Pit Greenhouse

By: Micah, Logan, Tyler, Colton, Imogen

Pit Greenhouse
A pit greenhouse is basically a greenhouse that is made by digging a pit in
the ground.
They can resemble other greenhouses
They can have a design aspect
External energy requirement after construction
None except for repairs and solar panels to power the fan
and possibly bluetooth thermometer.
 Estimated cost of construction of a 4' x 8' structure.

It costs about $825 for all the material plus the excavator
rental which is approx $400/day..
230+150+150+100+225+400
Temperature range (minimum and maximum)
It is about 50 degrees year round depending on the climate it could be colder,
its about 10 degrees warmer than a above ground greenhouse.
Crops best suited for this structure.
Cold weather crops, such as kale, beets, potatoes, arugula,
etc.
 The Type of Glazing

The glazing on the greenhouse can be polycarbonate

roofing,glass or other transparent materials.
Specific Space Required

10 to 20 feet are required but it has to be outside in a open

space with at least 15 to 20 feet going straight up.
Pros & cons of a pit greenhouse
The pros of a pit greenhouse are
fresh greens, vegetables and fruit,
transplant availability and success.
A warm place to go in the middle of
a cold, gray winter. Ability to grow
things you wouldnt otherwise be
able to grow (exotic flowers, tropical
fruit), no more squirrels and insects.
The cons of a pit greenhouse are
that it can be expensive to build, it
can be expensive to heat. That it
requires constant monitoring,
maintenance and care, it could
increase electrical and water bills. It
may detract from aesthetic appeal
of a garden and involves a lot of
digging. Pit greenhouses can have
poor drainage.
Is Insolation required ?
is optional underneath to keep in more heat, with foam
board insulation.
The structure of the greenhouse
The Structure is a 6 foot deep hole with metal and wood retaining walls, but the
main structure is concrete with a wood frame and a glass or plastic(
polycarbonate) roof (possibly plexi glass but its expensive and melts under
heat ) and wood supports plus a door.
 What tools are needed?

Hammer, saw, drill and bits, carpenter square, level, clamps, chalk line,
mortar trowel,plumb bob and measuring tape
Prices : Hammer: 9 Saw : 9.98 Drill : 39.98 Bits 7.48 Carpenter Square :
11.48
Clamp : 6 Level : 6.48 Chalk Line: 12.99 Mortar Trowel : 10.97 Plumb bob
32.20 Measuring Tape : 5 total price : 142.56
But we will have access to from the Woodworks room or Metalworks
room but thats just all the prices.
Where is it used most frequently
In cold places or during the winter, make sure the long side
is south facing to get the most sunlight. Flat areas that get
windy fairly often because it is so close to the ground and
in cased in concrete it can't be blown over.
Estimated Time to make it
9 months for one person that is working on it infrequently
and probably for a class the time and input per person will
decrease drastically. Probably would take around 1 to 2
months to do. So about 30 to 60 days at most.
Questions We Had?
Will winds and rainstorms affect the stability of the
greenhouse.

Answer : No because you drill the structure in with cement

pillars, and if you're worried about the top being blown
away its also drilled in. Also the top is angled so the wind
will blow up and around it so all in all your safe, and it wont
be broken or blown away for awhile but eventually it will
rust but until youre safe.
Thanks for watching.

By: Logan, Colton , Imogen , Micah , Tyler