The Walipini Project (aka greenhouse shenanigans)

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by Loofah, Apr 25, 2021.

  1. shiney

    shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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    Superglue :thumbsup: Other glues are available. :heehee:
     
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    • pete

      pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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      Counter bore the holes, 12 or 15 mm halfway through then a clearance hole for the screw.
       
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      • Loofah

        Loofah Admin Staff Member

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        With winter approaching and the plants starting to be cleared I'm pondering next steps. There's a couple of things I want to sort which are the remaining holes next to the ground level windows, the area under the staging, and the cold frame (if anyone recalls that bit).
        I roped in Oscar to help dig out the soil under the staging and I chucked that on the other beds; I'm now left with a deep storage area for pots, compost or whatever. It will need some form of bay system I think...
        The holes were to be filled with slate or glass but I got lazy and simply screwed on pallet wood for now (yes we all know I'll never take it off!).
        That leaves the coldframe.
         
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        • Loofah

          Loofah Admin Staff Member

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          I've never had a coldframe and don't think I'll ever use one so the enormous thing outside the greenhouse was a conundrum. It's something like 5' by 10'.
          I've decided to split it; one half cold frame and the other water storage to take rainwater runoff. I can the just plunge in a bucket and water the nearby beds.
          I made a start today by digging a central hole to add volume and leaving the soil at the edge so I can put in some aquatics if I want. This is just going to be a basic hole with carpet and liner, nothing more fancy and I have no idea when I'll get to finishing!
          PXL_20231024_145544541.MP.jpg PXL_20231024_145556722.MP.jpg

          To the right of the hole I'll make a wall of some description obviously and make a hinged lid for the coldframe
           
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          • infradig

            infradig Total Gardener

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            Hydroponics inside, fish outside, small solar pump to cycle , you're halfway there!
             
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            • Loofah

              Loofah Admin Staff Member

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              I laughed but it certainly could be done!
               
            • CanadianLori

              CanadianLori Total Gardener

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              Update and pictures? Pretty please?
               
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              • Loofah

                Loofah Admin Staff Member

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                Will get a pic tomorrow but it's largely the same!
                I still haven't got round to putting in a liner for the water store, nor made a cold frame lid. Life keeps getting in the way. The hole is now full of old leaves and frogs at the moment :sad:
                 
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                • CanadianLori

                  CanadianLori Total Gardener

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                  Are the inhabitants the same? How does it perform with moderating temps? Humidity, is it a problem or?

                  I was fascinated with this project and haven't lost interest. Curious Canuck wants to know :biggrin:
                   
                • infradig

                  infradig Total Gardener

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                  Tilapia,carp or rainbow trout ??
                   
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                  • CanadianLori

                    CanadianLori Total Gardener

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                    Oh, I was thinking of green leafy occupants however tilapia sounds lovely:)
                     
                  • Loofah

                    Loofah Admin Staff Member

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                    Here you go then :heehee:
                    upload_2025-7-27_8-11-44.jpeg
                     
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                    • Loofah

                      Loofah Admin Staff Member

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                      Inhabitants are largely the same, tomatoes, chillies, cucumbers etc. I do have a habit of dumping in spare ornamentals that sometimes survives winter but often not. There's a spider plant, some cannas, geranium and one of those big flowering bulb things you get at Christmas.
                      In the smaller end, it's more of a potting area and another bed where I put in herbs for over winter. Oh and a colocasia , just because. Ferns also regularly pop up as it was derelict for so long.
                      Humidity could do with being a touch higher if anything. There's an eves vent all along and one at the ridge so it's very dry and it's an issue with the cucumbers so I'll continue to ponder that. I might end up blocking some ventilation and seeing how it goes...
                       
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                      • Loofah

                        Loofah Admin Staff Member

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                        Oh and temp is really good. As there's a good thermal mass, it's balmy throughout summer. It heats up with early sun but catches shade from early-ish afternoon so doesn't over cook (except for heatwaves!).
                         
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                        • infradig

                          infradig Total Gardener

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                          upload_2025-7-27_10-35-48.jpeg Not worth lighting the BBQ for just one !
                           
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