My Small Greenhouse 1 Year Later in Zone 10

June 2018 Because winds in Zone 10 (San Francisco, California, USA) have reached up to 35 MPH, I anticipated my little house would fly and cause major damage to my neighbors. To avoid that I filled 10 rectangle-snakelike-short sandbags with pebbles. To further secure the greenhouse, The #smallgreenhouse was definitely secure, but the airflow inside was poor and the temperature rose significantly like a sauna. When I initially got the greenhouse, it was June and inside was an oven. It attracted all kinds of pests and my plants suffered, which accounts for the lack of growth and production my first year.

August 2019 Around April my greenhouse started leaking on the roof, so my dad covered it with a paint cover. With continuous strong winds, the little squares that make up the greenhouse cover have flown off slowly. It’s summer now and the airflow is perfect for all my plants. The temperature fluctuates from 58° to 79° and pests are minimal. Did I mention I have no electricity? I have had to work with Mother Nature 100%. I have solar lighting and a solar powered mini fan, but that’s it. And I don’t have any irrigation. Everything is watered manually (that’s another post).

LESSONS LEARNED:

1. Don’t use the strings that come with greenhouse

2. Instead use Coated Wire Clothesline to tie to cinder blocks and make sure it’s at least 100’

3. Install greenhouse late in fall when temperature drops

4. Don’t use cardboard to seal the airflow in greenhouse

5. Use both sides of the greenhouse zipper for entrance to balance out the wear and tear

6. Cover the newly installed greenhouse with a clear tarp to prolong protection of roof leakage

7. Prepare to replace greenhouse every year