Hershell
1396922438
Posted 1401249040
Reply with quote #1
I am considering installing another greenhouse about 30 by 96 to grow figs in ground and keeping the minimum temp. about 40 f. What are your thoughts and these would be mainly stock plants with others growing outside. I am in South Georgia. All thoughts are appreciated.
rookie
1339168097
Posted 1401249436
Reply with quote #2
30 x 96, , makes my 8 x 10 seem a pittance. wish I had the room, go for it Hershell!
drphil69
1390113240
Posted 1401249691
Reply with quote #3
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hershell
Hershell
1396922438
Posted 1401251481
Reply with quote #4
The thing is I have a 30 by 96 and a35 by 96 already full of citrus. I am a greenhouse contractor so you get the idea. They are full of citrus. I guess I could plant a few figs in between some of the smaller citrus but I am concerned about competition.
HarveyC
1212433117
Posted 1401264573
Reply with quote #5
That would be pretty nice, Hershell, but I don't think you really need to keep it that warm in the winter.http://www.hawaiifruit.net/index-figs.html Fig orchard in Chiba Japan-3 months later(6-8-04)
Harvey - Correia Farms
http://www.figaholics.com https://www.facebook.com/Figaholics
FMD
1309800590
Posted 1401271993
Reply with quote #6
Hi Hershell, I agree with Harvey. You and I live in the same 8b zone, and it is rare to have any of the figs I keep in my unheated shed die , even those in 32 ounce containers. As you witnessed on your visit last week, the trees that succumbed to the cold were those planted in fully exposed areas of the orchard. The cold hardy varieties had no problem..
Frank North Florida Figs
Hershell
1396922438
Posted 1401277031
Reply with quote #7
Do you do work in NorCal??? :)
HarveyC
1212433117
Posted 1401310831
Reply with quote #8
Hmm...may need to talk! :)
Harvey - Correia Farms
http://www.figaholics.com https://www.facebook.com/Figaholics
rcantor
1309799312
Posted 1401312124
Reply with quote #9
Make it 9 times as big. You'll thank me. And to show your gratitude you can come build me one ;)
fignutty
1374034473
Posted 1401317882
Reply with quote #10
If I had a fig greenhouse I'd heat to about 30F. Since that's our average winter low the heating bill in a 30x96 would be only a couple hundred a yr here. Since you already have greenhouses for citrus you could estimate the heating bill easily. 30F would be as good as anything warmer for the figs.
Hershell
1396922438
Posted 1401327300
Reply with quote #11
For the citrus I have a thermostat set at 40 and the irrigation comes on and keeps it from getting any colder. I have had figs in there this past winter with no problems. I have had this working for about 15 years and have a friend that heats with well water as well.
hoosierbanana
1287901146
Posted 1401331989
Reply with quote #12
Hi Hershell, I ripened a few figs in an unheated greenhouse last fall. The high humidity from not being ventilated on cold days caused thin skinned and fuzzy figs to mold, they still split when it rains as well. Battaglia Green and Barnisotte were the best performers for me out of a dozen or so.
patriota
1318792004
Posted 1401466031
Reply with quote #13
I was wondering if ANYONE has experience starting cuttings inside the mulch boxes that most of us use. Seems to me the constant temperature due to decomposition and the humidity would favor the rooting process, and the heat comes from the bottom of the pots being used for rooting. A digression, but a cheaper alternative than greenhouses.
Hershell
1396922438
Posted 1401467557
Reply with quote #14
hoserbanan, my greenhouses have drop down curtain systems on the sides for ventilation. They are cheaper and more efficient to operate than fans.
snaglpus
1244258188
Posted 1401470738
Reply with quote #15
Hershell, you and I are on the same wave lenght!!! I am currently in the process of researching material for a new greenhouse to fully enclose my container trees. Mine will be around 34 x 55. I've made a few sketches and have in my mind how I'm going to design mine. I Like the idea of opening up the sides to let in fresh air but I don't want to let any critters or birds in. Some rare trees like O'Rourke, Smith, and Beall can't handle a drop of freezing weather without a great deal of dieback! These are some of my prize trees. It's a pain transporting trees inside especially if you have a many as I do. I asked my wife if we could move to California. Her brother lives there....she's thinking about it but I don't think she's going to want to be away from the Carolinas.
Chivas
1283819505
Posted 1401476060
Reply with quote #16
Dennis, the sides help a lot to get a cross breeze in, the problem though is all the hot air at the top has no where to go. If you are worried about birds getting in, just use bird netting, half inch or so should work great without restricted airflow, helps keep out most moths too.
Hershell
1396922438
Posted 1401479847
Reply with quote #17
We build houses with ridge vents but I don't recommend them because of the expense and wind damage. Houses with drop down curtains get a cross Breese and are the easiest to keep cool especially with 8 foot sides. I will try to get some pictures posted soon. I am on a job in Atlanta now but should back home mid week.
Chivas
1283819505
Posted 1401485501
Reply with quote #18
My hoop house is 12 feet fall so I am getting about 3 feet or so on the walls so the temperature rises quiet rapidly, ridge vents are great if you have a control system with weather station so you can prevent wind damage, venlo by far are the best in my opinion but you also need a control system and money to build it. I have grown commercial vegetables in both styles, even the old wood houses with high peaks, but only once did I have wind damage on the ridge vents, this was caused by a tornado and the structure was not sound so the wind picked up the corner of the vent and ripped it back even though it was closed. It did not help that the exhaust fan below it got shorted out by the rain.
HarveyC
1212433117
Posted 1401488891
Reply with quote #19
Hershell, are you familiar with FEMA regulations regarding construction of greenhouses in flood plains? For other types of construction regulations require that structures be built at 10' above sea level (200 year flood plain level is 9', so says the Army Corps of Engineers). My home sits at sea level and my farm ranges from about +4' to -8'.
Harvey - Correia Farms
http://www.figaholics.com https://www.facebook.com/Figaholics
Hershell
1396922438
Posted 1401532787
Reply with quote #20
I will try to check on it but I don't t think it applies to greenhouses.
Hershell
1396922438
Posted 1401545045
Reply with quote #21
Harvey, they recommend first checking with your local code enforcement office. If you need structure info I can help with that.
HarveyC
1212433117
Posted 1401554031
Reply with quote #22
Thanks. I hate talking with those folks. Pole barns are exempt from building permits in our counties as well as most counties in the state. I called and spoke to the building department to confirm that before building my pole barn. They told me I had to pay $250 for an exemption evaluation. I figured that was liking asking a police offer for permission to drive through a yellow light so I just skipped it. I did report it to the assessor so they are charging taxes on it. I'll try to muster up the patience to give them a call.
Harvey - Correia Farms
http://www.figaholics.com https://www.facebook.com/Figaholics
Hershell
1396922438
Posted 1401583145
Reply with quote #23
Sometimes it is easier to get forgiveness than it is to get permission. I get inspected a lot. I personally would just build a greenhouse.
