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Belgium Europe

I grow 3 AG in a greenhouse this year. greenhous is 90 ft long and 20 ft wide .(pictures are in my log)Advantages are:protection against wind, hail,cold nights and no rain (mildew). Plants are a lot bigger than those outside (same seed).But i guess there must be disadvantages too. Anyone any experience?.i can open it on both sides over the entire length, but i can't remove it totally. Thanks for any advices :)

6/23/2004 4:20:39 PM

Cologne / Germany

For our northern Europe area I can´t see any disadvantage. Also the size is ok if you have 10 ft on each side for secondaries and 30 ft for the main. If you can open it at the sides, you should have no ventilation problems. You should only think the amount of rain not reaching your plants must be replaced, best way if you can catch it from top of your greenhouse to let it flow to the plants.

6/23/2004 6:08:50 PM

Cologne / Germany

Forgot to say you need to be after diseases like mildew. If the greenhouse is closed for longer periods, it´s likely to have problems with that. Then you should place some radial ventilators along the plants.

6/23/2004 6:14:11 PM

Central Connecticut

Do you have an exhaust fan? for cooling and air movement. I built a pvc frame and covered it with floating row cover roof and 6mil plastic walls. I didn’t have any exhaust fans, figuring the floating row cover and misting would allow enough air to flow and stay cool…Down side…I didn’t see a female flower till the end of July and most of those I pollinated didn’t take. I think the heat inside was to blame. This was my one year experiment.

6/23/2004 6:39:06 PM

Wisconsin

I dug down in my soil in May and found roots in the soil 10-12 ft out from the planting area (the secondaries were 8-10 ft long at the time). I am sure they have expanded out well beyond this now.

Your roots will want to go well beyond your 20 ft diameter (10 ft radius). Assuming there is good soil outside your greenhouse and assuming you are watering there, this wouldn't be a problem though.

6/23/2004 6:50:29 PM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

The only down fall I see to growing a pumpkin in the greenhouse is the lack of natural rainfall. The Plant it self quickly has filled the 12'x 24' space and is growing out the roll up side. The greenhouse is a blessing this year with the cool outside temperatures. The plant is huge compare to those that had hoophouses.

6/23/2004 8:28:54 PM

In the shade - PDX, OR

Jos - I think you are better off in the green house so far.
It is an easy comparison from what you have inside to what is outside. Generally speaking the weather in Europe hasn't been too good. Our German friends can attest to that. Wind, hail & storm damage can be kept to a minimum inside the greenhouse.

These plants like it warm ~80 to 85 is ideal for them. You will be able to raise the temperature inside pretty easy. Like Buswhacker recommends above, just don't let it get too hot in there.
I think that this will also be a benefit to you late in the season. There are some growers out there that erect late season (greenhouse)protection just so they can get addtional gains later in the season. Yours will already be in place.

I think Steve said he wanted to do a green house experiment. I'd like to do this too, but don't really have the room. I like the fact that you can adjust the environmental conditions for the plant to their liking. [to a point]
I'd use lights, heaters, shade cloth, and misters at some point in time during the life cycle of the plant.

Good Luck and keep us posted on your plants. Both inside as well as outside.

6/24/2004 1:59:58 AM

In the shade - PDX, OR

Oh yeah Powdery mildew will still be a factor - just a fact of life for these plants.

I wouldn't worry about it now, but it will show up later in the season. It only takes a few spores to be blown under the opened side of the greenhouse.....

I'd recommend foliar kelp throughout the season. Then start a fungicide program later in the season depending on your temperatures in Aug/Sept.

6/24/2004 2:05:28 AM

Colo.Spgs.CO. Pikes Peak Chapter @ [email protected]

Indoor environments also make perfect habitat for lots of insects also that will sneak in through the seams of the hot house or hatch from the soil ...keep a good eye looking for the pests....

6/24/2004 4:09:25 AM