Building the Transparent Plastic Greenhouse

You can use plastic on any type of greenhouse structure- lean-to, span, partial span, or free-standing.
If you are using plastic as temporary glazing (until you can afford glass), you will want to construct the greenhouse frame so it will eventually hold glass. However, if the whole thing is to be but a temporary arrangement for a season or two, you can cut construction costs by building with low-priced, smaller-dimension lumber.

The sheet plastic comes in 100-foot rolls in widths of 10 to 20 feet. It takes two people to put it on. One tacks the plastic at one gable next to the top of the greenhouse. The other holds the roll of plastic, releasing enough to cover three or four sash bars while pulling tightly on the roll. The first person then tacks on lath down to within 8 inches of the bottom of the strip of plastic. The second length is placed under this 8-inch lap, so there is a lap of about 6 inches, and the second length is then tacked in the same way. If the lap is about 6 inches and the plastic is pulled tight, there is no need to seal the laps since they will stay together even in strong winds. If you want a double-layer covering-and it’s advisable-the inside layer can be attached with paper disks and tacks. Be sure to allow an inch or so between the layers for “dead air” insulation.

In my greenhouse, ventilation is obtained through doors and louvers in each end. Other greenhouses are ventilated by doors and side drop vents.

12. Lightly-framed plastic greenhouses (made of one of the inexpensive
films) offer a good yet low-cost solution for the grower who needs a
temporary extra growing area or an easy-to-erect plant shelter in an
emergency. (Photograph by Gottscho-Schleisner)

An experimental house 18 by 24 feet, built by the University of Kentucky, cost $24.00 for the outside layer of .0015-inch plastic. It was estimated that the framework would cost from $150.00 to $250.00. A blueprint of this plastic greenhouse is available for 10 cents through the Agricultural Engineering Department at the University of Kentucky in Lexington.

Tags: home greenhouse

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