Advice on converting a chicken tractor into a greenhouse?

[lengel]

One of the chicken tractors DH built turned out to be way to heavy to move without causing bodily harm so he stripped off the exterior and I now have a very heavy duty 4x8 A-frame with a "floor" about halfway up. So I'm looking at it today and I think "Greenhouse!" Because why not.

How would you turn convert this frame into a greenhouse?

 

[herbsherbsflowers]

Use the clear plastic fiberglass or whatever it is made of sheets that people use for roofing for the sides. Make one side hinged at the top and then another sheet hinged at the shelf so that you can get in to mess with your plants. That sounds like a great idea.

 

[patandchickens]

Take the floor out if possible, although if you are not going to try to grow things in *real* cold weather you could regard it as a shelf.

Put (preferably dark-colored) jugs full o' water in as much of it as you can manage, anywhere not actually occupied by plants. You can even set plants on top of rows of full water jugs. The idea is to maximize thermal mass so it doesn't get as hot during the day nor as cold during the night.

I'm not certain where you live or what you want to grow at what time of year, but if cold will be an issue, you might consider covering (or replacing) the north-facing wall of the tractor with one or more thicknesses of foam insulation, with plywood or something on the outside to prevent it crumbling in the UV and with a white or aluminized layer glued onto the inside to increase reflected light.

With a small greenhouse like that, you will want VERY adjustable vents - more than for chickens - and will have to learn to check them frequently during the day, especially til you learn how the thing behaves. It's really important not to inadvertantly cook the plants on a sunny day, nor to leave a vent open on a cold night

Sounds like a good project, have fun,

Pat