Has anyone made a greenhouse using those clear fiber glass panels? Would you put the green colored ones on top because of possiblity of too much heat? We live in central California foothills at about 15oo ft altitude. Don't want to use plastic sheeting as the sun here ruins it in one season and it would have to be replaced over and over again. Thanks.

-- cindy palmer (jandcpalmer@sierratel.com), March 20, 2002

Answers

The easiest way to control too much sun is to use shade cloth. Shade cloth is a nylon fabric that is put over the greenhouse to cut down on sun. Depending on the degree you order, you can reduce sunlight in increments from 10% to 90% light reduction. You could order a couple of different ones. Maybe a 30% from spring and fall and a 60% for summer. It goes on and off in minutes. You will also need some type of ventilation system. As far as plastic sheeting have you checked into UV protected plastic. These are usually good for 4 or 5 years. Ours has been on for 7 years. It is very cheap, but this has to be ordered through a greenhouse supply wholesaler. You can simply buy 4 mil plastic at your hardware store. The plastic for our 14 by 28 greenhouse cost about $75. If you need extra heat in the cold months, the plastic sheeting has another advantage. You place your first sheet on nice and tight. You then put a second sheet over the first, but put this on a little less tight. Suppliers then have a small eletric blower, that blows air from inside the greenhouse between the two sheet of plastic. This gives you a 4 or 5 inch air space and keeps the greenhouse warmer in cold weather. If you want to build a true greenhouse that will last forever , talk to someone at a greenhouse supplier. Find a place that sells to nursies, not homeowners.

-- Daivd in NH (grayfoxfarm@mcttelecom.com), March 20, 2002.

Our greenhouses are prefabs that connect together each measuring 8 x 16-ft. Walls and roof are a clear product called "SunTuf" . The corrugated sheets claim to block 98% of UV rays and is stronger than either fiberglass or pvc. These are replacing the older pre-molded white pvc units we've had about eight years now. The new ones don't have opening air vents, so we will have to cut them ourselves. The older units were mfgd in BC somewhere, but I don't remember the town.

-- al (yr2012@hotmail.com), March 20, 2002.

Hi Al, Who makes your prefab greenhouse? Sounds like the cover material contains titanium dioxide. At least, that is the material that is added to pvc so that it can withstand the UV radiation.

-- ken (you@surfbest.net), March 20, 2002.

I have a greenhouse. You can use the clear pannels, thats what I had for my first greenhouse. I use landscape fabric instead of buying that expensive shade cloth. I have used mine for 2 years now.

-- Pat (hiddentreasuresfarm@hotmail.com), March 21, 2002.

Ken: Got 'em from Ziggy's in Spokane.

-- al (yr2012@hotmail.com), March 21, 2002.

We have a greenhouse we made for $400 6 years ago and we grow in it 12 months a year. We are in Central Maine. If you use greenhouse plastic you should be able to get several years of use out of it before having to replace it, even in Calif. Last fall we decided to try an experiment and make one with huge vents to use as a barn. It has been wonderful!!!! We have 10 goats (5 are kids 2 weeks old), 3 sheep and 8 ducks that we kept through the winter.

-- Mary R. (cntryfolk@ime.net), March 21, 2002.

You've been using the wrong kind of plastic film Cindy. We are erecting our 18 x 18 greenhouse next week. We purchased 6 mil greenhouse plastic for about $65. It will probably last 5 years according to our past experience. Shade cloth works great but can be expensive. There is a whitewash type of spray on material that will wash off by the end of the season. Good luck jz

-- jz (oz49us@yahoo.com), March 22, 2002.