The Shadehouse

Our greenhouse was built using PVC and rebar stakes. The sides are reinforced with salvaged plywood. We use shadecloth instead of plastic to lower temperatures while maintaining humidity and providing a slight wind break. Using this system we can get an early start on fall crops like lettuce and brassicas that prefer cooler weather to germinate. For now the greenhouse, blackhouse?, is passively cooled. When frost threatens we plant to put plastic under the shadecloth and use row covers to regulate temperature. Seedlings grown under shadecloth need to be watered alot less frequently. Even careful watering of seedlings can cause physical damage as well as increased succeptibility to pathogens so its best not to do it more than necessary.