I have the same greenhouse, what I did was made stakes out of 2x4s about two and half to three feet long, four of them, one for each corner, pounded them into the ground about one and half feet deep placed on the outside of the corners, drilled a couple holes in each of the 2x4s to run zip ties through and around each pole securing them against the 2x4. I’ve had this setup since 2018 and has stood the test of time so far.

I was gifted the same greenhouse. I used it to start gardening around mid-April in Zone 7A. Eventually, I transitioned plants outside full-time to harden off.

I rescued one of those from a dumpster. Anchored it down with rebar and zip ties. Was missing the shelves, so I built raised beds for the bottom tier. After two years I just straightened out a list. I'll try to post a video on my channel to show you.

I have one just like it. We used a t-post on either side and used a rachet strap over the top attched to the t-post. Havent had a problem and was still standing through the tornado we had come through memorial weekend.

We have a 6 x 10 lean to @ the back of our shop that I have used for several years. We secured the shelves to the frame with zip ties & secured the overall frame length using old metal hangers to prevent the them from pulling apart. We wrapped with a tarp & bungee cords during the artic freeze last winter with only an oil filled radiator type electric heater. Most of my plants survived too. Lol

I have that greenhouse, and I have it snugged into the corner of my fenced area. I put a couple of bags of soil on the bottom bars to keep it pinned to the ground since I didn't trust the piddly little "stakes" it came with, and I had plans to tie it to a couple of spare t-posts if it tried to fly away despite that weight. Right now it's primarily auxiliary storage, but I always had the plan of switching out the plastic for shade cloth. I just haven't had the chance to do that yet, because all my energy has been tied up in digging out a serious infestation of invasive weeds that didn't get properly taken care of last year, so I'm planting almost nothing until I'm satisfied I've sifted out enough of those roots.

Also those shelves from that greenhouse make a good onion drying rack.

@sandybottomhomestead

12 күн бұрын

my thoughts too

I love my zipper greenhouses. I weigh mine down with patio blocks on the bottom bars......it works in my Chicagoland winds for 7 - 8 years. Mine only stays up for April and May to seed start. I have the drop over zipper greenhouse too 4x4 and I bungee them at the corners to stakes that go 12" into the soil and that works. It's all about staking them down for success. I'd consider bungee or rope over the center and sides and I think you'd be really secure for your seed starting purpose. On the big one like yours In the Spring I also put bricks on the edge of the green topper to secure it. I'm actually a "blow away" green house lover. Plus I love that It goes up for the purpose and breaks back down and stores great until the next year. I do often set up the shelving in the garage to use in-between to dry garlic and onions with is great. If you'd like to see how I do it check out the video titled "For the love of blow away greenhouses" on my channel Robin Gardens....you can skip to 7:18 mark for the big green house set up. Cheers! and I hope it works out for you. No hardening off is the bomb!

I have the same greenhouse, too! I bought a much better one this year and I also just reused the shelving to fit inside my better, larger, sturdier greenhouse. I ended up using chicken wire wrapped around the shelves and cable tied them to the frames. Great idea about the shad cloth! I still have some of the metal tubing from the frames. You've inspired me to create some makeshift shade covers for my raised beds!

I live in upstate NY and a couple years ago, I bought one that was maybe 3 times bigger. I bought extra tent stakes to hold it down and one day I'm sitting in the livingroom and it air lifted and tumbled by my windows like a scene out of the Wizard of Oz😂 In my experience they are junk!

@gogogardener

13 күн бұрын

Yep. My install lasted one hour. I set it up. Went to the grocery store. Came back to my husband hard at work making it stronger. A gust of wind had blown it away. Hed chased it down, brought it back, and with some ingenuity made it functional. .... I probably wouldn't buy one again, but grateful to have a way to start plants in Spring... And now under shadecloth in Summer.

My greenhouse has that similar plastic. However, the base is a sturdy wooden table with a 6 inch rim. I have all my fall seeds planted in cups inside. I close it at night to protect from the mischevious squirrels in the morning that would dig them up. I'll put this in the garage over winter. When the plastic gives out, I will take your idea of shade cloth to put over the frame. I find my greenhouse to be affordable and helpful. It fits nicely on my patio and I could never afford a large frame glass greenhouse nor fit it in my yard. Thanks to you, I have all my Fall second harvest seeds planted for a bit, right on time. I am even trying to grow some short season tomatoes on the second planting for Fall harvest. Thanks for the good idea regarding shade cloth.

Nice video with lots of useful information. I have the simple 5 shelf version of this greenhouse. I tie mine to an IBC tank and have been using it for about 5 years now no problem. I have replaced the cover and put shade cloth over it in the hottest part of the summer. I also put it I. An outbuilding over the winter. I hope to get several more years of use for it.

Love me a DIY repurpose project! I would so do this. Never had one of those little greenhouses. Good job Young Ben!

