This year we’re going to try a different approach to the greenhouse idea.
I added a PVC hoop house to this 4 x 8 foot bed last weekend. Well, everything except the plastic cover…it’s too soon for that.
I bought 6 pieces of half-inch PVC pipe and 2 pieces of the size that was big enough to let half-inch pipe slip inside itself…I think they are 1 inch.
I cut and drove sections the bigger pipes into the ground as holders for the hoops. The flimsy half-inch pipe was easy to bend over and insert into the pipes in the ground. I screwed up a top ridge pole and then ran a screw through each leg into the frame of the bed.
I added a bunch of rich black compost and then seeded some fall/winter crops. I’m going to try carrots, turnips, beets, radishes, kale, lettuce, spinach and maybe a couple other things.
God bless cordless drills. I hate running drop cords.
I hurt my left hand somehow while using the 8 pound sledge hammer to drive the pipes into the ground. I didn’t even notice anything until hours later, but now my left thumb is almost useless. It’s strange to drive to work, go to make a left turn, and remember that I have to use my right hand to do it.
Oh, the flowers got transplanted into pots up by the house. S. helped me quite a bit with the work, but I didn’t end up with any pictures of him this time.
Posted by cahvdf on September 14, 2010 at 8:20 am
Love, love, love the hoop house!!! Can hardly wait for Winter Solstice Salad from the garden. Ok so here I am and now hopefully I will have something useful to say from time to time. These days dinner is more of a oh what do we want/have in the house that will not take too long or make too many dishes, oh and that M will actually eat!!! Or that I want to eat for days if she does not like! See you soon . . .
Posted by Jimmy Cracked-Corn on September 16, 2010 at 3:47 pm
Winter Solstice Salad! Definitely! I direct-seeded this 4×8 on the same day I built the hoops and things are coming up nicely.
Posted by Roseanne on September 14, 2010 at 5:44 pm
Very nice! I’m anxious to see how your crops will do. Will you leave a thermometer inside? I’d love to know the difference between hoop house and outside air.
Posted by Jimmy Cracked-Corn on September 16, 2010 at 3:55 pm
It’s going to be an experiment, that’s for sure. I should get a thermometer, but it’s going to have to be quite moisture resistant.
Posted by daisypatch on September 15, 2010 at 10:14 am
Nice blog. Great idea! We’ve pondered with the same, but decided to just put a big hoop house in the backyard. Have you seen, “Four Season Harvest?” I’m just getting through that book. Great Winter growing ideas.
Posted by Jimmy Cracked-Corn on September 16, 2010 at 3:55 pm
I’ll have to check out that book! Thank you for the compliment and thanks for stopping by! Come back again!