On the verge of winter here in Eastern North America, author and Johnny's tools advisor Eliot Coleman shares his thoughts on trialing different concepts and technologies in unheated greenhouses over the coming winter production season ....
by Eliot Coleman
One of the joys of farming for me is searching out
better ideas. This is especially true for the winter production of cold-hardy
crops in unheated greenhouses, a production system that we have been exploring
for 35 years or so. We are always looking for new ways to keep the greenhouses
warmer at night without spending money on heat. We will be trialing two
promising products this winter.
SolaWrap
The first is SolaWrap,
a greenhouse plastic that looks like bubble wrap, which has been in use for 30
years in Europe but has only just this year been released to the US market. We
are most interested in its superior insulating quality, compared to sheet
plastic, in order to keep heat in the greenhouse. It is ⅓-inch thick and has
an R-value of 1.72, which is superior to the expensive triple–wall
polycarbonate. We also appreciate that the material comes with a 10-year
guaranteed lifespan.
But probably the most unique property of SolaWrap is the
way it is put on the greenhouse. With sheet plastic, the growers and their crew
will work frantically to cover the house with one huge piece. I say
“frantically” because the process becomes extremely difficult if there is any
wind at all. |
SolaWrap Roll-up Curtain |
SolaWrap, on the other hand, is modular. It is independently attached
between each pair of ribs. SolaWrap is available in 4’, 5’, and 6’ widths,
which you choose depending upon the rib spacing of your greenhouse. A cable is
welded into each edge of the SolaWrap width. A hard plastic strip, with a slot along
each side, is first tech-screwed onto the top of all the ribs. To start
installing, the cables are inserted into the slots and the SolaWrap is pulled
up and over the greenhouse, one pair of ribs at a time. The slots hold the
cables so securely that people can stand on the plastic.
Water Wall
Our second trial this winter also involves an effort to
store more of the sun’s daily heat in the greenhouse to keep it warmer at
night. We will be using 12”-diameter, water-filled black plastic tubes as our
heat storage medium.
 |
Ginegar Water Wall |
European greenhouse growers have employed this concept
for many years by laying the tubes on the soil between the rows of crops, down
the length of the greenhouse. That has been beneficial for two crops they commonly
grow, tomatoes and cucumbers (two crops not
on our unheated winter list); but using them that way would be impractical for
our closely spaced spinach and salad crops.
However, the Israeli company Ginegar has developed a
water tube designed to be held vertically in a simple wire mesh support. With the vertical configuration, a whole row of them, side-by-side,
can stand out of the way against the north wall of the greenhouse. In a 50’
house that is about 2000 gallons of water.
Will the water-filled tubes freeze solid in the depths
of our Maine winter? Would that be a disaster or just a temporary situation?
Will we miss the ambient light that used to come from the north side of the
greenhouse? Well, that is part of the adventure of exploring new ideas — you
never know how things are going to turn out until you try.
Learn More
- The Winter Harvest Handbook, by Eliot Coleman »
- Johnny’s Winter Growing Guide »
5 comments:
I am entering my third winter with my greenhouse covered with Solawrap. It still looks like it did the day I installed it! Solawrap is great!
I have two SolaWrap greenhouses. They both have exceeded my expectations! My flowers and veggies grow larger and are more plentiful than I have ever experienced before. SolaWrap is by far the best greenhouse cover on the market today!
I'm a backyard gardener, and I was able to get Solawrap to cover my greenhouse. I love how if the sun is out, the greenhouse is warm, even when it's below freezing outside. My kale has grown exceptionally well all through the heat of the summer and the cold of the winter under Solawrap. I grow tomatoes for 6-7 months instead of 4 (normal outdoor season). I've never lost a panel.
This stuff is strong, Strong sun down here in South Texas, Strong wind, its just amazing. I'm on my third year and still a not change in the way the film looks
I used to us 6 mil poly but our storms would beat them up pretty bad!
Love this stuff. Wish they could keep it in stock.
I am at present growing a winter vegetable patio nursery under custom made line takes care of that expense us $100. We have been eating broccoli, lettuce, peas, carrots, cabbage, and different greens straight from our yard on account of Mr. Coleman. Superb resource Buy Coursework Online. Unmistakable and supportive for a beginner to advanced planter. I suggest all of Mr. Coleman's thoughts as he really comprehends what he is discussing.
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