@sandybottomhomestead

12 күн бұрын

I knew it would be a matter of time until that name made its way over here lol. Thanks for watching and listening!

Even junk can be useful. Another use might be for storing unused pots and containers for a time, especially if secured in a Tote or other item so a wind doesn’t distribute them all over the yard.

Summer in South Carolina is brutal on my greenhouse. I had to empty it weeks ago, so I started using it to dry firewood. It consistently runs 30 degrees hotter than the outside temp with all windows and the door open. Sadly, I had to keep the door closed so my dog wouldn't eat the plants. Now it keeps her out so she won't chew the firewood.

Hello there, how’s it going. Excellent sharing

I have a 6 shelf straight one. that I will repurpose but the green cover rotted from the sun after one season. I had 2 but one I use in my garage as a storage shelf for my Onions. I used Tie ties and duct tape to hold mine together after the covers were removed!!! Repurpose where I can!!

@magenta4443

13 күн бұрын

Great idea for curing onions!

@sandybottomhomestead

13 күн бұрын

thats the other use for it once the seeds are done. always repurpose everything. less waste.

I have one I use inside to keep the cats out of the seeds in the winter. I have a bigger one outside that works ok once spring temps are a little higher, it by no means keeps things from freezing however.

We bought two of the high tunnel ones off of Amazon. One of them I'm able to use as my seed starter / garden shed... The other one we literally turned into a storage shed. They get way too hot in the Sun and then way too cold at night. For a cheap garden shed though it's not a bad deal if you put it in the shade.

Last year I repurposed a broken EZ Up to put shade cloth over my raised bed. It continues to break and I just keep duct taping it until it decides to completely collapse

Take some alone pieces of PCV pipe and drive them in the ground drill holes to the tops and put zip ties in and connect down to the frame. You can also put huge rocks on the bottom rail of it. I’ve done both.

@sandybottomhomestead

12 күн бұрын

probaly going to add some blocks on the bottom

This is a great idea! I’ve been thinking about starting at least some of my fall seeds outside but was worried about the harsh sun and heat that we’re having here (central VA). Definitely going to try a version of this with some shelves I already have on hand. This has been an expensive gardening year between building an indoor seed starting setup and putting in timed drip irrigation on my raised beds, so I’m grateful to have a project I can complete with materials I already own. Thanks and keep up the good work 😊

@sandybottomhomestead

13 күн бұрын

I hope it works out well for you.

You’re right that greenhouse is junk. My flew away so many times😂. I love my poly tunnel

Not yet, I haven't. I was given two (count 'em, *two*) "greenhouses" which my S.O. purchased for me at Aldi. Smaller, I think, than the structure you have in this video and the covering is clear vinyl. Zip(per) closures, maybe? I've wanted to experiment with them, but we do have some two-footed garden varmints who have taken whole plants plus the label "stakes" (and then they smoothed out the soil so you'd never know anything had been growing there which is not something an animal would do) and even if those two wee greenhouses are piffley-poofley junk, I object to be robbed of *anything.* Those "greenhouses" wouldn't stay a day in my kitchen garden despite it being enclosed, gated and locked. Much gardening love from Northeast Ohio! 😊💚💚💚💚💚😊

Good idea for reusing your old greenhouse. If your stakes don’t seem to hold and stabilize it as much as you want you could try putting a post in the ground in each corner and attaching the greenhouse to the posts. You could use metal posts, bamboo or some wood posts cut from your property. You could even do a diagonal crosspiece between the posts on three sides. At least that’s better than having the wind dump your plants.

I had a neighbors dog destroy mine (identical style 'greenhouse' as yours). I loved it because it did exactly what I wanted it to for cheap....after it was destroyed, I was able to re-purpose the shelves into my new greenhouse. I still have the top half of the frame though. I may try to use it like this, just a short version! Thanks for the ideas!

How hard are the tent stakes or garden staples to grab and pull if you want to move it? I've never used them. I'm thinking through that if I had that structure: If I had the frame in a place that I didn't have to move all the time, I would probably use posts driven into the ground on the corners to secure it and zip tie it to the posts. I would make those joints less likely to come apart; glue, zip ties, crimping down the pipes, or bungies as you mentioned. If I wanted to move it all the time, I may use sandbags or garden pots filled with soil so I could grow something across the bars on the ground. Maybe even some old 1020 trays filled with sandbags or rocks alternating along the base with some 1020 trays filled with inserts and potting soil for succession planting.

E6000 glue is waterproof. It can be used to glue gems to cloth. Maybe gluing the frame would help

I have a greenhouse like thot one. I used a concrete block that is very heavy. I put one under each of the 3 sides. Works like a dream. I’m in very windy Texas and it just stayed put during Beryl. It was behind the garage. Anchors never work for me. I have great success sprouting seeds

@sandybottomhomestead

12 күн бұрын

That is a good idea

Gardeners always recycle! Great upcycle, as original was too flimsy. I used an old Umbrella stand (which weighed a lot) and put one on each side. When my unit finally went to Jesus, I used the stakes for my plants...Love your channel!

