PVC Greenhouses - How to Build One on a Budget

So you've decided you want to make your very own garden greenhouse. Maybe you're feed up with paying too much at the grocery store for produce that tastes like Styrofoam. Or perhaps you really want to start doing you're part to help the environment; maybe you just love getting your hands in a new bag of potting soil and growing stuff from seeds. Check, check, and check. All of these incredible things can be accomplished with your new backyard greenhouse. In this article we will be focusing on how to build a PVC greenhouse, because of their low cost and relative ease to build.

Simply put, these kind of houses give you the most bang for the buck! I want you to think of your new greenhouse as a perpetual "plant growing" factory, because that's exactly what it is! Essentially all you need is some PVC piping, plastic sheeting, a few boards (for the foundation and door frame), a few simple tools, and Presto, you're ready to go. Sound too easy? Well, it really is. So let's begin by addressing a fundamental consideration, namely- what is best style of greenhouse for your situation.

The first thing you need to do is consider the area you have to work with. If you have enough space to accommodate a hoop style greenhouse, then your PVC greenhouse design is going to be a cinch. A 10x10 greenhouse is a good size for most backyards. And in my experience, a weekends worth of work is usually plenty of time to make a top-notch hoop house; shorter if you have a little help. The kids perhaps?

Along with the actual physical dimensions of the house, you want to also think about where this new Garden of Eden will be located in your yard. Obviously sunlight is the driving force behind any successful greenhouse operation, so think accordingly. A good rule of thumb is to place your greenhouse in a location that will get at least six hours of direct sun a day, but that still receives a little shade towards the middle of the day. You want your greenhouse to get warm, but not too warm...unless you want to focus on growing tropical plants. The reason is that for the most part plants love to be warm during the day, and cool at night. Most veggies like it to quite cold at night.

Because PVC greenhouse plans are rather simple to follow, and construct (not to mention inexpensive), don't hesitate to go for something a bit grander than your average hoop house. Remember, PVC is cheap, so you can build a house that is larger, and still pay only a fraction of what traditional greenhouses and kits cost. You can go as low-fi as a cold frame greenhouse; though these are usually made of an aluminum or wood frame, they are still easily built using PVC piping. Or you could opt for something a bit grander like a big hoop house able to grow large amounts of plant life in one area-- in the style of a traditional, but with a plastic covering and piping instead of glass and a traditional framework.

From there, you'll need to price and collect the building materials for your structure. There are just as many products out there as there are PVC house ideas. Take a look at what kind of PVC piping you'll need, the type of connectors (T-shaped or cross sections), and especially what kind of covering is perfect for the framework you intend to erect. There are also a number of products that are suited best for PVC houses that will allow your plants to flourish beautifully. Think about what kind of temperature and pest controls you want to incorporate. For instance, if you live in a very humid area, you'll probably need to incorporate a decent pesticide into the routine --eco-friendly, of course-- and a ventilation system that will continuously circulate fresh air into your greenhouse.

There are so many options for your PVC greenhouse that it may seem a bit overwhelming. However, if you take your time and think about the options rationally, you're sure to come up with the right option for a PVC greenhouse that meets your specific requirements, i.e. the kind of stuff you want to grow. Just remember that what ever you choose, your plants come first. If they tend to thrive in warm weather, think about products that will keep the air nice and warm --and vice versa for cool climate plants.

Of course there's a lot more to it than one article could ever cover, but this is an excellent start. I wish you much success in your new greenhouse venture. Take it from me: The rewards far outweigh the initial sweat equity needed to build one...so get to it!

Article Source: EzineArticles.com