Build an Easy 5 X 5 Home Greenhouse for Under $25

Intro: Build an Easy 5 X 5 Home Greenhouse for Under $25

www.pondplantgirl.com/coldframe.htm Here is how you can build your own home greenshouse for under $25.

The main pic is a larger version of the 5x5 Greenhouse. See the actual 5x5 image below. For more pics and info please see my website at: www.pondplantgirl.com/coldframe.htm

HAPPY PONDING!!!

See more videos at:www.pondplantgirl.com

STEP 1: Supplies Needed

• 1/2" PVC Pipe

4 sections, Total Cost about $8.00

• 1/2" Corner Elbow Connectors

4 with 3 ports

• 1/2" Adapters

4, Connectors + Adapters total cost about $4.00

• Primer and PVC Cement

Total cost about $5.50, Borrowed cost = $0

• Scissors

I had scissors - my cost $0

• Long Zip Ties

My cost $1 from the dollar store

• Hack Saw or Pipe Cutter

Borrowed - My cost $0

• Visquene or Plastic Sheeting

6' x 6', 3.5 mil (6 mil is ideal)
Thin clear plastic will not withstand past one season.
Box of 10' x 25' is $13.50, Cost per section roughly $7.50

• Total Cost = $20.50

STEP 2: PVC Pipe

Assemble the pipe on a dry surface in a well ventilated area, such as a patio or driveway, and cut 2 of the 10' sections of PVC pipe in half, making a total of 4 - 5' sections of pipe.

STEP 3: Assemble With PVC Primer and Cement

Swipe the inside of the elbow pieces and the ends of the PVC pipe with the purple primer. Do not swipe the inside of the threaded elbows.

After the primer dries, attach the elbows to the ends of the two 5' section of pipe with the PVC cement.

Attach the 10' section of pipe to the unthreaded end of an elbow with PVC cement and press down firmly.

STEP 4: Here's Your Basic Shape!

After the cement will dries within a few minutes, carefully bend the 10' section of pipe and attached to the other unthreaded end of the 5' section of pipe with cement. Leverage might be needed to bend the pipe, such as leaning up against a wall to prevent slipping while bending the pipe.

Repeat instructions for framing the other side of your greenhouse.

STEP 5: Cut Out the Pattern for the End Hoops.

Lay down the cold frame end on the plastic sheeting and cut out the end piece to attach. Be sure to leave at least 6 inches overlap. Allow for corners to be cut out in an L and pleat curve side. Only cut pleats about half way into the sheeting. Do not cut all the way down to the pipe line.

See pattern below.

The black is the assembled pipe
The blue is the outline pattern for the plastic sheeting
The green is where to cut the L corners
The red is the pleating. More can be made if needed.

STEP 6: Attaching the Plastic

Attach the plastic sheeting to the frame with zip ties starting with the straight edge. Be sure to tuck plastic around the pipe. Slice small holes through plastic close to the frame. I poked a few of my holes too far from the frame structure, but it still looks just fine. Pull ties tight and trim tails. Repeat all the way around the frame.

STEP 7: Connecting the PVC

Screw in threaded adapters to threaded elbow end. Attach the remaining 5 foot sections of pipe to the adapters to complete the frame. If you want a temporary structure, do not glue the bottom of your greenhouse pipe together. However, you will need duct tape or cement blocks to brace the base of your greenhouse. If you are using it out in the yard, you can also anchor it down with camping tent spikes.

STEP 8: Covering the Frame

Cover frame with remaining plastic sheeting and cut to size.

Attach sheeting to frame ends with zip ties from top of frame to half way down. This will allow for access to the inside of your cold frame and will allow for airflow on windy days.

Edges of plastic sheeting can be weighed down with metal washers or clamped to frame.

Slice small holes in top of cold frame plastic to prevent rain water from puddling.

STEP 9: Wow! That Was Easy!

A small cold frame greenhouse can be assembled in 1-2 hours. Cover your garden or pond to keep plants warm on cold winter days and nights!

STEP 10: My Next Instructable

My next Instructable will be about how to build a snow country greenhouse and how to efficiently heat it with either solar or wind power. This picture shows heating with a dryer vent, which should only be used if put on a timer system.

If you have any questions or great ideas, please email me at [e-mail]!

HAPPY PONDING & HAPPY INVENTING!

:-) GAiL

Comments

[huttarl]

My daughter and I built this so that my wife wouldn't have to keep bringing plants indoors so much during the winter. Putting it together wasn't a problem, but it seems to have failed to keep the temperature up. This morning the temp outside was 29F, and the temp in the greenhouse, 29F. Not sure if we did something wrong. Good thing we tested it before risking plants.

[kewpiedoll99]

Great instructable. I am planning to implement this or something slightly modded off it this weekend to extend my garden's growing season (for my cotton, in NJ!! Lest there be any doubt about global warming).

