be a good place to start seeds of perennials that need some chilling. Non-hardy plants probably need to live all the way inside the house, and warmth-loving seeds would be slowed down by temps which I expect would not make it much above 45-50. If it were my plywood subfloor, I'd make sure that all my pots were in goodsized trays or saucers, and water carefully. A plastic covering will help, but because the covering won't be sealed at walls and overlaps, you can't count on it to be proof against spills or spray. Sounds like you've been busy, and having fun!
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river22
16 years ago
Hi Rita, Don't know to much about greenhouses but I am green with envy too!! LOL You will have to keep us posted on the progress with pictures. By the way, I'm not to far from you, I live in Helena, about 30 miles NW. Maybe I'll see your greenhouse while I'm in Enid.
Okiedawn OK Zone 7
16 years ago
Rite,

I am hoping that Randy will see this post and respond when he has time. He has a greenhouse and is one of our forum's acknowledged greenhouse experts. Dawna (Wolflover) has a greenhouse also, so perhaps she will respond to some of your questions. Also, there is a greenhouse forum here at Garden Web.

Dawn

Here is a link that might be useful: Garden Web's Greenhouse Forum
okwriter
Original Author
16 years ago
river, if/when we dry out, I will take some recent pictures now that it's all put together. For awhile, all Pop grew in there was weeds! :) I know where Helena is, as I lived in Aline for four years back in high school! Gee, you are definitely close enough to come see the greenhouse. They are just SE of Enid very near 30th and Southgate Road.

Thanks, Dawn, for letting me know who's who. I will watch (and hope for) their posts! I didn't know about the greenhouse forum, even though I've been at GW for about four years. *DUH* I found GW when we were building, so I always just hung out at the Building a Home forum - and the Kitchen Table!

:)
wolflover
16 years ago
Hi Rita,

I have a hobby greenhouse (12 X 35') but it's a different ballgame than yours. You need expert advice and I can't help you there. My greenhouse is so small compared to yours, it would be like comparing apples to oranges. Randy is who you need to talk to on this forum. I'm sure he will check in eventually. The greenhouse forum on GW runs pretty slow this time of year, but you might catch someone there who could help you or point you in the right direction.

I'd recommend you contact the people at American Plant Products in OKC. They are a wholesale greenhouse supplier and they can give you good advice and sell you the equipment and plants you need to get started. They were a tremendous help to me when I built my greenhouse. I've bought a lot of books too, but most of my experience has came through trial and error. That's tough when you're trying to run a business though. Check eBay for books. That's where I've found the best deals. It would also be helpful for you to attend a greenhouse seminar. I learned a whole lot at the seminar I attended a couple of years ago.

Here is a book that you might want to read. I haven't bought it yet so I can't vouch for it, but it is on my list of books to buy. :)
"Secrets to a Successful Greenhouse and Business"
by Ted M. Taylor
http://www.greenhousebusiness.com/

Good luck with your greenhouse. I think you'll find there is a whole lot more to successfully running one than you can possibly imagine. You need to talk to as many commercial greenhouse owners as you can. They can save you a lot of headaches.

Dawna

Here is a link that might be useful: American Plant Products
rjj1
16 years ago
I would second Dawna's recommendation to contact American Plant. You are going to want a professional to make recommendations on sizing units and things of that nature. From that you can make sound decisions on how best to go about it.

It's going to be very expensive to run something like that year round. If you gear towards a retail market where you turn your inventory very quickly, it's not a problem. You can run it year round and make some money.

I shut mine down in the spring and have things outside under shadecloth to save money. I just don't like selling the same stuff you can buy at the corner hardware. :-)

There is a certain mystic I enjoy to selling items most people can't pronounce.

Good luck!

randy
okwriter
Original Author
16 years ago
Dawna and Randy,

Thank you SO much for the advice! I will definitely take it to heart!!

As I sit here, there is a box on the table behind me that has a ton of literature from American, as that's the company my sister (who lives with my folks) hired to come out and put the plastic on the greenhouse. She gave me the box a few weeks ago and told me to look through it, but -- well, she's my YOUNGER sister and I like to be the boss. *LOL*

Anyway, thank you again. Looks like I have some reading to do. I'll keep you all posted on how things are going!

:)

Calling all greenhouse people - HELP!

Comments (8)

steffieok

okwriter
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Calling all greenhouse people - HELP!

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steffieok

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