💗

Good morning. I was tempted to try one but it seemed so cheaply made. I was planning on building a greenhouse out of scrap wood and old window glass but that's as far as I got. Have a wonderful day!

It’s a good shape and size for what it is, they just need reinforcement for outdoor use. If you have grow lights they’re perfect inside

My dear husband salvaged my cheap greenhouse purchase. He used glue, electrical conduit clips, and Harbor Freight tent stakes. Right now, it has shade cloth too. It's 2 years old. I expect maybe one or two more years of use. He secured the back top to a wall with conduit clips. Then he secured the base with the conduit clips and tent stakes. I had used the stakes like you did, but they weren't necessary one the back top was secured. I'll admit, the hardware used to salvage probably cost as much as, what I thought was, a bargain learning greenhouse. With the cost of plants, it's paid for itself every Spring.

I have the same greenhouse. Used it to harden plants off in spring and storage the rest of the year. I also attached a shade cloth over when I was hardening off plants. I have the staples holding it down also.

I tried using an Amazon polytunnel for three years. My experiences weren't good. The first problem is they don't let enough light pass through. They don't hold enough heat inside to protect the plants from frost, and the heaters today frequently shut off, and have to be reset by unplugging them and waiting for the circuit to reset, about five minutes, so forget about heating it at night. I couldn't extend my growing season, fall and spring, seed starts didn't get enough sunlight, and I couldn't over winter plants inside. So, what good is it? Maybe they work for some people, but noty in my climate (Sylacauga, AL). I am glad I invested in a cheap polytunnel instead of shelling out the big bucks for a greenhouse. I pulled the cover off this spring, and the plants are doing much better in the reclaimed space. Actually, they are highly productive this year, and less problems with hornworms and armyworms. I'll cut the plastic cover and use it for a frost cover. The frame is still in place. I'll use it for hanging shade cloth, or for vines to climb, more likely the later. Hmm... I wonder if I can grow tomatoes under grape vines? I may try it in the future.

Hurricane flattened my garden yesterday. Ugh! I'm going to stand them back up and see what happens.

@vickiwestlund1837

13 күн бұрын

So sorry to hear that!!

@bethheerten1132

13 күн бұрын

I hope you can salvage your garden. Good luck.

I don’t currently have a greenhouse as mine is being transformed into a chicken coop😂 What I will say is that shade cloth over seedlings in 90+ degree weather is a great solution! I am currently starting all my fall vegetables under shade cloth (40%) in the beds they will go into. They’re coming up FAST and the temps under the cloth are much more bearable! I’m optimistic! Great work reusing something that did not work into something that likely will🎉

Ben! This is definitely a bit late now haha, but may I suggest using epoxy putty between each of the connections on the structure to help make it more stable. I totally feel you with how crappy these are. They are great for beginners and those in small spaces, but man I wish they were sturdier!

@sandybottomhomestead

12 күн бұрын

Good tip!

nice repurpose

Super glue the frame

As you know you can make four-wire staples to hold it to the ground. Very good work.

A role of shrink wrap would stiffen it up.

@sandybottomhomestead

7 күн бұрын

i dont want to add anymore waste than this thing has already produced. so far it is holding up well.

Are you sure that's 60% shade cloth...looks thinner than my 40%? Great idea for recycling/repurposing what you have sitting around!

@sandybottomhomestead

13 күн бұрын

It is

I use mine in my garage to start seeds. Outside they are useless, to light and blows over easily.

@sandybottomhomestead

13 күн бұрын

I think they would be good inside an unheated garage.

If the water isn't close, you won't use it. Couldn't be truer words. I have a Grocery Row Garden quite a ways away from a running water source and it hardly gets watered. I have hoses that run that length but being further away from the house, it's further away from my priority list in my mind. Not that I want it to be, it just is.

Gorilla Glue the pieces together

I'm sure I'm not to far from you. I have a bootstrap farmer hoop bender for 12 ft hoops. Each hoop takes 2 ten ft chain link top rails. Give me a holler if you want to put together a small hoop house.

@sandybottomhomestead

7 күн бұрын

where are you located at?

@charlesvickers4804

7 күн бұрын

@@sandybottomhomestead bladenboro

Shadehouse would be a better name than a greenhouse for that thing.

@sandybottomhomestead

7 күн бұрын

you are right and that is its new name!

i just zip tied mine and it stayed together.

@guineapigsarecute1118

13 күн бұрын

i zip tied the actual racks to the thing.

@guineapigsarecute1118

13 күн бұрын

but you can probably use gorilla glue too. i use mine as shelves for my green house stuff and seed starts. and then they wind up just being used as storage for the off season. the green plastic melted. i kept the shelves. i have a tiny urban yard, so every space i can use to grow, i find a way to grow something in it.

@sandybottomhomestead

12 күн бұрын

used string left over from bails of straw.