Greenhouse

Posted on by

ROLLING THUNDER

The Rolling Thunder model was purchased from Rimol Greenhouses in New Hampshire and was shipped in pieces for construction on site. It can be rolled on its tracks to sit in two different positions.

Construction Site

The site must be leveled, with just a slight slope to the south for drainage. In places much of the top soil was stripped away. We had to add top soil, compost and amendments to bring it back to full health.

Frame is constructed.

Note the rails: this greenhouse has wheels that ride on the two rails visible on the ground on either side. The rails are twice as long as the greenhouse so it can move to two positions, a North position and a South position. It is moved every year to allow the sun’s rays to solarize the ground, thereby reducing disease.

Finished Greenhouse.

Two layers of poly make up the covering. Air is blown between the two layers to provide better insulation. This also makes the outer surface smooth enabling it to shed the wind more easily. Automated roll-up sides provide ventilation that keeps the greenhouse from getting too hot on sunny days.

Beans Starting in the Greenhouse.

In 2024 we tried climbing beans on the outside rows. The bean did well and helped protect the more tender tomatoes and peppers further inside from the wind.

Tomatoes on the Vine

These Matina salad tomatoes are looking ready!

Greenhouse Harvest

Cherry tomtoes, salad tomatoes and Jalapeno peppers from the Greenhouse.

Greenhouse in Fall

Most of the plants inside the greenhouse have been removed to the compost pile.  A few beans and tomatoes remain, visible inside the Greenhouse on the east (left) side.
In this view the Greenhouse is in it’s South position.  In Spring we will plant early crops like mini Lettuce, radishes, Hakurei turnips, Bok Choy and beets into the beds inside the Greenhouse.  In early May we will roll the Greenhouse to it’s northern placement (over the rows in the foreground) and plant the hot weather crops: tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and beans.

Cover Crop Planted

The beds in the foreground (Greenhouse North position) are now Cover Crops, feeding the soil microbiome, adding nitrogen and keeping weeds at bay.  The earlier beds of lettuce, peas, carrots, kohlrabi etc. were harvested around mid August.
Posted in Planting, Growing, Harvesting.