Small Green House Set Up

[Penguin59]

Hi there,

I'm looking at setting up a small greenhouse in the back yard for an outdoor crop this coming season (I'm in the southern hemisphere) and just had a few questions before I get started.

I'd be looking at keeping about four to five mostly indica plants in a translucent, plastic covered greenhouse. This would be to give the plants adequate sunlight but also to avoid attracting attention from any potential nosy neighbours!

I'd just like to know if other people who grow in greenhouses have any overheating or odour issues and how you deal with them? I have a sneaking suspicion that our hot, Australian, summer sun will send greenhouse temperatures well over the 29C/85F range!

Any advice would be greatly appreciated as I have been a strictly indoor grower who now wants to branch out to an outdoor crop!

Penguin

 

[Krull]

Security first mate, so if you've nosy neighbours watch out.
My suggestion when starting with greenhouse growing is to do vegs only for the first year, so you can show everyone what you're doing. When neighbours become used to the presence of a GH they wont care too much.
Also you can build something stealth like this:

https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=208421

choose low-odor strains, plant lots of herbs and spices; they help a little but remember that nothing cant completely cover canna smell. Pile some manure in your garden if smell becomes too bad.
Air ventilation is very important for greenhouse growing so check some threads on the topic. 29C is not that bad

Good luck

=K

 

[Penguin59]

Thanks so much for the thoughtful advice and the wicked link, Krull. Rep given.

I think when I set up my greenhouse I will line the side walls with herb and spice plants to help reduce some of the odour and visibility.

I was planning on growing out these DJ Short's Blueberry seeds I've had for a while but they'll probably be too pungent on second thoughts. I might try to find a real hashy smelling, landrace strain from Afghanistan, say, that can thrive in dry and harsh conditions. This coming summer will be a hot one!

Penguin

 

[Joeski]

Don't worry about the temps Pengy.... i know many people here that have greenhouses and have great success you just wanna make sure u can open it up on those excessively hot days.. also Ebay has solar exhaust fans depending on whether u could secure this onto ur greenhouse or not

 

[supermanlives]

use shadecloth.

 

[liltin]

greenhouses can reach 50C+ if left unchecked. ventilation and shadecloth is the way to go.

 

[GP73LPC]

my GH is currently running about 98F with temps outside around 85. i have a passive intake vent and a 12V DC 12" fan. The fan is powered by a 100 watt solar panel and just runs if the sun is out. no battery or controller. the fans were designed this way. under cloud cover it's running and then when the sun uncovers from the clouds the RPM's on the fan really kick up.

in my environment, i have determined the between Sept/Oct thru April/May my greenhouse is gonna rock. grew broccoli through the cold winter last year. between june and august my greenhouse is gonna need more cooling. my plan is to add screen doors on each end of the greenhouse (replacing the plastic covered doors) during the hot months.

my GH is rocking right now...

check out the link in my sig for ideas and best of luck

 

[Dr. Hustvedt]

what size greenhouse will you be using penguin?

 

[Penguin59]

Thanks to everyone for the replies! Sounds like I'll have to at least lash out for some shade cloth to keep the temps down.

Those are some rad links, GP73LPC. I personally loved your fish tank cab as I've come from stealth indoor growing myself.

Hey Dr. Hustvedt, thanks for stopping by. I'm actually not too sure about the dimensions of the greenhouse yet as I have to move out of my current place in a couple of months and the outdoor season won't start until I'm in my new place. I'll have to find a new place first and then suss out how much space in the backyard I'll have to play with. I'll keep you posted

 

[pyrite1]

Careful of those polycarbonate and aluminium greenhouses that have become so popular, they can be very low quality and extremely flimsy.

The last thing you want is for your greenhouse to collapse on all your plants. Not just could you lose everything inside, but it could make it apparent to your neighbours what you are growing.

 

[medmaker420]

why not run flow through vents and rig up a modified carbon scrubber of sorts?

Maybe use activated charcoal that your exhause fan can blow through so any exhausted air that is going outside gets filtered through the carbon scrubber first.

The above can help with temps as well whether it is on a temp switch, timer or just on 24h.