King Benjamin Project

Greenhouses For Winter Vegetable Production Febrero 2003
I presented plans for two types of 'invernaderos', or greenhouses. One that was more favorable received was for the "Pankar Huyu", the plans for which were supplied by the Benson Institute at BYU. Claudio Manrique is already excavating a site for one of these units in his backyard; and plans to conduct tests this coming winter. He will share these results with both his ward and the Chimbas Stake.

Pankar Huyu with swiss-chard planted. (photo courtesy of Benson Institute Manual)

The"Pankar Huyu" is more of an excavation covered with lath and plastic. With the excavation, walls are exposed during the day that can absorb heat; which can then be radiated during the night. And also with the excavation, you benefit from the year-round near 60 degree temperature of the earth. The greater benefit of the Pankay Huyu is that with the cover you can protect plants during the occasional winter freeze in San Juan. Temperatures occasionally drop into the mid to upper twenties some mornings. With the greenhouse effect they will be able to start early their "summer" vegetable plantings. They conventionally plant cool-weather items in March-April (carrots, cole crops, cabbage, spinach, lettuce)-these can handle the occasional frosts and by the end of their winter they are growing quite well. One of the entrepreneurs is thinking about using these to grow vegetable starts (tomato, pepper plants) and sell them in their spring (they are a costly item down there).