How To Build a Mini Greenhouse
Ranked #1,120 in Home & Garden, #14,863 overall
Let's Get Those Seeds Started
It's Almost Time to get your plants growing. The weather is not cooperating and the temperatures are still dropping below freezing. This is when you have the great idea to build a greenhouse. The only problem is you don't have and extra money in your budget. That is where a little creativity comes in handy.
For the next few weeks you only have to get the plants started. You just have to get the seeds into the ground or at least into some soil. By the time they sprout, the weather will be more hospitable. You need to build a small, cheap greenhouse. The following are a couple of ways to build them.
The next two videos I made to show how easy it was to make a little greenhouse made from scrap and trash. If you want to watch my other gardening videos, run over to roberttgasperson.blip.tv.
For the next few weeks you only have to get the plants started. You just have to get the seeds into the ground or at least into some soil. By the time they sprout, the weather will be more hospitable. You need to build a small, cheap greenhouse. The following are a couple of ways to build them.
The next two videos I made to show how easy it was to make a little greenhouse made from scrap and trash. If you want to watch my other gardening videos, run over to roberttgasperson.blip.tv.
Mini Greenhouse Pt1
Recycling your soda bottles
I was looking for a way to start some of my plants early, before the last frost of the winter. I needed a cold frame, a mini greenhouse. I didn't want to buy one. I wanted to make one from materials that I already had on hand. This video is the first of two I made to show you how I built a Mini Greenhouse. This part shows you how to harvest plastic from two liter bottles.
Two liter bottles are amazing things. They hold a lot of pressure when filled with a carbonated drink. They are completely recyclable and they can be reused to hold just about any liquid (I would not store Gasoline in a plastic bottle. I had one melt on me from the gasoline when I was trying to clean paint brushes one time. Learned the hard way.)The plastic they are made from are extremely rigid and can be a challenge to work with.
Two liter bottles are amazing things. They hold a lot of pressure when filled with a carbonated drink. They are completely recyclable and they can be reused to hold just about any liquid (I would not store Gasoline in a plastic bottle. I had one melt on me from the gasoline when I was trying to clean paint brushes one time. Learned the hard way.)The plastic they are made from are extremely rigid and can be a challenge to work with.
curated content from YouTube
Mini Greenhouse Pt2
Attaching the Soda Bottle Plastic to a Frame
Here is the second part of the videos I put together showing you how to make a cold-frame out of stuff you can find around the house. I built a wooden frame and attached the plastic from the first video to the top of it making an effective cold-frame. It is a small little frame. I guess you could make it as large as you wanted depending on your application and the size of your plastic.
There may be gaps between your plastic strips. I find if you tape them with a good clear packaging tape, you will be able to keep all the warmth in.
There may be gaps between your plastic strips. I find if you tape them with a good clear packaging tape, you will be able to keep all the warmth in.
curated content from YouTube
The Complete Guide to Building Your Own Greenhouse
A Complete Step-by-Step Guide (Back-To-Basics)
I think this book is a great one to have in your library if you desire a greenhouse in your garden. If tells you everything you need to have a greenhouse, how to build that greenhouse and what to grow in your greenhouse. Take a few minutes to go to amazon.com and view the first few pages for free.
The Complete Guide to Building Your Own Greenhouse: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide (Back-To-Basics)
Amazon Price: $15.94 (as of 05/26/2012)
List Price: $24.95
Used Price: $14.98
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
My $3 Greenhouse Coldframe
Easy and Affordable, What's Better Than That?
In early February of 2012 I noticed we were not having a very cold winter. In fact my apple trees were already putting out their flowers. So I thought it would be a good idea to start some of my gardening.
I went to the local box hardware store and looked around for something that might make a good cold frame or greenhouse. I thought about building one out of 2x4s and a clear plastic drop-cloth.
I went to the local box hardware store and looked around for something that might make a good cold frame or greenhouse. I thought about building one out of 2x4s and a clear plastic drop-cloth.
curated content from YouTube
How Does Your Garden Grow?
What is Your Preference
I want to know how you prefer to plant your annual garden.
Loading poll. Please Wait...
