Build a Winter / Summer Grow Table

Building a Winter / Summer grow table is easy. It can be covered with thick plastic sheeting in the winter and shade cloth during the summer months.

All you need is...
1. Plastic Shelving
2. 1/2" PVC Pipe
3. A cutter for the PVC Pipe
4. Zip Ties
5. Shade Cloth or Thick 4 or 6 mil Plastic Sheeting

Step 1: Assemble the tables

The plastic shelves can be purchased at most hardware stores or even at Wal-Mart. They cost on average $14 depending on size. Instead of stacking the unit as shown, the shelves can easily be used as tables. You will need solid surface to grow your plants. The purpose is to keep out air circulation that will dry out your potted plants. If your shelves have a mesh or grid surface, cover the table top with a black plastic trash bag.

Comments

[MyGardenHaven]

What about using burlap?

[AmyLuthien]

Would LED's put off enough heat to use them as a heat source? They seem pretty cool to me :/

[cfuse]

LEDs don't generate heat. The resistors and power sources used to drive them might (but it should be negligible).

[AmyLuthien]

That's my point, so they would be useless to heat a greenhouse/cold frame . . .

[raviolikid]

Great project! My father is all excited for next year. Congratulations!

[raviolikid]

How great! I always wondered where I could get shade cloth! Thanks!

[nbock1]

What sort of 'winter' are we talking about here? Would this work in region 5?
Thanks!

[PondPlantGirl]

For cold and snow I suggest reinforcing the hoop with chicken wire and 2 layers of visqueen instead of plastic. Insulate with 1" bubble - bubble wrap. Use a plant heating pad. If you want to minimize air space for heating purposes, use a smaller guage pvc to bend over the table for a lower ceiling.

[odin7]

I live on the northern border of region 5 and this might extend the growing season by a couple weeks and you would be able to start a couple weeks early, but that's about it.

[chamunks]

Also seems a little far fetched for a region 5 grower here I would be curious to see what someone might suggest here.

[wsecomp]

This is a form of a "hoop house". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoop_house

With the hail storms we get in the NE panhandle, I don't know how well that would hold up, though.

[PondPlantGirl]

I've heard of those hail storms. I would suggest reinforcing with chicken wire.

[jimmiles1]

I live in Southeast Texas and this is perfect for my region. Thanks for the tips.
Hope you post some more ideas.

[sbilby]

I would think that in my area one would need a heat source.