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Homemade greenhouse

Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2024 10:19 am
by Sue_CT
I thought this was a great idea. Easy to install and remove, uses cheap umbrellas, and folds up for storage.
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Re: Homemade greenhouse

Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2024 10:59 am
by bower
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. :shock: The open and close mechanism broke immediately on both of them. I still have a handful of unopened ones.. :oops:
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.

Re: Homemade greenhouse

Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2024 11:22 am
by ddsack
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.

Re: Homemade greenhouse

Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2024 12:18 pm
by Sue_CT
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.

Re: Homemade greenhouse

Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2024 9:11 am
by FatBeeFarm
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!

Re: Homemade greenhouse

Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2024 4:24 pm
by MissS
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.

Re: Homemade greenhouse

Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2024 5:41 pm
by AKgardener
Love it

Re: Homemade greenhouse

Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2024 6:10 pm
by worth1
Rather expensive but innovative.

Re: Homemade greenhouse

Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2024 6:17 pm
by Cole_Robbie
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.