We recently added a greenhouse to our farm. It’s been something we’ve been mulling for a while. We’ve had pvc pipe greenhouses on and off, but they don’t always weather that well and we can still get issues with bugs and other critters. This time we went all out with an aluminum frame and an actual door with a lock and everything!! People often ask why do we need a greenhouse when we live in Hawaii where the weather is nice almost all year long. We really wanted to grow greens, but rat lungworm disease is a serious problem here. If you’re unfamiliar with this disease, the Hawaii State Department of Health has some good information. (https://health.hawaii.gov/docd/disease_listing/rat-lungworm-angiostrongyliasis/) Controlling the slug population in an open field can be risky. Although we don’t seem to have a big problem with slugs on our property, it’s not something to take lightly. The greenhouse is completely sealed so slugs cannot get in. It also prevents other insects from getting in – no fruit flies on the tomatoes, no aphids, no garden critters getting first bite! It’s been great.
Prepping the greenhouse
We have a variety of heirloom tomatoes, peppers, carrots, sweet onions, tomatillos, fennel, leaks, radishes, carrots, and greens – lots of greens. These include various lettuces, mustard greens, big leaf cabbages, kale, and some pink stemmed mizuno . It’s been a real treat to have this fresh produce available for the picking.
The greenhouse is going so well, we’re considering getting another one. We’d like to sell what we have at our local farmer’s market. It would be nice to share some of the greens to the public who are also worried about rat lung. We’d also like to expand with other kinds of produce like zucchini, squash and beans. I also would love to grow some cucamelons!
greenhouse in full bloom
Fresh from the Greenhouse
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