SKULLBIKERS 2019 Container and Kratky GLOG

skullbiker · Apr 16, 2019

stettoman said:
Ditto. I had a couple Pubes set a pod this winter, it was exciting. Can NOT wait for more, and my OW pubes are starting to show signs of flowering soon.

Every one of mine is flowering in the grow room, looks like a purple jungle!

DWB · Apr 16, 2019

skullbiker said:
Unfortunately, the nighttime lows are only about 3f above ambient temp without heaters. Now it should just about be a wash with electricity for lights inside versus electricity for heat in the greenhouse.

That's one thing I've been wondering about since initially seeing your awesome greenhouse in Unc's glog. My wife wants one but it's gonna be a "b-word" finding a place to put in full sun without running hundreds of feet of underground wire.

skullbiker · Apr 16, 2019

DWB said:
That's one thing I've been wondering about since initially seeing your awesome greenhouse in Unc's glog. My wife wants one but it's gonna be a "b-word" finding a place to put in full sun without running hundreds of feet of underground wire.

You could kill two birds with one stone if you trench and run elec. and water line at the same time.

stettoman · Apr 16, 2019

DWB said:
That's one thing I've been wondering about since initially seeing your awesome greenhouse in Unc's glog. My wife wants one but it's gonna be a "b-word" finding a place to put in full sun without running hundreds of feet of underground wire.

skullbiker said:
You could kill two birds with one stone if you trench and run elec. and water line at the same time.

My evil plan is to attach to the house, right where an exterior GFI happens to be. Water will still be an issue, being as my property has ONE (1) hydrant on a total 10 acres. This place, having been designed and built by a group of very drunk, very clueless farmers over a span of 5 deacades has made the simplest remodel a plumb-square-level nightmare.

But the soil is precious....

DWB · Apr 17, 2019

skullbiker said:
You could kill two birds with one stone if you trench and run elec. and water line at the same time.

I do need to trench in a water line to send untreated water out to the garden. That is also one of the few suitable areas for a greenhouse but I want to make sure we really want a greenhouse before I lay cable for that. I think I'd need about 400' of 4/0 (x2) plus ground to get 20 amps of 120v out there to the spot. Many more $$$ than the greenhouse itself.

For water line, I only have to trench in about 250' to change the water source supplying the existing field water system. Could do it with 150' if I felt sporty and wanted to dodge other lines and septic, etc.

skullbiker · Apr 17, 2019

DWB said:
I do need to trench in a water line to send untreated water out to the garden. That is also one of the few suitable areas for a greenhouse but I want to make sure we really want a greenhouse before I lay cable for that. I think I'd need about 400' of 4/0 (x2) plus ground to get 20 amps of 120v out there to the spot. Many more $$$ than the greenhouse itself.

For water line, I only have to trench in about 250' to change the water source supplying the existing field water system. Could do it with 150' if I felt sporty and wanted to dodge other lines and septic, etc.

This website shows 8 ga for 500 ft 120v 20 amp. I’m not an electrician(except my own stuff) but there are some on the forum with extensive electrical knowledge that may know for sure.

https://www.answers.com/Q/Wire_size_for_500_feet_distance_120_volt_20_amps

DWB · Apr 17, 2019

I guess 8 or 10 AWG could work but it would be a spooky voltage drop on 500'. Almost 13V with the 8 gauge and over 20V with 10.

lespaulde · Apr 19, 2019

skullbiker said:
Unfortunately, the nighttime lows are only about 3f above ambient temp without heaters. Now it should just about be a wash with electricity for lights inside versus electricity for heat in the greenhouse.

Yeah I see, then it's a pretty good end calculation I suppose; power of the sun combined with a bit of night time heating for the same price as indoor only...

Can't wait to see those trees coming out of your Kratky totes again, they were simply epic last year!

Sent from my ZTE A2017U using Tapatalk

skullbiker · Apr 20, 2019

lespaulde said:
Yeah I see, then it's a pretty good end calculation I suppose; power of the sun combined with a bit of night time heating for the same price as indoor only...

Can't wait to see those trees coming out of your Kratky totes again, they were simply epic last year!

Sent from my ZTE A2017U using Tapatalk

I guess we will see how the heating goes. I am trying something new, I ran some roof heating cable(used to prevent ice dams) around the lower inside perimiter of the greenhouse frame. The length I am using draws about 300 watts and gives off pretty good radient heat straight up along the walls/glazing. Plus I have two small space heaters for backup. Everything is on thermostats, with the heating cable set 10 degrees higher than the space heaters. Also, once the three Kratky garbage cans have warmed up there will be about 75 gals(initially) of mass to release heat at night.
So, are tree like plants in Kratky actually a form of Kratree?[emoji848]

skullbiker · Apr 20, 2019

Started getting plants out to the greenhouse yesterday after doing the cleanout from last season.

I have to pot up most of the plants going out. I found that Walmart now has coco coir blocks now for about $8.

The first plant to leave the basement was good old Ernest (Borg 9), and he has grown a bit since his last update!

And, he has a few blooms going.

And then we have Ernies little brother, who is not far behind his big brother now.

More later.

podz · Apr 20, 2019

DWB said:
I guess 8 or 10 AWG could work but it would be a spooky voltage drop on 500'. Almost 13V with the 8 gauge and over 20V with 10.

Clearly, layin' down the cash for a fat wire is the way to go here.

PaulG · Apr 21, 2019

Nice shot of the raised beds through the greenhouse wall!
Looks like a beautiful arrangement!

Oh, plant looks great, too

!

skullbiker · Apr 21, 2019

PaulG said:
Nice shot of the raised beds through the greenhouse wall!
Looks like a beautiful arrangement!

Oh, plant looks great, too !

Not exactly raised beds, more like raised square containers. I will get a pic of them one of these days.

skullbiker · Apr 21, 2019

My only Rocoto Montufar that germinated in the corner.

With poddage!

I went back and looked and this germinated on Jan. 11. So, 4 ft tall with pods in 13 weeks! In the basement!

skullbiker · Apr 21, 2019

Garbage cans ready.

Garbage cans topped off!

skullbiker · Apr 21, 2019

First season with rocotos, so definitely a first fo me with a siamesed rocoto pod.

podz · Apr 22, 2019

This is just incredible to watch!

CaneDog · Apr 22, 2019

Awesome posts SB. Your rocotos are looking super healthy. Great to see you getting things going outdoors.

DWB · Apr 22, 2019

I've been thinking about the best way to build my tulle isolation cages. I saw your picture and suddenly remembered I have four partial rolls of high tensile field fence stored out in the woods. Duh.

skullbiker · Apr 22, 2019

DWB said:
I've been thinking about the best way to build my tulle isolation cages. I saw your picture and suddenly remembered I have four partial rolls of high tensile field fence stored out in the woods. Duh.

Glad I could be of assistance.[emoji106]