Is there an inexpensive way to build a greenhouse?

Marlene Gray
by Marlene Gray

Well, you can call me a cheapskate if you want, but I need to save money where I can. Our growing season is pretty short up here at 8,000 feet. my tomatoes never quite get a chance to ripen before the cooler weather sets in. I see a lot of greenhouses on "sale", but I can buy a lot of farmers' market tomatoes for the price. I'd really like to grow my own. Does anyone have some suggestions?

  8 answers
  • Dfm Dfm on Jul 28, 2018

    The least expensive is a grow tunnel. Itā€™s made with a thicker plastic sheeting, black mulch film, and 1/2 inch pvc pipes, metal tent spikes


    the black plastic help with warmth.you take the pvc pipe and arch it across the plastic. It should be. Mounted on the metal stakes. Put the second pvc pipe next to it and on the stake. Continue with the 2 side by side pipes every 4 feet until you get to the end of the length of the black plastic.


    next, put the clear plastic sheet across the hoops, making sure it hits the ground on each side. The third pvc pipe goes over the plastic sheeting that the hoops are holding up. It acts like a clamp to hold the plastic in place. You need to close the ends..I just gathered the extra plastic and tied a string around plastic ends. To ventilate the hoop tunnel you can slide the plastic up during the day, let it down at night..and put a red brick or or 2 on it. Hope this helps.

  • Marlene Gray Marlene Gray on Jul 29, 2018

    Wow! Thank you!! I'm gonna give this a shot.

  • Dfm Dfm on Jul 29, 2018

    creeping charlie took over my yard, i had to dismantle it to get charlie under control. i did get the original directions from a web site- about 8 years ago. yup....there are a few ways to do it.


    i typed in "pvc low tunnel greenhouse" several methods pop up. pick the one that fits your pocket book.

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  • Dfm Dfm on Jul 29, 2018

    found a video from you tube-there are a few of them actually, but im a ludite. i have no idea on to post it for you.

  • Dfm Dfm on Aug 01, 2018

    how to build a low tunnel-mother of a hubbard


    www.motherofahubbard.com/how-to-build-a-low-tunnel

  • Dfm Dfm on Aug 01, 2018

    i wish i had a picture... i cant seem to locate the instructions i used.

  • Dfm Dfm on Aug 01, 2018

    unfortunately, no photos. in order to get rid of cheeping charlie, i took all garden structures down.

  • Thelma Thelma on Aug 01, 2018

    We made a greenhouse out of an old swing set. Simply bolt 2x4's along both sides of the top metal bar, one on both long sides across the middle of the legs {running the same way as the top ones}, and one on both long sides about 4" from the bottom of the legs. Now, enclose the entire thing with clear sheets - the kind that is used on roofs to let the light through - being sure to install a door on both ends. Ours works great, I start my seeds in January in individual 6" round peat pots, when the plants are good and strong (about 6" high), I move them out into the greenhouse. I use straw as insulation in the greenhouse and also have a very small electric heater in there so just in case the weather gets real cold the heater will automatically kick on and keep the plants from freezing. They are large and blooming by the time I transplant them into the garden. Best of all, there is never any transplant shock or setback because the peat pot remains on each plant and turns into fertilizer after it is under ground. Oh yes, our greenhouse sits up against our house on the south side so that helps keep the cold north wind off it. Hope this helps! Happy Gardening.