Raised Bed Greenhouse
We would like to put up a greenhouse, but for the time being, we do not have one. We’ve been researching crops you can plant early, and found that the brassicas are very frost and cold tolerant. In fact, they do not like heat.
We started a flat of brassicas at the end of January, and have had to pot them up already. They are to the point where they need to get in the ground. With the warm winter we’ve had, we decided that rather than just potting them up again, we’d plant them in the raised bed across the driveway. We toyed with just putting some kind of cold frame over it, but saw something similar to the one we built.
Start of the PVC Frame
The raised bed is about 8 feet by 3 feet, with a 2×6 rail around the top. I made the dimensions of the greenhouse top to fit just outside of the opening, about 1 inch larger on each side.
PVC Frame
I did not glue the PVC fittings, but used a clamp to force the fittings onto the pipe as tightly as possible. This allows it to be disassembled, but is very stable.
I used 4 mil plastic sheeting to cover the frame, wrapped around the frame bottom, and taped to itself on the inside with clear packing tape. This tape did not stick very well, so we will see how it holds up. I did not want to use duct tape, but may have to use it if the packing tape does not hold up.
Greenhouse Top
It is attached to the back of the raised bed rail using single hole 3/4″ conduit clamps as hinges. I used 3.
Conduit Clamp
These clamps allow the top to hinge open for access to the bed.
Greenhouse Top Open
We ended up planting all of the brassicas in there, and that bed is full. We’ll see how they do this early in the year.
Planted Raised Bed
Raised Bed Greenhouse
Products used in this article:
- Schedule 40 PVC Pipe, 1/2 inch – 6 – 10′ lengths
- Schedule 40 PVC Slip 3-Way Elbow – 1/2 inch: 4
- Schedule 40 PVC Slip Tee – 1/2 inch: 8
- Schedule 40 PVC Slip Cross – 1/2 inch: 3
- Schedule 40 PVC 45 Degree Slip Elbow – 1/2 inch: 20
- Plastic Sheeting – 6 mil: 14′ x 9′
- Conduit Clamp – 3/4 inch, one hole
Thanks for viewing! I hope you’ve found this information useful.
