MAKE YOUR OWN Greenhouse

If your budget doesn’t stretch to buying a ready-made greenhouse, another option is to get busy and make one yourself. Joyce Russell shows you how

A greenhouse can be an expensive item to buy and if you do find a cheap one it may not be robust enough to last through the first strong wind. You may also have problems finding something the right size to fit where you want it to go and not all kits are as easy to assemble as you might think. The message here of course is that it isn’t hard to make your own small greenhouse and to fit it perfectly where you want it to live. The structure shown here really is super easy to make and the result is strong enough to stand firm for years.

The greenhouse is essentially three parts: two sides with long legs that drive into the ground and a broad piece of polythene that is supported to form the opening roof and front. This structure goes against a wall or fence and a fixing holds it firmly in place.

You can make it larger or smaller in any dimension provided any large span of polythene is adequately supported and the frame is anchored deep enough in the ground.

Any structure survives best if it is in a sheltered position. Having said that, this one has survived some serious winds in an exposed part of my garden without any sign of damage. It has also grown plenty of tomatoes in a warm and protected space.

STEP BY STEP

STEP 1: CUT AND DRILL TIMBER FOR SIDES

Cut tree stakes to length. Cut two lengths of batten at 100cm and two lengths at 105cm. Use the 5mm drill bit to drill two holes at each end of the 100cm pieces at 10mm in from the side and 25mm in from the end. Sand each piece of wood smooth as you cut them.

STEP 2: FIX FENCING STAPLES IN STAKES

Lay the two 165cm stakes on a flat, hard surface. Hammer two fencing staples into each one at 44cm and 88cm from the top. Make sure the staples are orientated so a bamboo cane can pass through horizontally across the front when the posts are upright.