Build a PVC Greenhouse

[MrMunchiemo]

Where at in Tallahassee?

[ericlovv]

Great video. This inspired me to build my own. I altered it a little, but worked great throughout the winter. I had trouble keeping it heated during the winter. I only used one layer of plastic, 4 mil. I will try the rocket stove and two layers of plastic this winter.

[441rider]

Got my poly up to 80f today, solo set-up so more a pup tent structure. Just set up the pond and pump for the freshwater crayfish! Nice job, make sure some anoles get in there to control bugs. :o)

[LoveeiCherlyia376]

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[zonkozonko]

Great Video so much information given those yellow plastic snap hooks look really useful. "OK" we know you are using those 4 inch diameter pipes to grow giant carrots? Seen it done here in Britain.

[gigi4u5]

Has anyone told you that you sound like George Bush, Jr.? Great setup :)

[anelphabet]

useful info

[ricglos]

that took a lot of work im proud of you for having the patiience to do a project of this size . this is the first vid ive seen of yours and you have a lot of real good ideas, everything looks good ,dont greenhouses need some sort of ventilation? GOOD VID!

[rotoclip]

thanks for sharing,i'm from northern wis.

[preytec]

great build, thanks for sharing this. however i do have a question, most old greenhouses have clear glass, why are you not using clear plastic? i've seen this type of greenhouses in the shops too and they are using a non-clear plastic, why is that?

[Chroniclogical420]

i cant believe i didnt think of this lol good job, the ladie i live with wants a greenhouse and the ones you buy at stores are so expencive and yet so poorly made, this is top notch compared to them.

[MsWaxqueen]

where did you get the plastic from?

[cortezcortez007]

Good stuff! I wonder how your frame would work with some sort of plastic panelling. Perhaps you'd cut the cost of a green house kit in half if you only needed the panelling.

[pewing99]

Check out farmtek for the wide 6mil UV covering. I am looking at making a 12'x96' (20' of arch) hoophouse and the twenty foot wide rolls are $2.29/ft.

[traptfan777]

Nice job on your greenhouse.Also thanks for showing in detail really helpful i also live in florida.Plan to start on mine soon.

[traptfan777]

Nice job on your greenhouse.Also thanks for showing in detail really helpful i also live in florida.Plan to start on mine soon.

[odmcarp]

nice job on the greenhouse. what's a flood drain hydro phonic system?

[konefka]

I've seen several youtube video's on building a cheap but well done house. This is the best so far. I loved the way you did it....great shots so we can duplicate your success. Thank You, Thank You for taking the time! I can do this.

[doyouseewhatisee2010]

i like it. i hope that NATIONAL PIPE AND PLASTICS INC pipe

[ThanksgivingWalk]

Nice video.  Very detailed; loved all your narrating.

Thanks for posting.

[driftmaniaS15]

use fiberglass.

[hashbury09]

wicked  man lets live with out the system

[beatle0922]

you can do that very easily,but takes alot of work.

[stonecoldjason]

From altha florida here

[jihadacadien]

That is a nice build!

[chappyk35]

Dave: What plastic did you end up using in the end? I just bought regular 6 mil plastic

[davetidwell]

Tried both 4 mil and 6mil....  4 mil lasted 6 months, and 6 mil only 3 months (maybe the heat got the 6 mil) The stuff fails on the creases from being folded... When I run out of plastic, or patience, I plan to purchase UV protected plastic... Expensive, but rated for 3 or 4 years....

Dave

[xxx777aaa]

hey genius! too hot for most plants in the greenhouse eh? ive heard of that lately online, but i thought of a way u may have thought of already, use a lil thermostat in there to keep a steady temp, either run off house power, low voltage fan and t-stat+ maybe a solar powered fan t-stat setup..

what do u think about that sir?

[davetidwell]

I was using a 20" box fan that I controlled with a timer... started the fan around noon and shutdown around 7:00P Tried evap (swamp cooler) concept, but too humid... just got everything wet.

[eeleimmij]

use a can fan to cool down the inside....herbs love that.

[palui]

are you using uv protected plastic? the plastic should last, at minimum, 2-3 years. regular hardware store 6mil plastic will break down in a few months under direct sun.

[davetidwell]

NO, but could not find anything on the web wide enough.. and the uv stuff is pricey... I'm considering purchasing a greenhouse kit from Lowes or Harbour Freight. Another reader here in Tallahassee purchased the Harbour Freight greenhouse, but I never did hear what he thought about the construction..

[azpaulnow]

@davetidwell

I bought the larger harbor Freight Kit. It is a cheap aluminum and if you have any wind, it will fold in on it's self. Mine got destroyed while in the process of setting it up. We had a micro burst come through and bend the entire structure over with out the Panels installed. It was just the frame. I am now considering this style. We wasted $700 on the Harbor Freight one.

