Maxing out a greenhouse with a plant limit

F

Forage

Well-Known Member
I'm moving outdoors for the first time, where I live I can only grow 4 plants, and they can't be visible from the road so it's gotta be a greenhouse for me. Right now we're looking at a small poly tunnel because we own some plastic and that seems like the cheapest way to go. It'll be around 7' in the very middle and maybe 10' long (although we might be able to do 20').

When you're a hammer, every problem looks like a nail. And after growing for decades in small closets, SCROG or mainline/mainfold is my go-to when dealing with low ceilings and plant number limits. So right now my plan is to do a massive scrog. In a 10' greenhouse, that's a 4'x5' bed covered by each plant. In a 20' greenhouse, I'd try to stretch each one to cover 4'x10' (optimistically, we'll see what kind of coverage is actually possible but they should all be mainlined 4' wide by the end of May when they go outside).

I can't see why it won't work, bit it looks stupid. And not a lot of people seem to scrog SCROG outdoors. Anyone got better ideas for maxing out 4 plants in a cheap greenhouse? Should I do it just for the lols and post photos? (although I won't be laughing if it messes up and I'm paying money for weed next year).
 
FirstCavApache64

FirstCavApache64

Well-Known Member
Based on your description I'm guessing we're in the same state. I did my first outdoor grow last year and a 7' plant will produce a lot of bud I promise you. I would go with multiple toppings and growing a couple of monster bushes instead of trying to do scrog outdoors. You don't have to worry about light distance outside the same way you do with indoors so having an even canopy isn't critical. Doing two or three really good sized plants would fill a ten foot tunnel easily. You probably have to go with the 20 foot one in order to have to room for airflow and supports and just to be able to get around them to water. Bugs and moisture were my biggest problems in my first outdoor crop. I hope you have good luck.
 
E

EvilJ

Well-Known Member
FirstCavApache64 said:
Based on your description I'm guessing we're in the same state. I did my first outdoor grow last year and a 7' plant will produce a lot of bud I promise you. I would go with multiple toppings and growing a couple of monster bushes instead of trying to do scrog outdoors. You don't have to worry about light distance outside the same way you do with indoors so having an even canopy isn't critical. Doing two or three really good sized plants would fill a ten foot tunnel easily. You probably have to go with the 20 foot one in order to have to room for airflow and supports and just to be able to get around them to water. Bugs and moisture were my biggest problems in my first outdoor crop. I hope you have good luck.
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lol I was going to say it sounds like we are in the same state also
 
F

Forage

Well-Known Member
FirstCavApache64 said:
Based on your description I'm guessing we're in the same state. I did my first outdoor grow last year and a 7' plant will produce a lot of bud I promise you. I would go with multiple toppings and growing a couple of monster bushes instead of trying to do scrog outdoors. You don't have to worry about light distance outside the same way you do with indoors so having an even canopy isn't critical. Doing two or three really good sized plants would fill a ten foot tunnel easily. You probably have to go with the 20 foot one in order to have to room for airflow and supports and just to be able to get around them to water. Bugs and moisture were my biggest problems in my first outdoor crop. I hope you have good luck.
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Alright, I'll do unscrogged plants down the middle. I only need a pound and a half for my insomnia-weed, if I gotta go to the store for smoking treats, that's fine.

Moisture will be an issue here for sure. It's wet here My girlfriend grows veggies outdoors so she has some knowledge of pest control, but "blast em with a hose" is a big part of her pest control and I don't think that's gonna be advisable in the last month or so of bloom.

Thanks for the advice. I'll post pics if I get anything worth bragging about.
 
FirstCavApache64

FirstCavApache64

Well-Known Member
You're going to want to start a program of some kind of spraying early on. Either organic or not. I used organic pesticides with BTI and a three in one organic spray along with citric acid to treat an outbreak of spider mites. Airflow in the greenhouse will be your friend to control budrot late in season and close inspection on a daily basis in flower seems to be almost a necessity if you're dealing with high humidity. If you have the money beneficial insects are a great way to go as well. Things like predatory mites, lady bugs and others can be a big help in the garden. She was on guard most of the summer for free. Best of luck to you.IMG_20210913_154847811.jpg
 
Drop That Sound

Drop That Sound

Well-Known Member
I made my own sturdy greenhouse from trampoline frame arches, top rail, and double layer of plastic.

Can even hang from the arches, out over the nets, and save my back.

Had my limit of 4 in there too, and grew a monster RDWC scrog.

I have power running to it, and ran a dehumidifier on 24/7 full blast towards the end.

Kept them warm and dry at the same time, all the way into November!


If I do it again, I will bury the entire RDWC system with the lids almost flush to the ground.

Make for way more headroom, and easier to manage.

It could help insulate the system, and keep a stable temp, especially if you're in a hotter climate.

Also, I would rig up some kind of DIY light dep covering. Using tracks with a second hand garage door opener, or something, etc.

Could start flowering before August.
 
Herb & Suds

Herb & Suds

Well-Known Member
Raised beds and 7 foot ceilings leave much to be desired by the time you lollipop and I sure hope you have several fans under and above the canopy :peace:
 
Hipposcottamus1

Hipposcottamus1

Well-Known Member
I do an outdoor scrog with a 4 plant limit. I use 30 gal pots ofiving soil and each plant is under a 4 × 5 Foot net and topped once ( will top more this year) . I scrog them until they reach the edge of the mesh and let them grow up through another mesh for support. Last year the tallest was about 7 feet and the 4 plants pulled 3.5 lbs of tops and 3 lbs of lowers so you can get good numbers.
 