When the Frost is Gone
Unless you live in the far North, you should be ready to plant your garden before Easter gets here. By the time Easter arrives you should be ready to get all your seeds and plants in the ground. I have always used Easter as the point of no return. It is the last day I will plant something new unless it is like pole beans or my fall garden.
Countdown to Planting on Easter
Planting on Easter: March 31, 2013
Build a Milk Jug Greenhouse
This one is quick and easy.
The next video is one I put together based on an idea I found in a magazine. It has been an easy way to start your seeds and I thought I would go ahead and get a few of my broccoli started. All I need is an empty milk jug, a little soil and some seeds.
curated content from YouTube
Use a Glass Jar
Another idea for a mini Greenhouse
The next few videos are plans made by other people. I thought they were important enough to show you. Take a minute to watch them and maybe you will find something useful for your own back yard.
I like this one because you really don't have to do any prep work.
I like this one because you really don't have to do any prep work.
curated content from YouTube
Pick Up a Gardening T-Shirt
Wearing your Gardening Hobby
I found some Great T-Shirts for the at-home or backyard gardener I thought if we state out feeling about gardening at home, maybe more people will want to think about taking up the hobby. Let's face it. Gardening is something that everyone needs to learn how to do. Not only does it relieve stress, but it also takes us one step closer to self-sustainability. Take a look at the shirts below and support the artists if you like one or more of them. Keep on Gardening.
Use an Aquarium
You Can See the Difference
I love this guy's survival podcast. In this video, he shows you the difference it makes when you cover your plants in the cold months with some kind of cold frame; something that will keep the heat in.
curated content from YouTube
My Other Gardening Lenses
I write a lot about Gardening
Greenhouse Books
You Might be interested in these.
I think every gardener needs a small library of gardening books. There is always going to be times when you are going to need information to help you grow something you didn't know you needed. Then you can pull one of these books off the shelf and look up what you need to know about.
Greenhouse Videos
This is How Other People Start Their Plants
I like to hang out on YouTube and search for gardening videos, watching people growing their own plants, their own vegetables. I like to see the inventive ways people come up with to start their plants inside or under some sort of mini greenhouse.
automatically generated by YouTube
Watch 10x12 Greenhouse Assymbly
All at Super Fast Speed
I found this time lapse video interesting. They assembled a large greenhouse in a few days. I think if you have the space for it on your property a greenhouse is a great thing to invest in if you like to garden. You can save a lot of money as well if you take the time to put it together yourself.
curated content from YouTube
Mini Greenhouse Blog Posts
- Ohio EPA Awards Mini Grant To Spanish Immersion School
- The grant will provide tools and supplies for a quarter-acre learning garden and greenhouse for hands-on learning experiences about ecosystems, wildlife habitat, food production and composting. The school will incorporate lessons from Project WILD, ...
- Do it yourself hobby: How to build your own small portable mini green house
- A mini green house can be a great way to extend the growing season of your garden. Find out how to build your own by reading this informative article! Whether you are a patio gardener, or you raise plants on a larger scale in a tilled up plot in your ...
- How to get rid of scales on Zamia, thrips on gardenias
- You can use your mini greenhouse to root just about any plant with stems, 4- to 6-inch cuttings of "green wood" (new spring growth) forms roots the quickest. Need help? Dr. Hort (Greg Charles) answers questions about garden problems.
- A wee, whimsical hobby
- The tiny landscapes Chris and Nancy Iott build at their greenhouse in rural Ward enchant visitors. ?I'm amazed how many people are drawn to them,? Chris says. Miniature gardens sit on a table, don't require a lot of maintenance and allow gardening ...
Tell me About Your Mini Greenhouse
-
-
jmatts1
Apr 3, 2012 @ 4:02 pm | delete
- Cool lens. I don't have room for a greenhouse right now but I'd love to have one in the future.
-
-
-
beaworkathomemom
Mar 24, 2012 @ 11:21 pm | delete
- Nice lens! I think your ideas are great and very practical. The videos are great as well thanks for sharing!
