Author Topic: Upgraded Greenhouse and 2016 Fruits (Read 10711 times)

Tuantropical · « **on:** November 08, 2016, 09:30:15 PM »

2013

2014

2016

Roof can be removed during warmer seasons.
Hope this will be the last upgrade.

sildanani · « **Reply #1 on:** November 08, 2016, 10:01:11 PM »

Amazing upgrade and trees! How tall is it?

Tropheus76 · « **Reply #2 on:** November 08, 2016, 10:27:57 PM »

Beautiful green house. If I ever move to a cooler climate(I would like to move to the NC mountains one day) I am def building something similar.

knlim000 · « **Reply #3 on:** November 08, 2016, 10:43:57 PM »

tuant: beautiful! Is that fiberless soursop? I'm looking for a few seeds if you have any. thanks
how old is your roseapple?

Toomuch · « **Reply #4 on:** November 08, 2016, 10:52:31 PM »

That is really nice. Did you build it yourself?

Tuantropical · « **Reply #5 on:** November 08, 2016, 11:08:54 PM »

Thanks
@sildanani: The peak of the greenhouse is about 12ft tall.
@knlim000: It's not a fiberless soursop. I believe it is a Miami-Florida kind. I bought the tree from TopTropical. I didin't keep any seed from previous fruits. There is one fruit left. If you are interested in getting seeds from it, I definitely can send you some. The roseapple (wax Jampu) is about 3 years old.
@Toomuch: Yes, I built mostly by myself. Got some help from brothers and in-law.

ReneeFLL · « **Reply #6 on:** November 09, 2016, 01:29:28 PM »

Really nice looking greenhouse. I like the glass sliding doors. Why is the back side lower? Your dragon fruit looks delicious.

knlim000 · « **Reply #7 on:** November 09, 2016, 02:21:24 PM »

TuanT: How does your soursop taste? Is it good flavor? How about the pulp, is it super chewy? I like some seeds if the taste is great. I hate to grow something that taste mediocre, it's waste of time and resources for nothing good. My sister gave me some HI soursop seeds, it's about 1yrs old and 1ft now. It's survive the winter inside the house. I don't know the taste since I haven't eaten. I love the flavor of soursop, but hate the super chewy pulp.

Is your greenhouse heated?

TropicalFruitHunters · « **Reply #8 on:** November 09, 2016, 03:52:39 PM »

Very nice and thanks for sharing the pics.

Tropicaliste · « **Reply #9 on:** November 09, 2016, 07:50:26 PM »

This is fantastic, Tuan. Your growing has been an inspiration to me, I hope that invite to see your greenhouse one day still stands ... not only do you grow tropical plants in a cold climate, but more importantly, you fruit them.

Tuantropical · « **Reply #10 on:** November 10, 2016, 02:03:55 PM »

To ReneeFLL: The back side is part of the original greenhouse. I decided not to make it higher because I don't plan to put any plant on that side.

TropicalFruitHunters: My pleasure. You really inspired me to do all of these. What you have in your greenhouse is amazing.

to knlim000: I personally haven't taste many type of soursop. However, mine taste more sour than sweet. Just like other sour that I had eaten. My wife love it.

to Tropicaliste: You are more than welcome to stop by. Thanks

Ethan · « **Reply #11 on:** November 11, 2016, 10:56:35 PM »

Wow, great job, glad you are being rewarded with fruit for all your hard work!

Tropicaliste · « **Reply #12 on:** November 12, 2016, 03:35:53 PM »

When I first saw the new greenhouse it looked really cool, but then I realized it's more than that. It's essentially made of like sliding glass doors the same a backdoor would have. Did you come up with this on your own?
This seems genius, because as my dad put it, you can bring plants in virtually anywhere. No need to lug in one door and out the same door. They're durable too. Did you calculate the cost vs traditional panel type greenhouse? What did you use for the roof? Can you share more details of construction?

Tuantropical · « **Reply #13 on:** November 15, 2016, 10:43:04 PM »

Thanks Tropicaliste! Yes, they are sliding door (patio door from Lowes). I have most my plants in ground. I plan to remove the roof during warmer season and let the plants expose to natural environment as much as possible. Sliding doors make it easier to open the sides. The main purpose is to make the greenhouse being convertible as much as possible.

The six sliding doors cost about $2,800, which is much more expensive than poly-carbonate sheet. The roof are made of 4 4ftx12ft sheets. They are installed to a metal track, and the sheets can slide in and out. I hope the plants will like this design.

