How to Make a Greenhouse Using PVC Pipe

Using PVC pipe reinforced with rebar, you can quickly and easily build a greenhouse. This type of greenhouse is relatively secure, but not considered a permanent structure. In areas with mild winters, you can safely grow many plants in a greenhouse like this all winter long. In areas with more severe winters, this type of a greenhouse is erected directly over the garden and can be used to extend the growing season in fall or start it earlier in spring. These plans are for a greenhouse that is 12 feet by 6 feet, but you can make it any size you like by adding additional PVC/rebar hoops or changing the length of the PVC/rebar hoops.

Things You'll Need

• 4 wooden stakes and string
• Post hole digger
• 8 8-foot lengths of PVC pipes
• Straight line connectors for PVC pipes
• 8 12-foot lengths of rebar rods
• 4-mil plastic sheeting 18 feet wide by at least 14 feet long
• 6 6-foot lengths of 2-inch by 2-inch lumber
• Staple gun
• 16 PVC pipe sleeve-type clamps (4 clamps per PVC/rebar hoop)

Instructions

1. Pound in a stake at the corners of the site of your proposed greenhouse. This greenhouse is 12 foot by 6 foot rectangle (a rectangular shape is best for a greenhouse). Run a string from stake to stake to use as a guide.

2. Using the string line from Step 1 as a guide, dig a hole 2-feet deep with the post hole digger at every corner and every 4 feet along the two long sides of the rectangle.

3. Insert a piece of rebar into each hole and backfill with soil. Firm the soil with your foot.

4. Slip a section of PVC pipe over each of the pieces of rebar.

5. Fit a PVC straight line connector over the end of each of the PVC pipes on one side of the greenhouse.

6. Insert the PVC pipes on the opposite side into their corresponding straight line connector that is already installed on the PVC pipes on the other side.

7. Drape the plastic over the hoops formed with the rebar-reinforced PVC pipes, from the ground level on one side to ground level on the other side. Secure the plastic to the hoops with 4 PVC sleeve-type clamps on each hoop.

8. Staple the plastic sheeting to the 2-inch by 2-inch lumber to secure the plastic sides and keep them from flapping in the wind. Lay the 2 x 2s on the ground next to the PVC pipes. These are the walls of your greenhouse.

9. Fasten sheets of plastic to the ends of the greenhouse to close in the ends. Use PVC pipe sleeve-type clamps to secure the plastic to the end hoop of PVC. Attach the bottom of the plastic ends to 2-inch by 2-inch lumber with staples. Lift the 2-inch by 2-inch piece of wood that secures the plastic side wall to access your PVC pipe greenhouse.

References

• PVC pipe greenhouses