Babalonian

Babalonian

Well-Known Member
I have a work in progress greenhouse. So far I’ve found it needs 24/7 dehumidifying/airflow. And if you’re going 7’tall and don’t want to touch the plastic constantly, no joke go 6’ wide inside w/ 20-24” of that just walk/crawl/work/utility. I’m glad I did, it’s why I haven’t given up and have been able to get a lot done, or any work done at all, often in a limited time inside.
 
doublejj

doublejj

Well-Known Member
some times you can find an old carport frame on craigslist for $50. Costco sells the best ones as they are built with stronger material, however most any will work. Cover the top with plastic and cover the walls with sun screen mesh and they make a pretty dandy 10x20 greenhouse. Best of luck
carport 5-25-2015 001 (1).JPG
 
Hipposcottamus1

Hipposcottamus1

Well-Known Member
doublejj said:
some times you can find an old carport frame on craigslist for $50. Costco sells the best ones as they are built with stronger material, however most any will work. Cover the top with plastic and cover the walls with sun screen mesh and they make a pretty dandy 10x20 greenhouse. Best of luck
View attachment 5092939
Click to expand...
Thats the setup that I need right there. How do you combat humidity and airflow in there?
 
thumper60

thumper60

Well-Known Member
Forage said:
I'm moving outdoors for the first time, where I live I can only grow 4 plants, and they can't be visible from the road so it's gotta be a greenhouse for me. Right now we're looking at a small poly tunnel because we own some plastic and that seems like the cheapest way to go. It'll be around 7' in the very middle and maybe 10' long (although we might be able to do 20').

When you're a hammer, every problem looks like a nail. And after growing for decades in small closets, SCROG or mainline/mainfold is my go-to when dealing with low ceilings and plant number limits. So right now my plan is to do a massive scrog. In a 10' greenhouse, that's a 4'x5' bed covered by each plant. In a 20' greenhouse, I'd try to stretch each one to cover 4'x10' (optimistically, we'll see what kind of coverage is actually possible but they should all be mainlined 4' wide by the end of May when they go outside).

I can't see why it won't work, bit it looks stupid. And not a lot of people seem to scrog SCROG outdoors. Anyone got better ideas for maxing out 4 plants in a cheap greenhouse? Should I do it just for the lols and post photos? (although I won't be laughing if it messes up and I'm paying money for weed next year).
Click to expand...
Go as long an tall as possible dont seal it up poly the top leave the sides an ends open [rolled up] for air flow get some netting tie them bitchs down. I dont even cover mine till end of augIMG_2462.JPG
 
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FirstCavApache64

FirstCavApache64

Well-Known Member
Instead of using the poly to keep them from being viewed from the road you can always get a bamboo screen or some stakes and use the privacy screen stuff made for apartment balconies. It's breathable but stops prying eyes. I used that last year to make absolutely sure I was in compliance even though the road is 1/4 mile from the house. Didn't want to give Johnny law any excuse to visit if they spotted the grow from above which they fly over a lot because of my location. I tried a pop up shelter at the end of the season as the weather got worse and it was super hard to keep humidity in check with 4 fans running on 3 plants at the end of flower. I love the carport frame idea, way more solid of a frame than a pop up shelter as far as wind resistance.
 
thumper60

thumper60

Well-Known Member
doublejj said:
the walls are covered with mesh and the air flows right thru. If you have electricity nearby you can run a fan if you wish, but i have never needed one. These carport greenhouses work surprisingly well. My avatar picture was taken inside one.
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Thats all i got its a double 20-30 paid 250 used 5 yrs ago.
 
madininagyal

madininagyal

Well-Known Member
Forage said:
I'm moving outdoors for the first time, where I live I can only grow 4 plants, and they can't be visible from the road so it's gotta be a greenhouse for me. Right now we're looking at a small poly tunnel because we own some plastic and that seems like the cheapest way to go. It'll be around 7' in the very middle and maybe 10' long (although we might be able to do 20').

When you're a hammer, every problem looks like a nail. And after growing for decades in small closets, SCROG or mainline/mainfold is my go-to when dealing with low ceilings and plant number limits. So right now my plan is to do a massive scrog. In a 10' greenhouse, that's a 4'x5' bed covered by each plant. In a 20' greenhouse, I'd try to stretch each one to cover 4'x10' (optimistically, we'll see what kind of coverage is actually possible but they should all be mainlined 4' wide by the end of May when they go outside).

I can't see why it won't work, bit it looks stupid. And not a lot of people seem to scrog SCROG outdoors. Anyone got better ideas for maxing out 4 plants in a cheap greenhouse? Should I do it just for the lols and post photos? (although I won't be laughing if it messes up and I'm paying money for weed next year).
Click to expand...
Don't need the trouble of making scrog outdoor , you will need more then 1 plant for diversity not yields ,if done right you will have way more then you need even more in if they are not in pot but in soil
 
F

Forage

Well-Known Member
Hey everyone, thanks for all the replies! They've been very helpful, and given me a lot to think about. I don't have anything useful to add, I just didn't want you to think I posted a question and then disappeared.
 
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