-
-
-
AlokaRuwanpathirana
Mar 24, 2012 @ 8:47 am | delete
- Sweet! I have doubts about my current greenhouse, now I can do better with your Ideas. Thanks for the lens.
-
-
-
aquarian_insight
Mar 24, 2012 @ 7:42 am | delete
- I live in a flat, so mine would have to be very mini indeed. I know my mother wants one, so I'll be forwarding this lens to her - great info here. Thank you.
-
-
-
favored1
Mar 23, 2012 @ 9:04 pm | delete
- I've found some good ideas that I'm going to try. Nicely done. Squid Angel Blessed.
-
-
-
flycatcher
Mar 23, 2012 @ 9:55 am | delete
- My old greenhouse is reaching the end of its lifecycle, and I have been thinking that a few mini greenhouses would be a good replacement for the one big one - thanks for this excellent information!
-
-
-
veryirie
Mar 23, 2012 @ 12:16 am | delete
- Haven't actually constructed a mini greenhouse yet, but you've given me some excellent ideas. :)
-
-
-
ToroLeafBlower
Mar 22, 2012 @ 2:15 pm | delete
- The Greenhouse assembly video reminds me of the time I helped my dad set up a small glass aluminium framed greenhouse many years ago, we used old railway sleepers as a base boy they took some shifting! but a very solid platform.
-
-
-
Ribolov
Mar 22, 2012 @ 12:29 pm | delete
- Nice lens, great pictures and a lot of good informations. Thnx for this lens!
-
-
-
earthybirthymama
Mar 22, 2012 @ 8:38 am | delete
- Great Lense, Avid gardener' here! Thanks for all the information. Many Blessings.
Cheers
Grace
-
-
-
kohtaoisland
Mar 21, 2012 @ 11:48 pm | delete
- mini but awesome idea!
-
-
-
pyngthyngs
Mar 21, 2012 @ 8:53 pm | delete
- I don't have one, YET! This looks like an amazing resource for information on how to build your own greenhouse.
-
-
-
lasertek
Mar 21, 2012 @ 8:35 pm | delete
- Great info! Thanks for sharing.
-
-
-
Mar 21, 2012 @ 11:58 am | delete
- Building your own green house. That would be a fantastic workshop for the self reliance expo.
-
-
-
getmoreinfo
Mar 20, 2012 @ 3:42 pm | delete
- This is a great lens I like the information and will be coming back to read more of your work.
-
-
-
Skylermeyer2012
Mar 20, 2012 @ 2:08 am | delete
- I really enjoyed reading your lens about planting seeds using mini Greenhouse Coldframe. Excellent lens..
-
-
-
Steve_Kaye
Mar 20, 2012 @ 12:08 am | delete
- How cool is this! Great ideas. Thank you for publishing this lens.
-
-
-
daria369
Mar 19, 2012 @ 9:36 am | delete
- Great ideas for starting plants from seeds, which is, at least in my opinion, the most rewarding! :)
-
-
-
cffutah
Mar 19, 2012 @ 8:15 am | delete
- Great details you've shown on here, enjoyed reading and seeing this.
-
-
-
StaCslns
Mar 19, 2012 @ 7:38 am | delete
- We have a sun room, I use this as my greenhouse. I've always wanted a real greenhouse, you gave me some great ideas!!
-
-
-
intermarks
Mar 19, 2012 @ 6:30 am | delete
- I don't really have a greenhouse, but I having a garden where I panted some flowers and vegetables.
-
-
-
juliavm
Mar 18, 2012 @ 11:57 pm | delete
- Great greenhouse ideas. Might use some of these myself.
-
-
-
Wedding_Mom
Mar 18, 2012 @ 11:32 pm | delete
- This lens is great! I liked that you shared lots of good tips and I definitely learned a lot. Thanks for sharing!
-
-
-
KellydeBorda
Mar 17, 2012 @ 7:02 pm | delete
- So many great ideas for greenhouses! Green-liked for St. Patrick's Day!
-
-
-
jsr54
Mar 17, 2012 @ 9:41 am | delete
- We just planted our tomato seedlings and put milk cartons over them for protection until they are stronger. They look great!
