hoop greenhouse versus hotbed

mensplace · December 11, 2009

I had been considering different alternatives for structures to construct for starting my plants, but he dreams of a hoop house were largely changed when I saw the effect on a few of the commercial structures covered with poly last week. The thirty-five mile an hour winds shredded the coverings, so I could only imagine what the 65 mph winds of march would to to my dream hoop house.

NOW, that takes me to hots beds. Seemingly, the simplest and cheapest structure would be something of hay bales, but maybe that initial savings isn't worth missing the benefit of a more lasting, yet inexpensive hotbed. Around here I have seen many long abandoned hotbeds or cold frames of concrete and glass. Seems like plywood would rot or be quickly devoured by the termites here.

What is YOUR solution to an inexpensive, inoffensive (I live in a subdivision), functional hotbed. Maybe I should ask, IF a hotbed is even appropriate...as in warm enough bottom heat for the sustained time to grow seedlings between early February and time to put them out here in Mid April in GA. It can still occasionally get into the thirties in March.

Have you seen any GOOD plans or diagrams? Factors to consider in building?

habitat_gardener · December 11, 2009

I don't have any plans for a subdivision-worthy seed-starting structure, but wanted to mention that bottom heat is not strictly necessary for starting tomato seedlings. I was inspired by the wintersowing website to grow my tomato seeds in a simple cold frame (bubblewrap-covered wire cages) this year. I started in mid-March. We usually don't get sustained cold temps here in the spring, but rainstorms are common and I've lost 4-ft.-high tomato plants in mid-April from overnight freezing temperatures and wind.

erlyberd · January 28, 2011

A solar pit greenhouse seems to be about the most effiecent system out there relating to heat expenses any how. Walpinis is the same thing.

Check them out. Its either that or you need to section off a tiny part of the gh for heating/germination purposes.

December 11, 2009	#1
mensplace Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: USA Posts: 1,013	hoop greenhouse versus hotbed I had been considering different alternatives for structures to construct for starting my plants, but he dreams of a hoop house were largely changed when I saw the effect on a few of the commercial structures covered with poly last week. The thirty-five mile an hour winds shredded the coverings, so I could only imagine what the 65 mph winds of march would to to my dream hoop house. NOW, that takes me to hots beds. Seemingly, the simplest and cheapest structure would be something of hay bales, but maybe that initial savings isn't worth missing the benefit of a more lasting, yet inexpensive hotbed. Around here I have seen many long abandoned hotbeds or cold frames of concrete and glass. Seems like plywood would rot or be quickly devoured by the termites here. What is YOUR solution to an inexpensive, inoffensive (I live in a subdivision), functional hotbed. Maybe I should ask, IF a hotbed is even appropriate...as in warm enough bottom heat for the sustained time to grow seedlings between early February and time to put them out here in Mid April in GA. It can still occasionally get into the thirties in March. Have you seen any GOOD plans or diagrams? Factors to consider in building?

December 11, 2009	#2
habitat_gardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: California Central Valley Posts: 2,543	I don't have any plans for a subdivision-worthy seed-starting structure, but wanted to mention that bottom heat is not strictly necessary for starting tomato seedlings. I was inspired by the wintersowing website to grow my tomato seeds in a simple cold frame (bubblewrap-covered wire cages) this year. I started in mid-March. We usually don't get sustained cold temps here in the spring, but rainstorms are common and I've lost 4-ft.-high tomato plants in mid-April from overnight freezing temperatures and wind.

January 28, 2011	#3
erlyberd Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: CT Zone 5 Posts: 186	A solar pit greenhouse seems to be about the most effiecent system out there relating to heat expenses any how. Walpinis is the same thing. Check them out. Its either that or you need to section off a tiny part of the gh for heating/germination purposes.