How to GROW in a Greenhouse?

Hello again, folks!  As spring slowly draws near, I am excited to start my garden.  This will be my third year gardening in general, but also my third year with SFG.  

However, this year, I'd like to try something different.  I want to build a greenhouse to enclose my little SFG.  I hope that this will give me more control over watering and pests, as well as extend my growing season.

I have searched for and read a lot of threads on the forums about greenhouses, and by far, the majority of them deal with questions about how to construct a greenhouse.  I've mostly got that part covered.  We just had some replacement windows installed, and I plan to use the old window sashes to build my greenhouse.

What differences should I consider when growing in a greenhouse SFG?  Should I screen my vented windows to help prevent things like cabbage moths?  If I keep this thing "bug tight," how can I get pollinators in there?  How hot is too hot for different plants?  Are there disease or fungus problems that I should watch out for in a greenhouse?

I would love to hear any advice on growing in a greenhouse.  Thanks!

B00kemdano wrote:...What differences should I consider when growing in a greenhouse SFG?  Should I screen my vented windows to help prevent things like cabbage moths?  If I keep this thing "bug tight," how can I get pollinators in there?  How hot is too hot for different plants?  Are there disease or fungus problems that I should watch out for in a greenhouse?
I would love to hear any advice on growing in a greenhouse.  Thanks!

  

Screens may or may not be helpful.  Bugs will enter in your growing medium unless it's sterilized.

Plants that need pollinators will have to be pollinated by hand for best harvest.

Above 90-95° plants begin to shut down and just sit there.  A few ways to keep temps lower are with shade cloth over the greenhouse, rolling up the sidewalls, fans, and wet floors.  

My climate isn't as warm as yours, but I'm a big believer in fans.  I have a gable mounted attic fan to pull air through.  It's temp operated, and automatically turns on above 80-85°.  If there is a lot of condensation, I will turn the fan on manually.  I have another fan on a timer that turns on at sunrise and off after dark.  It's intended to circulate the air within the greenhouse.

I have read that cleanliness and sterilization are critical to prevent greenhouse disease issues.  I don't sterilize anything, and  feel that good ventilation has prevented any disease issues.  But your climate is a lot warmer, and sterilization could be more important for you-something to be aware of.

Thanks, Boffer!

I'm in Zone 8b-9a. All I can think of when I picture a green house in the summer is scorching hot and humid! The air will quickly heat up when the sun shines on the plastic or glass. I will be breaking down my 4' x 4' x 4 1/2" green house late March and storing the parts. If I had room to leave the frame up all summer, I would cover with tulle material to keep out the white butterfly and grow brassicas and green leafies. Things that don't need open pollinating. I would be able to put a white sheet over the top for extra shading. I advise to greatly open up all the sides and screen them when it starts to warm up. Hope this helps.

I'm still in the designing phase of my greenhouse, but I was planning to incorporate plenty of ventilation.  I guess I'll plan on being able to add some fans, if necessary, if my ventilation ideas are inadequate.