BUT I have a question as I am not too familiar with the pvc pipe fittings. Why do I need the threaded adapters? It seems like you only used them for the bottom pvc pieces; why didn't you need them to connect the pvc that arcs across the top as well? Thanks in advance for clarification on this point.

[huttarl]

It really depends on what the elbows are like. Some elbows have a threaded hole; for those holes you'll need a threaded adapter. We got elbows that had "slip" holes, so no adapters were needed to put the PVC pipe in. I suppose if each elbow has two or three threaded holes, you would need more threaded adapters.

[Maeoju]

I am very excited about these instructions. I will be building this this morning. Unfortunately, I will say at Lowe's it cost me twice as much for these materials as was stated in the instructions.

[Maeoju]

I am struggling with the final sheet of plastic. I attached it to the greenhouse, but it is a little droopy. I am wondering if I can get some more pointers on attaching this sheet so it will be more tight? Also I am unclear about where/ how the entrance should be.

[jcnightlighter]

Hi, all your links are doing is opening up a site to buy your website domain...

[LeiahM]

This will be destoyed in high winds. If you get high winds were you live do you self a favor and get thicker everything and reinforce where you can. I am now trying again :(

[esbegan]

ooff.. thanks for the tip, I live in Patagonia and we get some really high winds here, specially in summer.

[JustinJ1]

how long did it take to build the green house

[JustinJ1]

how long did it take to build the green house

[SIRJAMES09]

COOL! I love it!

It's a plain, simple, easy to build design.... 8 D

I had built something like this years ago for my chickens, but I use railroad ties & cattle panels for the frame. Over the top of this frame, I bought & used 3 heavy duty insulated tarps that were fastened to the frame with baling wire at the bottom & heavy duty plastic zip ties at the top.

For those that know not what cattle panels are, they are a type of fencing for cattle made from 1/4 inch stel rods welded together. they are (usually) 4 feet tall by 16 feet long. very sturdy, very weather resistant, & very heavy(both in weight & the way they are made).

[Shahinreza]

This is a great instruct able and cheap able. Your steps are really active to build nice

home greenhouse for under $25. I saw a greenhouse company, to get new information about build an easy home greenhouse from that please visit here http://www.engineeredgreenhouses.com/

[Shahinreza]

This is a great instruct able and cheap able. Your steps are really active to build nice

home greenhouse for under $25. I saw a greenhouse company, to get new information about build an easy home greenhouse from that please visit here http://www.engineeredgreenhouses.com/

[Jms_0919]

Thanks for doing this. I have a science fair project that I am doing that I am using plants to complete. This will help big time. It is fall right now and it happens to be due in winter so thanks!

[johanna.waller.56]

Can his be put on a wooden deck or would I need to contain the heat completely? I want to grow tomatoes and cucumbers during the winter in NC. Any suggestions on the best way to grow them based on the greenhouse structure you showed above? I can grow plants, and I can build this gh model. I just don't know what else to put in it i.e. heaters, black containers etc to be successful. Thank you for your help.

[Darth_Reese]

Where am I to get "Visquene or Plastic Sheeting?"

Also, is there a way to seal it air tight?
I want to make a carbon-dioxide hiyperberic chamber, as is it was in the pre-flood era (Yeah, I'm a Christian, and proud of it!)

http://www.genesispark.com/genpark/exper/exper.htm

If any one reads this, you'll know why I want to build one. Think about it! A tomato tree, that can produce over 13,000 tomatoes in it life-span!

To bad I can't have a warehouse sized one. *sigh*

(I hope I did the URL link rightATMOSPHERIC EXPERIMENTS)

[Saint_Awesome]

Better be careful, the Lord may not take kindly to you manipulating His creations in such a scientific manner. Recall that even in Sodom there existed a high level of technology and material comfort abounded, only to allow morality to be corrupted by sin. Remember, the Lord drowned the inhabitants of earth for a REASON! If He meant for this technology to be saved, he'd have told Noah to take it with him.

[PondPlantGirl]

The best place to purchase visquene is at Lowes. They seem to have the best price. You can purchase it in small amounts to very large amounts. It all depends on your needs. The plastic can also be purchased at Home Depot and even online at eBay. The easiest way to make it more air-tight would be to caulk the holes and attach the sheeting to the base of the structure. I choose not to make mine air-tight so that a strong wind will not blow the structure down. Hope this helps! Please remember to tell your friends about me! HAPPY GARDENING GAiL www.thepondplantgirlshow.com

[kittscarmen]

Tis looks like a terrific idea. It is pretty cold in the northeast today, but I will be thinking about this as a way to start my veggies early next spring. Thanks

[PondPlantGirl]

Hey! You are welcome. Cold frames (mini greenhouses) are great for getting that jump start to the spring garden. However, I am working on a design to have a veggie garden year round. Thanks for the nice comment! You can check out more of my videos at www.pondplantgirl.com and at www.youtube.com/user/pondplantgirl :-)