Homemade greenhouse
- Sue_CT
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- Joined: Tue Dec 10, 2019 11:03 pm
- Location: Connecticut Zone 6A
Homemade greenhouse
I thought this was a great idea. Easy to install and remove, uses cheap umbrellas, and folds up for storage.
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- bower
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- Location: Newfoundland, Canada
Re: Homemade greenhouse
That is sweet. 
I bought a bunch of umbrellas from the dollar store once, at 50 cents apiece. Not clear but if the frames were good, you could apply clear plastic instead. Unfortunately the couple that I opened turned out to be "single use" quality.
The open and close mechanism broke immediately on both of them. I still have a handful of unopened ones..
No one uses umbrellas in this area - it's much too windy and they do end up broken in a day in normal usage, where the wind can get inside em.

I bought a bunch of umbrellas from the dollar store once, at 50 cents apiece. Not clear but if the frames were good, you could apply clear plastic instead. Unfortunately the couple that I opened turned out to be "single use" quality.


No one uses umbrellas in this area - it's much too windy and they do end up broken in a day in normal usage, where the wind can get inside em.
AgCan Zone 5a/USDA zone 4
temperate marine climate
yearly precip 61 inches/1550 mm
temperate marine climate
yearly precip 61 inches/1550 mm
- ddsack
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Re: Homemade greenhouse
You could also get 55-60 gallon 3 mil clear plastic trash bags on Amazon. I bought some once to put over tomato towers in pots in early spring weather. Alas, by the time I can leave tomatoes outside, I really don't need to cover them and I think even with vent holes they get too hot in the sun. I still have not used mine up, but probably should adapt them for melons instead. I like the looks of those clear umbrellas, but you'd need to wire them to the pot on a couple of sides if the wind was strong unless they are in a very sheltered area.
- Sue_CT
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Re: Homemade greenhouse
I forgot to mention that it did say they cut the handle down to be the right length for the pot. That also would remove the handle and make sticking them in the soil easier. If you wanted you could leave them a couple of inches above the pot for ventilation but they would be less susceptible to wind if they were snuggled down over the pot. Wind is going to be more of an issue if it can get under the umbrella.
- FatBeeFarm
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- Location: New Hampshire, Zone 5A
Re: Homemade greenhouse
It looks cute for sure and made me grin. But, yeah, wind.....if I tried this they'd be one state over and into Maine on their way to the Atlantic within a few days. But points for creative thinking for sure!
Bee happy and pollinate freely!
- MissS
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Re: Homemade greenhouse
I saw this the other day. An innovative idea but they just aren't so cheap anymore and would easily blow away. If I used them, I would find a way to secure the handle so as not to lose them and to keep them on the plant when I need them.
~ Patti ~
AKA ~ Hooper
AKA ~ Hooper
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Re: Homemade greenhouse
Love it
- worth1
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- Location: 25 miles southeast of Waterloo Texas
Re: Homemade greenhouse
Rather expensive but innovative.
Worth
25 miles southeast of Waterloo Texas.
You can't argue with a closed mind.
You might as well be arguing with a cat.
25 miles southeast of Waterloo Texas.
You can't argue with a closed mind.
You might as well be arguing with a cat.
- Cole_Robbie
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Re: Homemade greenhouse
There's a row cover that has slits in it, so that when it gets hot inside, the hot air pushes itself out of the slits. Some holes in the top would be an improvement.