The Winter Journey and greenhouse plastic

sanderson wrote:Thanks for the tour.  I can't wait to visit you.  Are those large Christmas lights?  I have mini lights and they don't put out much heat.  Just enough to keep the frost off the top.

sanderson wrote:So I am discovering.

has55 wrote:
the metal hoops are smaller than a 1/2 inch pipe and adapter. so I cut off a 1/2 pvc pipe approx 1/2 long and put ot on the end of the hoop pipe tubing. It's a great fit.

boffer wrote:

has55 wrote:
the metal hoops are smaller than a 1/2 inch pipe and adapter. so I cut off a 1/2 pvc pipe approx 1/2 long and put ot on the end of the hoop pipe tubing. It's a great fit.

 

Thanks for that idea; it will come in handy someday!  

audrey.jeanne.roberts wrote:Well… my greenhouse has survived probably the coldest temps it will see (fingers crossed!) and we didn't lose a single plant.   The tips of the cherry tomatoes that are hanging out of the interior green house got a little frozen and will need to be trimmed but the main plant is fat and happy.

 YAY!  I'll have fresh veggies all winter long and a good start on the spring.  

Happy!  Happy!  Happy Girl!
aj

WOW.Now that the farmer market of wintering gardening. 

has55 wrote:]I will be following your progress. To have some summer crops like tomatoes to eat is exciting. went back to look at your list of vegetables:Lemon Cucumber, tomatoes, bush beans, japanese eggplant, hot chili peppers, basil, multi varities of lettuce, beets, swiss chard


WOW.Now that the farmer market of wintering gardening. 

has55 wrote:Hi, audrey.jeanne.roberts, my zone for denton, tx-7b-5F to 10F


question about your space blanket. 
Where did you buy it? 

Cost for one? 

Do you know the size? 

Is it thick or the thin type? 

Fragile or sturdy?



I bought them at REI (the sports outfitter company, not sure what REI stands for).  They were I think $16.95 or thereabouts.  They are quite durable as they are 4 or 5 layers laminated, thus the greater expense than the $2 one time use variety.  You can find them at Walmart online and several other places, I just googled space blankets.  

They are proving very effective.  They are only sold in 5' x 7' sizes (that I could find) so I used my sewing machine to sew 4 together to make a covering for my 5 x 10 box + there are 2 more, one on each side that form the envelope.  

In 22* overnight temps I have not lost a single plant - including a two squash, a cucumber and full sized tomatoes which are all sensitive to the cold.  I am running a small heater under the large covering.  It is set at it's lowest temp and seems to turn off about 40 degrees so it runs very little.  I haven't seen a power bill, but fingers crossed it won't be horrid, LOL!

has55 wrote:thank you for the info.

you said" 

 All I have to do now is unroll the top cover and clip the sides each night."


What type of clip? Any pictures? I couldn't tell from your pictures.