Recently, I stumbled across abandoned greenhouses and it got to wonder how I should plan my greenhouse for next spring.

This is obviously nothing new and this subject has been covered previously. Still, I would like to add my own twist to it.

If you already have a car shelter all you need is to ''convert'' it into a greenhouse during the summer. Otherwise, you can buy one for around 250$. You could even find a used one on Craigslist or Kijiji for a better price.

I finally stumbled on an option that seems to be the most ideal. I found a video on youtube.  This gave me the idea to build a greenhouse using PVC pipes.

Interesting concept. Thanks.

They all look pretty practical for summer use in climates that don't get overly hot, but you'd probably still need some way to vent any excess heat. For you fig lovers in cool climates, it seems like a great way to get enough heat for full ripening while keeping your trees out of the rain and away from the birds.

montreal,

Dont know if you have the space, but have you tried to ask the owners of the abandoned GH that you can take if of their hands for very small $?

Thanks for the links Montreal. I've been having a vision of something just like that in the back of my mind for some time. You have just made it come to life. That is perfect for what I need and the price seems to be right.

loslunafarms: That would be nice but that greenhouse is 5000 miles from my house. I was just passing by and I took a picture. If I would see one in Canada I would go and ask. I would probably use only half of it since it would be too big.

TucsonKen: Yep if I was living in your area I would skip building a greenhouse for figs. In my climate this can make a huge difference. 

If you are needing a greenhouse to congtrol humidity, almost anything will do: plastic pipe and a plastic sheet, etc.

If you need to keep warm, then you need materials with more insulating value, so that you don't have to spend so much $ on heating, but those materials cost more $.

Eventually the probelm becomes remving excess heat (in the summer cfor cold climates - 8 months or so, for me). This means venitaltion  with fans or ?, misters, shade cloth (or cardboard), which agian can mean $.

I built mine (8 x 8) for humidity and warmth 2 Springs ago, and the second day we had a heat wave and I was then into heat removal mode because the greenhouse worked too well and held too much heat.

My little 14x14 greenhouse is built in a hoop shape with square aluminum tubing and clear polycarbonate sheeting. It's covered with 45% shade cloth and still gets scorching hot, so I installed a thermostatic vent fan on one end. Still runs continuosly in the summer with the thermostatset at 95F with the door and windows open. In winter, I get by with a couple of small electric heaters, as it doesn't get that cold here. I think I'm going to try plugging the  heaters  into some sort of thermostatic plug so the temp will be more constant(gets too hot on warm days. Anyone ever used these?

 This may be of interest in building a PVC greenhouse. It is made for quail but if you eliminated the raised floor it would work for a green house.
http://www.quailranch-ok.com/wst_page6.html

JA,

Seeing all those little Quails brings back good memories to me, My Father-inlaw use raise them! he had about 4 thousand of them at any one time, I use to feed them when we wern't on the road, they could be making all the noise in the world, someone could walk in the Barn, and ALL of them would be quite at the same time! It was amazing how they could do that.

Nothing to do but My Father in-law had to have two pairs of California mountain Quails, we bought him two pair @ $75.00 a pair, we brought them from San Diego back here, I never knew 4 little birds could stink that much, The cab of that truck got to kinda bad smelling, anyhow, the people we bought them from said to separate the roosters from the hens, I told Paw what they said, he informed me that he knew what the hail? he was doing, Long story short, that two hens were history the next morning, $150.00 right out the window, But ya know if he was still alive I would do it all over again for Him.

My Figs are trying to go dormant, I thought I better say something pertaining to Figs.

The Qualranch design is great. Next early spring Im going to build a green house. Wow! Thanks Jstall.

Good find Jstall. Thanks.