My Winter Greenhouse With Photo Updates

[BigBen]

Hi Corey,
You’re very welcome.
Not sure if I mentioned it or not, but what I also did was:
1). I looked-up online where the Sun is positioned during the shortest day of the year (in my exact location), then I pitched the South wall at about 59 degrees from horizontal, in order to maximize the Winter Sun.
2). I found out exactly where True South is as opposed to Magnetic South, and I turned/faced the greenhouse either 11 or 13 degrees toward the South East (can’t remember which it is), also in order to maximize the Winter Sun.
It might sound difficult, but if you get a good compass, it’s a piece of cake.
I actually used three different compasses, to TRIPLE CHECK my readings!!! LOL…
I purchased a compass, I also used the compass app on my phone, and I was also able to borrow a military compass from a local Army Navy store. I offered to buy it, but the owner said “No problem, there’s no need to spend that much money for ONE OR TWO CALCULATIONS, be my guest to borrow it for a few days”!
Being he wouldn’t take any money, I brought the store a box of donuts and a box of Joe, as my thank you! Then when I returned there to drop-off some fresh veggies then next season, UNFORTUNATELY the Army Navy store was closed for good.
Those two simple mods will help you dramatically, if you’re looking to grow in the Winter months or just looking to extend your growing season.


Enjoy the built!!!
Ben

 

[Jrmcmich]

@BigBen nice greenhouse you built there! Looking through the thread it doesn’t appear you use this as winter storage for dormant trees? Wondering what your thoughts on the design you built and thoughts on how it might perform in winter bonsai storage?

 

[BigBen]

@BigBen nice greenhouse you built there! Looking through the thread it doesn’t appear you use this as winter storage for dormant trees? Wondering what your thoughts on the design you built and thoughts on how it might perform in winter bonsai storage?

@BigBen nice greenhouse you built there! Looking through the thread it doesn’t appear you use this as winter storage for dormant trees? Wondering what your thoughts on the design you built and thoughts on how it might perform in winter bonsai storage?

@Jrmcmich
Thank you very much.

Correct! I built it to grow fruits & vegetables during the Winter months, and to get a head-start on the planting season.
I typically keep my vulnerable trees in an area of the backyard where they’re protected from the wind. I have some 2” & 4” thick rigid foam boards that I use to box-in the trees.
I was putting them in our garage, but being the garage has our hot rods in it, the trees stay outside but thoroughly protected. LOL…

As far as Winter storage in this greenhouse goes, I don’t think it would work, unless you block most of the Sun’s rays from hitting it.
Here on Long Island, even when the outside temps drop to like 10 degrees Fahrenheit it STILL gets very hot inside my greenhouse.

Feel free to ask any questions that you might have, I’ll try my best to answer them.
Ben

 

[Jrmcmich]

@Jrmcmich
Thank you very much.

Correct! I built it to grow fruits & vegetables during the Winter months, and to get a head-start on the planting season.
I typically keep my vulnerable trees in an area of the backyard where they’re protected from the wind. I have some 2” & 4” thick rigid foam boards that I use to box-in the trees.
I was putting them in our garage, but being the garage has our hot rods in it, the trees stay outside but thoroughly protected. LOL…

As far as Winter storage in this greenhouse goes, I don’t think it would work, unless you block most of the Sun’s rays from hitting it.
Here on Long Island, even when the outside temps drop to like 10 degrees Fahrenheit it STILL gets very hot inside my greenhouse.

Feel free to ask any questions that you might have, I’ll try my best to answer them.
Ben

Thanks for the feedback. I have decent amount of trees in my back yard but on clear days I know I would still get sun coming through and was considering a similar design to your build and figured would put shade cloth on those larger windows. I also thought about 3 auto vents above those windows.

Here is a drawing I was Considering

Thanks for feedback

 

[BigBen]

You’re very welcome.

I have a big exhaust fan, high on the East side and two intake vents low on the West side, all connected together and thermostatically controlled. Works GREAT!

I also have framed out 4 low auto-vents and 4 opposing larger auto-vents, to create a chimney effect.
I’ll have those set to open before the electric vents kick on.
I just need to cut the Solexx for those vents.

Still working on the Solar Radient Heat too.