Tuan

FruitFreak · « **Reply #14 on:** November 16, 2016, 08:27:50 AM »

Amazing setup!! Good work and beautiful trees.

gozp · « **Reply #15 on:** November 16, 2016, 01:58:58 PM »

How old is your soursop?

Tropicaliste · « **Reply #16 on:** November 16, 2016, 04:58:01 PM »

It seems like you saved quite a bit of money, and with a better outcome. I've seen some kits in the catalogues for about $8,000 and nowhere as nice. I like that you can access the various spots from the outside, that makes it so convenient, without having to trek through inside and wrecking plants in the process.
How is it heated?

Jon · « **Reply #17 on:** November 16, 2016, 10:29:04 PM »

Beautiful job , Tuan, on that greenhouse. Amazing plants, and fruiting, that is a blessing.
Best of luck with your new expansion!
Jon

Tuantropical · « **Reply #18 on:** November 17, 2016, 12:26:27 PM »

Thanks everyone!
@Gozp, the soursop is about 2.5 years old. It fruited a year after I bought from Top Tropical.

Mark in Texas · « **Reply #19 on:** November 17, 2016, 04:17:28 PM »

Beautiful job! We need to compare notes as I too grow tropicals in a greenhouse. Here's my thread - http://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=7511.msg96609#msg96609

Oro Negro today for instance -

Wish I could remove the roof like yours! It's 18' tall at the peak.

Tuantropical · « **Reply #20 on:** November 18, 2016, 12:21:09 AM »

Thanks for sharing Mark. You got beautiful plants in that greenhouse. Your greenhouse appears to be much bigger than mine.

sjtropical · « **Reply #21 on:** November 18, 2016, 01:39:26 AM »

Hands down best greenhouse I have seen. Plus, your trees are fruiting well. What variety is your mango and soursop?

Tuantropical · « **Reply #22 on:** November 18, 2016, 12:35:52 PM »

Thanks Stropical!
It is a pickering mango. The soursop is grafted Homestead. I bought both from Top Tropical.

Thanks

Zambezi · « **Reply #23 on:** November 18, 2016, 01:14:33 PM »

Wow, amazing greenhouse. Great Job..

Beautiful wax jambu...

Mark in Texas · « **Reply #24 on:** November 19, 2016, 07:47:01 AM »

Tuan, are the sliding doors hanging or riding on rollers on bottom tracks? Can't argue with success, that is some fine looking fruit!

FWIW, you may want to adopt my potting system using RootBuilder. Here's a new thread showing the system:
http://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=21887.0

Tuantropical · « **Reply #25 on:** November 19, 2016, 09:35:20 AM »

Hi Mark,
The sliding doors are on rollers on the bottom tracks, just like a typical patio door. Did you make the root-builder pot yourself?

Thanks,
Tuan

Mark in Texas · « **Reply #26 on:** November 19, 2016, 09:43:22 AM »

Quote from: Tuantropical on November 19, 2016, 09:35:20 AM

Hi Mark,
The sliding doors are on rollers on the bottom tracks, just like a typical patio door. Did you make the root-builder pot yourself?

Thanks,
Tuan

That's what I was afraid of. Tuan, please don't take this the wrong way, I mean well, but if you don't maintain those tracks, keep them clean, vacuumed and free of dirt religiously, the rollers will wear out as well as the springs they're attached to. Been there, done that. Of course they were cheap builder sliding glass door I was working with too. Nice thing is you can take them out and work on them which includes replacing the rollers.

The RootBuilder comes in a roll. You cut off as much as you want and splice the ends with cable ties. When you want to expand you just add panels, I usually add about 3 or so. They finish out at 33" or so in diameter which takes almost a full bucket of soil of my compact utility tractor.

Tuantropical · « **Reply #27 on:** November 19, 2016, 10:05:38 PM »

Thank you for the warning Mark. I will definitely try to keep them clean. Where can I buy the root-building system Mark?

Thanks,
Tuan

Mark in Texas · « **Reply #28 on:** November 20, 2016, 07:58:35 AM »

Quote from: Tuantropical on November 19, 2016, 10:05:38 PM

Thank you for the warning Mark. I will definitely try to keep them clean. Where can I buy the root-building system Mark?

Thanks,
Tuan

Here --> http://www.rootmaker.com/ They are have really jacked up the price since I ordered years ago. Tell them you're commercial, try to bargain. Use at least 5 heavy cable ties when you attach the ends and overlap about 2 nipples.

