I spent the morning building the first of the mini-greenhouses for my winter garden. . This unit is 4' wide x 8' long x 44" tall, is made out of 2x3's and has hinged roof panels. As I was building it I thought it might be too big making it difficult to reach inside to harvest or plant, but now that it is finished I am very pleased with how it turned out. Each roof panel is wide enough to allow room to easily reach inside. All four roof panels are hinged so there is access from both sides.
While the temps are still above freezing I am using row covers to protect the plants. I purchased some greenhouse film that I will install later this month as the nigh-time temps begin to drop. I am considering attaching the film to panels so I can easily remove them in the spring and go back to using row covers (for seedlings). In the summer I plan on leaving the mini-greenhouse in the garden (without covering) for the plants to grow inside, but I've constructed the mini-greenhouse in sections so I can easily break it down and store in the shed.
I have posted the basic plan if anyone is interested in building one. Click here to download.
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Very nice! Using your plans we've constructed one. We are thinking of making 2 sets of hinged tops, one with the greenhouse film for winter and one with shade cloth for summer so we can keep using it for cold crops.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jodi! I am also thinking about adding automatic vent openers as well!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the cold frame design and all the helpful ideas that go with it. Your plan has been downloaded and I am hoping to get something put together this summer....we'll see how it goes.
ReplyDeleteYou have some wonderful garden ideas and advice. Thanks for sharing!
You are welcome, I'm glad to help!
Delete~Rob
I really like this little 4x8 greenhouse. I live in Florida and have a rabit that free roams my back yard. My purpose in telling you this is I would like to build a little greenhouse like this to grow some veggies protected from the wrath of the Plato (my bunny). Do you think my garden would survive the Florida heat if I used screen instead of plastic as a cover? Any help would be great!!
ReplyDeleteIf you cover it with screen or even chicken wire it should work just fine because it will have plenty of ventilation. I've used mine through the summer with row cover instead of plastic, to keep the pests off the plants, and they grew great.Hope this helps.
Delete~Rob
Thanks for the advice... And the mini greenhouse plans. I really like your site. Expect to hear from me again. :)
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, and thank you!
DeleteThank you SO much for these plans. I need to build some frames that can survive being kitteh climbing frames as well as extending my growing season and protecting my veges from insect pests. These will do the trick perfectly, with various coverings. THANKS!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome. I have been using these for years with both plastic covering and row covers, they work really well.
DeleteTHANK YOU THANK YOU for these plans. They are exactly what I need.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE these plans and they are exactly what I was looking to do to cover my 4x4 raised beds for the winter. Quick questions: How many 2x3's are needed and is there a 'cut list' available with these plans? THANKS!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I do have full plans with cut lists, materials lists and assembly instructions available in my etsy store. Just click on the link in the side bar.
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