-
-
-
SheilaSchnauzies
Feb 29, 2012 @ 10:20 am | delete
- Great ideas! I've actually done the aquarium thing and it works!! Thanks for a great lens, I think right about now we gardeners are all itching to get started on the growing season!
-
-
-
GonnaFly
Sep 24, 2011 @ 11:32 pm | delete
- I love my little greenhouse! This lens has been blessed on the "I Love That Word" quest and added to my Upcycling Ideas lens.
-
-
-
puerdycat
May 12, 2011 @ 3:06 pm | delete
- Love your wonderful early-bird videos. like-fave-rolling to G is for Garden
-
-
-
RenaissanceWoman2010
May 7, 2011 @ 8:21 pm | delete
- Perfect timing for this lens. I'm hoping to get my greenhouse built this month. Great resources. Thanks!
-
-
-
ChrisDay
May 2, 2011 @ 6:58 am | delete
- This is great advice
-
-
-
caffimages
Apr 26, 2011 @ 9:45 am | delete
- Lovel ideas. I've used some of them before, but others are new to me. Great lens. Thankyou.
-
-
-
RubyRavn Apr 17, 2011 @ 1:13 pm | delete
- I've wanted and requested a greenhouse for years....it just never gets on hubbies "agenda". So, I wait! Great ideas here, thank you!
-
-
-
---Chazz
Mar 23, 2011 @ 12:03 pm | delete
- I've always wanted a conservatory but never had enough room. Thanks for the inspiration and some more managable ideas.
-
-
-
VickiSims
Mar 22, 2011 @ 10:14 pm | delete
- I don't have a greenhouse, but I really enjoyed learning about all of the different greenhouses you can build yourself. Great videos, too.
-
-
-
ajgodinho Feb 1, 2011 @ 8:23 pm | delete
- Nice ideas and enjoyed your videos too -- I guess in time for Spring, though it's still winter.
-
-
-
kare2share
Jan 12, 2011 @ 3:20 pm | delete
- Ah, thanks for reminding me that it's almost planting time! These tips will definitely come in handy in the next few months until the weather warms up. Hope your garden is bountiful, and best wishes for the new year!
-
-
-
kt_glasses Dec 30, 2010 @ 8:11 pm | delete
- cool information here!
-
-
-
livingfrontiers Dec 21, 2010 @ 3:47 pm | delete
- This is great information! I love the aquarium idea. I start all my plant seeds in milk cartons around ground hog day. They are all hardened off by the time you can safely plant them! and, we live in Minnesota...angel blessings!
-
-
-
Margo_Arrowsmith
Nov 25, 2010 @ 8:20 am | delete
- Very nicely done! I have always wanted to do it from scratch, but no garden these days.
-
-
-
BackyardGreenhouses
Mar 16, 2010 @ 10:03 am | delete
- Can't wait for the weather to break and spend some outside in the garden again. I am getting my seeds ready inside my house now.
-
-
-
rms Mar 12, 2010 @ 12:38 pm | delete
- This is a really great and timely topic for gardening!
-
A Little About Me
by rgasperson
My Name is Robert. Please follow me on Amplify, Twitter, Facebook and Tumbler. I am a Haiku Poet, Artist, Writer, Gardener and Pretty Much a Jack of All... more »
- 208 featured lenses
- Winner of 22 trophies!
- Top lens » How to Make a Wooden Gear Clock
Feeling creative?
Create a Lens!
Explore related pages
What's New With Me?
You Should Get a Mini Greenhouse
It is Great for Starting Seeds
Gardman R687 4-Tier Mini Greenhouse
Amazon Price: $31.40 (as of 05/26/2012)
I have tried to start seeds indoors. They just don't get enough sunlight on the windowsil. This mini greenhouse can sit outside the back door and get those seeds started.
The Self Sufficient Gardener
by John Seymore
The New Self-Sufficient Gardener
Amazon Price: $9.58 (as of 05/26/2012)
I think it should be everyone's goal to be as self-sustained as possible. If we can grow all the food we can eat, we will be able to rely more on ourselves and not on the processes that are going on around us. This book shows you how you can turn your backyard into a food producing paradise.
