Family’s only regret is not building a greenhouse earlier
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MANTI—Four years ago, the Chris and LeAnn Layton family of Manti, in an effort to be more self sufficient and extend the growing season of their garden, decided to build a 64-foot greenhouse.
Chris spent a few weeks researching designs online, the family gathered needed supplies and the process began. Construction of the greenhouse was actually completed in about three weeks.
The family was pleased with how the greenhouse extended the growing season and the first year they kept it heated through the winter. But at the peak of winter, the bill for the gas furnace inside the greenhouse was more than $500 a month. Worse, the heat harbored a horrible infestation of white flies and aphids that nearly destroyed all their plants.
Since that first year, the family has modified their plan and now they close the greenhouse for December, January and February. The Laytons say just as they need a break, the soil in their greenhouse needs to recover and rejuvenate. Allowing the greenhouse to freeze for a time has resolved the aphid and white fly issues.
Tropical plants cared for by their teenage son, James, are a big part of what is grown in their greenhouse. During December through February, they bring those plants inside to protect them from freezing. James shares updates on the plants on his YouTube channel, “James Tropicals.”
About five years ago, James began experimenting with plant propagation, both from seeds, some of which he extracts directly from food the family purchases to eat, and some from seeds he purchases. Other times he grows plants from starts he purchases on-line and from nurseries in St. George.
Among plants he has grown in the greenhouse are pineapples, mangos, Surinam cherries, kiwis, figs, hibiscus, star cherries, pomegranates, avocados and California palms.
His banana plants are his favorites. He even sells his pups (baby plants) from his banana trees to customers on the Wasatch Front, among other locations, sometimes for as much as $50.
The Laytons are thrilled that they can continue to harvest their garden produce into November and often December. Sometimes a bit of heat is required in November and early December to keep the greenhouse above freezing. But the plants continue to do well, especially if the fall weather remains warm.
Chris says that with a thermal blanket, he thinks kale, broccoli, lettuces and other hardy plants would probably survive through the winter. The crops could be harvested during the winter, especially if they have been planted early enough to be mature before cold weather sets in.
The Laytons are able to do “succession planting;” that is, plant crops later for an additional harvest, because the greenhouse mitigates the weather and extends the season.
The Laytons have to be conscious not only of the cold, but also of the greenhouse getting too hot in spring and summer. They have a shade cloth over the top. This protects from too much sun and heat in the warm parts of the year and also adds stability against wind.
Chris also built mechanisms so the plastic sides can be rolled up about 24 inches to prevent the greenhouse from becoming too hot. On one day in mid-April, the sides were rolled up even though it was early in the season.
LeAnn said the large barn doors along one end of the structure are critical to provide necessary venting every month the greenhouse is in use. In the summer months, the doors are left open and side vents are rolled up day and night.
The greenhouse affects how early they can begin their garden in the spring. They moved their tropical plants into the greenhouse the second week of April and began planting crops right away. Generally, the last frost date in Sanpete is June 1, so being able to safely plant all crops in mid-April represents a significant extension of the season.
Their greenhouse build was inspired by the Bootstrap Farmer channel on YouTube and incorporates many of Bootstraps’ design and build suggestions. The cost was about $5,000.
There are a wide variety of kits online for building greenhouses on almost any budget. There are many online designs for DIY builds as well.
Another family in Manti has built a year-round greenhouse that is completely off grid. With a geothermal system that collects cold air and circulates warmed air upward, the greenhouse needs to be vented for cooling even in January and February.
Another feature of this year-round greenhouse is solar batteries. These collect heat during the day and slowly dissipate it through the night to keep the green house warm with no utilities required.
The greenhouse is more than 100 feet long and incorporates 20 55-gallon drums filled with water and hundreds of square feet of cement for the solar batteries, and significant insulation on the north wall and roof. These features maintain the temperature of the greenhouse. The family has been able to prevent insects by housing finches in the greenhouse.
Other greenhouse builders tap into the natural thermal heat of the earth by building walapinis. These structures are dug into the ground, sometimes on all four sides and to a depth of as much as 8 to 10 feet, to incorporate the heat generated from the earth when heat is needed and to provide cooling during the hot summer months. The ground temperature in Sanpete is about 50 degrees, which can provide heat in the winter and cooling in the summer.
Besides growing food in the family greenhouse, LeAnn enjoys growing herbs for cooking and for making healing salves and other natural skin products. The family also has Jersey milk cows. LeAnn makes cheese and ice cream from the milk.
The Laytons have even built a fish pond with a waterfall near the greenhouse. They plan to use the water from the pond to nourish their garden plants.
The Layton family encourages others to give growing vegetables a try. LeAnn says sometimes people think if they have garden seeds, that is all they need to grow food, perhaps in a time of need.
She suggests people begin trying to garden now as there is a lot to learn to be a successful gardener, and gardening skills do increase with practice and implementation of a variety of methods.
LeAnn says her only regret is that her family didn’t build their greenhouse sooner. The Laytons enjoy hanging out in their greenhouse, especially in the summer, and have strung lights along the roof of the green house to create a magical escape on summer evenings.