We've had inquiries regarding useful equipment. Feel free to share your comments here with any info you may have on equipment you like ... or don't! Most recently there was a question about Soil Ph Meters - what models are worth considering, where to buy, are they reliable, etc.
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Tom Eckert (Friday, 13 November 2015 08:13)
I receive questions about PH Meters and what to purchase. I recommend staying away from those low cost $20 to $30 dollar meters. They do work somewhat but they wear out quickly, the switches are especially a problem. I recommend one of the higher priced units from Dosatron, 1-800-523-8499 The price is $80.00 from the company. I purchased one and I am happy with it. I will put an article about it in the Mid-Fall HGA Newsletter.
Scott Rifkin (Sunday, 27 December 2015 00:12)
I am planning a new greenhouse. I would prefer glass glazing. I am looking at various type of glass and shades. I want to grow vegetables all winter. Assuming I can achieve cooling, what optimally should I choose? I'm tending toward low e 272 with no shading. Thoughts?
Tom Eckert (Tuesday, 29 December 2015 09:04)
Glass glazing is of course the best. Choosing which glass is dependent on the check book. The "low-e glass is the upper end of insulated glass which at this time includes Low-E 180, Low -E 272 and Low -E 366. Also added to the equation is weather the glass panels are filled with "air" or "argon gas". Cardinal Glass Industries web site does have a nice comparison chart which should help.
You did not say where you are located. Location is everything for winter veggie growing. You will need maximum sunlight in the low light levels of winter or you may have to add lighting, another big area for review. In the summer months you will definitely need some shading. In addition to winter heating and summer cooling, plan for plenty of air movement in the greenhouse. Vegetables as many greenhouse plants attract many insects. Spider mites, aphids, white fly and thrips are among the most found in the greenhouse. The warm moist air is a very good breeding ground for pests.
Weber Baker (Sunday, 24 September 2017 20:56)
We are awaiting the construction of our new greenhouse (delayed because the aluminum extrusion is in Florida and the parts storage is in Houston). We are trying to prepare and plan.
One of the things we are interested in doing is starting seedlings for our Tower Garden and ;for the flower beds around the house. We think that we might need some lights for this process.
What kind of lights, if any, do others have/recommend for lighting systems?
Thanks
Weber
Jim Guinn (Sunday, 10 December 2017 08:53)
I used to have a regular analog thermometer in my greenhouse, but got tired of running out there all the time to check the temperature. I recently bought an 2 Ambient Weather WS-0416 8-Channel Wireless Thermo-Hygrometer Console with 3 remote sensors. I put one console in the kitchen and the other in my upstairs office where I spend a good deal of my day. I put one sensor outside the greenhouse, the 2nd inside the greenhouse, and the 3rd inside one of my large cold frames within my greenhouse. Now I can check the temperature and humidity at all three sensors from the comfort of my home which is nice on rainy, snowy and cold days. I tried one other wireless system, but was very disappointed. This system was reasonably priced and fits my needs.
Tom Eckert (Sunday, 04 February 2018 13:21)
I designed my own temperature alarm system using greenhouse thermostats, a step-down transformer, and an alarm in the home. It is hard wired underground from the main greenhouse to the home. Saved me several times when the LP heater quit in the middle of the night. Now I also have a backup heater set lower than the main heater as another backup. Both greenhouses are wired (in parallel) with thermostats for an alarm. I sleep much better at night.
Jack Berkley (Saturday, 22 December 2018 18:27)
Can anyone recommend an economical way or equipment like a greenhouse humidifier to humidify my very dry 15 x 31 greenhouse?
Ann Rausch, TN, Zone 7a (Wednesday, 29 March 2023 11:17)
I'm sure a lot of greenhouse gardeners probably also have unheated garden sheds. What type of containers have you found that withstand the circumstances of high & low temperatures? I was using 2-gallon paint buckets but they're already (2-3 years use) falling apart. I doubt there's a supply of metal coffee cans like my father used in his shop.
Thomas Eckert (Thursday, 27 July 2023 08:18)
The only place to find metal buckets or even metal coffee containers would be a flea markets or yard sales.