RootBuilder compared against other methods. This guy has a lot of experiments that are down to earth - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utoejYSCHtQ

vstol · « **Reply #29 on:** November 20, 2016, 02:00:06 PM »

Is it heated? If so how? I'm in 7b and very curious because I'm planning my own greenhouse right now but not sure on energy costs.

Mark in Texas · « **Reply #30 on:** November 21, 2016, 08:42:49 AM »

Quote from: vstol on November 20, 2016, 02:00:06 PM

Is it heated? If so how? I'm in 7b and very curious because I'm planning my own greenhouse right now but not sure on energy costs.

I have a large greenhouse and use a large Reznor propane heater. If small you can get by with a non vented heater. The C1 works great. I did not supply it with fresh air. You may have to in zone 7 depending on much it kicks on. Most greenhouses leak enough to supply fresh air. http://www.southernburner.com/Default.aspx

Tuantropical · « **Reply #31 on:** November 21, 2016, 10:04:59 AM »

Public gas line is not available at where i live. Therefore, I am using a 10KW electric heater. Monthly cost is about $100 to $200 depending on outside temperature. I maintain inside temperature at 60 degree.

Good luck Vstol with your greenhouse.

ScottR · « **Reply #32 on:** November 21, 2016, 11:13:45 AM »

Tuan, beautiful fruit and trees in your up graded G.H.thanks for sharing pic's

Tuantropical · « **Reply #33 on:** November 21, 2016, 02:08:13 PM »

Thanks Scott!

Mark in Texas · « **Reply #34 on:** November 22, 2016, 08:50:01 AM »

Tuan, ever thought about propane? I think you'll save a lot of money. Right now propane is cheap. I'm paying $1.87/gallon delivered. If you're on a lot the trucks have a very long roll of hose they can drag over to a 100 gal. upright tank. Knowing Fairfax and codes they probably won't let you do it. Aunt and Uncle lived in Vienna so I know the area a tad. Uncle had Zales store at Tyson's Corner shopping center years ago.

Tuantropical · « **Reply #35 on:** November 27, 2016, 10:46:13 AM »

Thank you Mark. I had thought about it and did the calculation at the time of building my original greenhouse. I forgot the exact cost per gallon at the time, but I remember it wasn't a reasonable saving for me. I like the convenience of electric heater. Therefore, I decided to go for it.

Thanks Mark,
Anthan

Tuantropical · « **Reply #36 on:** December 14, 2016, 05:09:28 PM »

Harvested the last Soursop yesterday. Weighted over 7 lb, the largest I ever touched. It tastes much better than the previous 5 fruits. Maybe being in ground helped the size and taste.

Garcinia · « **Reply #37 on:** December 14, 2016, 08:23:11 PM »

Do you have any seeds of the roseapple?

forumfool · « **Reply #38 on:** December 14, 2016, 09:16:21 PM »

Great greenhouse! You've done a good job please keep updating this thread. I plan on doing something like this myself when I move to zone 7

With the sliding doors open does the greenhouse stay cool enough in the summer or is that why you are removing the roof?

Tuantropical · « **Reply #39 on:** December 15, 2016, 08:35:07 AM »

@Garcinia: I am sorry, I don't have the roseapple seed at the moment. The plant usually fruit during summer. If you still like some seed by then, I can send you some.
@Forumfool: The upgraded greenhouse was finished in the Fall this year. Therefore, it hasn't been through a summer yet. However, I planned to remove the roof so that the plants can expose to natural environment as much as possible.

Thanks all,
Tuan

Mark in Texas · « **Reply #40 on:** December 15, 2016, 10:05:14 AM »

Quote from: Tuantropical on December 15, 2016, 08:35:07 AM

@Garcinia: I am sorry, I don't have the roseapple seed at the moment. The plant usually fruit during summer. If you still like some seed by then, I can send you some.
@Forumfool: The upgraded greenhouse was finished in the Fall this year. Therefore, it hasn't been through a summer yet. However, I planned to remove the roof so that the plants can expose to natural environment as much as possible.

Thanks all,
Tuan

Can't wait for a summer report. Va gets as hot as Texas sometimes so you will have those issues. BTW, I use a polycarbonate covering, Palram SolarSoft 85 on the south wall, clear on the north wall and I get plenty of fruit. Citrus production "gets out of hand" and the young avocado trees are really ramping up production, same with stuff like pineapples.

Being able to take that roof off is super.

forumfool · « **Reply #41 on:** December 05, 2019, 07:56:42 PM »

Bump....how is the greenhouse going!

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Author Topic: Upgraded Greenhouse and 2016 Fruits (Read 10711 times)