[drimportracing]

How did the 4mil plastic hold up this past year? What would you do different if you ha to build another one? - Dale

[davetidwell]

Dale the 4mil plastic installed around the end of 2008 lasted 6 months. I then installed 6mil and it lasted only 2 months. May have been the heat ? The plastic failes along the crease lines. I just replaced the plastic with 4mil. What I've learned in north florida no way to cool down the inside during the summer, too hot for most plants.. Have not worked out to economically heat same for this winter.

[brianwesley28]

@davetidwell

If I could make a recommendation in regard to the heating in the winter? I believe that this method may provide enough heat to assist in Florida, as opposed to Kansas where I live (I work on these things in my head...still working it out)? There is a composting method called the Indore method and composting through a clear plastic produces heat and CO2. If you were to utilize this method along the external periphery and vent it into the greenhouse, it may help, plus add CO2.

[brianwesley28]

@brianwesley28

In addition, one could also utilize a passive heating method consisting of something like black steel drums, filled with water, in the interior. Black attracts and collects more of the longer wavelengths from the sun's rays and it would heat the water during the day, while gradually releasing the stored heat into the greenhouse, at night. Just a couple of ideas. If I ever get any land, I have a lot of good ideas to put into practice. In the meantime, I work on them in my head.

[Brzzi]

Wide hook & loop [Velcro] would also work to secure it in places ... just reinforce the area with heavy tape before sticking the velcro on.

[wizardangel]

thanks for sharing ,,cool yellow snaps !! I do live in Tornado ally and going to try some short small raised bed boxes with plastic toppers ..sometimes you can bond layers of plastic into a heavy seam with a towel on plastics and a hot old fashion clothes iron --a video store was closeing and I got the 6x4x1 wooden shelves ,recycleing the trash for this project -a few boxes plastic topped for short hight crops and seedling starters the goal..short might holdup to our windy spells I hope.

[kryptiea]

replacing the plastic looks like a big hassle

[davetidwell]

With two people, and using a air powered staple gun, takes about two hours... The first time you put up the plastic it is kind of interesting, the second and third time were no fun.

[jims72]

The pvc works very well

[nrky2]

Overall, how much do you estimate the whole structure (Frame and plastic, not the benches) would weigh? I'd like to make something similar in Melbourne, Australia, however we get some pretty nasty winds here in winter, that can blow the roof off of a tin shed, hahah!

[davetidwell]

Just a guess, five 12' treated 2X4's around 100 lbs. Rest of the stuff 35 lbs. When I was building, some wind came along and almost made my building turn into a kit. You need to anchor things. Also when it is totally enclosed, not much of a problem. I am a bit concerned since I put screen wire on the back side. Wind maybe a problem for me, but no issues yet.

[nrky2]

Ahh, so I take it that you don't live in the 'hurricane/tornado belt' or whatever it's called.

You might want to look into getting some counterweights, ie. just rope off a few cinderblocks, or tie to that tree a few metres away, etc.

[nrky2]

Did you get the PVC piping pre-bent, or did it curve naturally when you put it into place? What are you going to use for ventilation into the greenhouse? I noticed you had the plastic pretty well shoved under the benches there, that wouldn't leave much room for air to get in, no?

[davetidwell]

1/2 inch electrical conduit bends very easy. Check out my last video on cooling. I removed the plastic on the end and covered with screen wire. Also have 21" box fan mounted in the other end which is on a timer.

[annaleah6740]

plastic works fine. You don't need the sun blazing on the plants you need the heat from the sun. His design is fine.

[pgm98387]

Thanks for sharing!

[NOSMOJEFF]

great video we are seeing allot of people getting into hoop houses (green house) then they build hydroponic or aquaponics inside or simply grow in the soil.

By the way I had 6 MIL plastic on a metal frame green house and 2008 we had bad 75-90 mph storm and it never impacted the plastic, wind blew right over it and I was breathing a sigh after that ;)

[VicHerbert]

cool man,Sweet ass video,this is the exact frame I'm gonna build. What TASTY BUD strains do you plan on growing?

[nsane87]

Dude, that's awesome! I was thinking of building a greenhouse with a wood frame, pretty similiar, did you decide to go with pvc because of the cost or what? How much did all this stuff cost you total? Great vid, I'd like to see the hydro system if you get it put together!

[davetidwell]

I did not track my cost, but I would guess the pvc structure and plastic cover without the tables, etc maybe less than $200.00

I'm working on the hydroponics, testing pump flows, etc. Next trip to Home Depot I'll try to check pricing on the wood and plastic and include in my next video. Thanks for your comments.

[dethheart]

great job how much do you figure you spent on that?