[Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page

[Dick]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dick" <rkgross3 at cox.net>
To: <arid_gardener at Ag.arizona.edu>; <axelholmberg1 at cox.net>
Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2007 7:18 PM
Subject: Re: [Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page

I built my own 8x10 greenhouse with redwood siding. I have used a small fan 
 for circulation but I have a 1000  watt halogen lamp that provides adequate 
 light for germination but have never needed additional heat.  I rarely leave the light on 
 for more than 10 or 12 hours per day but seeds need warm soil to germinate 
and as soon as the cotyledons appear I get the plants into full sunlight 
 asap to harden-off and start foliage manufactuting carbyhydrates, a process much more efficient  
with full sun.  The light serves the purpose but is not a good 
 substitute for direct full light for as many hours as they can tolerate 
 until the root system can support full direct sun. Planted out, if I must have shade, I 
 use Remay, the lightest weight cloth available that will let some light in through the pores
that also allow ventillation. It can be  thrown over the rows to lay on the foliage and
staked down loosely with a few rocks or clods.

I plant a lot of seeds in flats but as soon as the cotyledons appear I transplant them because damping-off is less prevalent at that stage and it allows me to get a decent root system started before introducing the juvenile to the cruel real world. 

You can buy prebab greenhouses pretty reasonably from a number of Internet sites. You just have to assemble most of them but will have to use your own common sense to choose one that fits your needs. As with any other commodity, cheapest ain't always the best buy.

For summer heat, you can slap a coat of whitewash on the plastic to reflect much of the suns rays. I have a large oscillating, industrial shop fan that I use a lot outside. Small heaters help with cold but you may need none of these or little modification in the Phoenix area.

This doesn't cover your question but this volunteer does not have time to write a book even if I posessed the knowledge. There are many books in the library covering the topic and a ton of stuff is on the internet. If you are serious about gardening in the Salt River Basin, take the Master Gardener Course, visit the gardens at the Maricopa County Cooperative Extension and attend and join one of the non-profit clubs that headquarter there. Some of us are working in the area every Saturday at 4341 East Broadway, a public facility that you can explore at your will.

Regards, 

Dick Gross, Master Gardener Volunteer/Sec Ed Arizona Rare Fruit Growers

 
> - - - Original Message ----- 
> From: <axelholmberg1 at cox.net>
> To: <arid_gardener at Ag.arizona.edu>
> Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2007 12:17 PM
> Subject: [Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page
> 
> 
>> Ed Holmberg
>> 85028
>> axelholmberg1 at cox.net
>>
>> I am building a home that will include a small greenhouse.  My concern is 
>> less the cold months than the hot summer sun.  Do we have special specs 
>> for greenhouses in Arizona?  Do we have any recommended plans?
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Arid_gardener mailing list
>> Arid_gardener at CALS.arizona.edu
>> http://CALS.arizona.edu/mailman2/listinfo/arid_gardener
>> 
>
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