greenhouse plans

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Does anyone have any plans or know where to get them for a greenhouse that is made from pvc pipe and greenhouse plastic?

cher

-- Cher Rovang (fullcircle@nidlink.com), November 25, 2000

Answers

Try:

http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/programs/extension/publicat/postharv/green/sma ll_greenhouse.pdf

I used to have another good site bookmarked, but I can't find it now.

==>paul

-- paul (p@ledgewood-consulting.com), November 25, 2000.


Cher, There are some drawbacks to using pvc. We constructed one here in North Alabama for use this winter, it never made it. The structure collapsed in 30 mph gusts. PVC does not make for sturdy support. Next time, I intend to use aluminum tubing. Also pvc will become brittle when exposed to repeated temp cycles making more vulnerable to wind damage.

-- Jay Blair (jayblair678@yahoo.com), November 25, 2000.

I agree with Jay. My husband tried all winter to keep a pvc pipe green house up. If it wasn't blowing down, the snow was bringing it down. We are going to try the cattle panel hoop houses instead. Possibly two panels wide with a ridge pole and a peak, but I still think it will be sturdier than the pvc.

-- Kathleen Sanderson (stonycft@worldpath.net), November 26, 2000.

Cher, I think the advice on just using pvc is sound, it won't last well. I tried using 1/2" electrical conduit pvc with 1/2" rebar placed inside it, much stronger but broke at the pvc joints. Usinf the one piece 20' pvc bow house design shown at North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service and a wood center beam like on floridagardner.com design, it seems like a much better design. Also, Missippi State Extension Service has a number of designs, for wood, might be able to adapt to pvc. As for plastic covering materials, I found this one that might be of interest, greenhousegarden.com. there are other sites for planning passive solar gains from rock verses water barrels and solar paths for considering winter solar exposure and etc. I haven't gotten to build mine yet, but collecting info. toward that goal.

-- Gene (shafteryachtclub@yahoo.com), November 26, 2000.

cher, from what i hear greenhouse plastic is very expensive.i work at a dump(part time,just for "the goodies").a guy that comes up there has a full blown greenhouse business.in talkin' to him i found that they change the plastic every year or 2.i'm gettin my plastic late next spring.might not help much for next years planting season but the one after that should be good .you should find a guy like him in your area. good luck fred

-- fred in wi (sixuvusmeyers@aol.com), November 26, 2000.


Hi Cher,

I did a greenhouse with 1/2" pvc and plastic 2 years ago. It did just fine, but the plastic gave out as soon as temps got a bit high. I used cinder blocks with T posts driven on the outside as supports for the pvc and had to put in a grade to the roof after a massive downpour but it did work out allright for very little time and money.

For a temporary thing I think it's fine, but it should be protected from high wind as much as possible. I think a lot depends on your climate as well. Good luck!

-- Doreen (animalwaitress@excite.com), November 26, 2000.


I too was considering the PVC pipe / plastic sheeting greenhouse (based on the North Carolina plans), but am now rethinking it... was at Lowes the other day and they had "greenhouse" grade roofing panels for $14 / a sheet (26 inches x 8 feet). Made me start thinking about maybe a wood frame on 2 foot centers, and just bite the bullet and pay for the siding... chief benifit being a sturdier building and a much longer life span on the covering (I think it had a 10 year warranty on it). Additonal pluss would be 1) I wouldn't "lose" as much if any space against the walls, since I could actually make it an 8 foot high outer wall with a 10 foot peak, 2) could securely mount an exhaust fan, mister heads, electric, etc. and not have to worry about it blowing down, and 3) I think it would be much better looking, and since I was thinking about putting it where it would be failry visible from the road, this is a major consideration for the wife and I.

-- Eric in TN (eric_m_stone@yahoo.com), November 27, 2000.

Steel lined PVC and corrugated plastic sheets from Farm Wholesale is what we have.Works great,including keeping down the summer heat buildup. Look at www.farmwholesale.com

-- sharon wt (wildflower@ekyol.com), November 27, 2000.

I was just looking at PVC plans myself. After reading some of your responses I'm not sure if I should attempt one or not. Here's the web address in case you are still looking. http://www.jps.net/circo/greenhouse.htm

-- Tammy (creekrowtx@aol.com), May 18, 2001.

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