Do It Yourself Greenhouse (for $20)

Everybody loves a greenhouse, but not always a green house. Greenhouse gardening has its own feel like no other because it is like being indoor and outside at the same time. Indoor gardening is not possible for everyone and a greenhouse can be expensive, requires space, and takes time to build. However, you can build a greenhouse and start greenhouse gardening with this $20 do-it-yourself greenhouse. This greenhouse project is simple, low cost, and can be put away for the winter. Take a look at my project and I''ll show you how to build a $20 do-it-yourself greenhouse with pvc pipe, some free plastic, and about two hours of time.

Last year I started planting late in the season, but this year I got off to a very early start with this $20 do-it-yourself greenhouse. The plastic cover was free from a plastic medical bag maker. They must throw away the excess material so they are all too happy to give away anything they cannot use. The PVC pipe is schedule 40 and cost about $20 for the pieces plus the glue. Most of the pieces can pop out so the entire greenhouse can be broken down and stored flat against the garage wall for the winter. However, if I wanted to make it more permanent, a wooden front and back with a door could be added. Also, holding screws could be added to the hoops to secure the plastic. String or wire could be added inside to add further rigidity. There are all sorts of ideas that could be added. This one is about 4.5' high and about 11' x 5' at the base; the sticks were cut at 5' each which would create a 10' long base, but the adapters and fittings add the extra 12". Overall, this is a good quick way to setup a low-cost green house.

Below is the vent pipe made from the core of the plastic roll.

This is the junction where the center brace meets the base. This junction is made with two "T" pieces. The "T" pieces are welded with a .5" piece of pvc pipe between them (not visible) cut from scrap pipe. The entire base is only glued laterally so the hoops will not push the base apart, but the hoops are not glued into the base. I could also glue the base length parts and then just hang the entire base on the wall for storage, but in this instance, the base length pieces can be removed for more compact storage.

This image shows the right side of the back hoop and how it enters into the base. You can see that it is simply a "T" united with a 90 degree elbow. The elbow is glued to both the "T" and to the lateral cross member to keep the tension of the hoop from popping out the lateral cross member piece.

This image shows the top of the hoop interfaced to the top brace. Only the "T" and the hoop are glued. The top horizontal brace is not glued and can pop out for disassembly. So far, I have not had any problems with the top braces (nor the bottom length pieces) popping out on their own.

This image shows the central cross adapter as the interface for the center hoop and top braces.

The entire Do-it-yourself greenhouse project required about an hour or so to assemble; not counting wait time for the glue.

This next image shows the result of my efforts and no, the one on the lower left is not what you think it is; it's a tomato plant: