I recently went to NH for a two week trip, to visit family. Just before I left we got an inch of sleet with some freezing rain, and it collapsed my greenhouse that I worked so hard to winterize. While on vacation in the snowy tundra, I needed to devise a solution to seed starting, without them being in my house taking up space. This is what we came up with.
The "roof" of our greenhouse was made of 3/4" pvc. We used those pieces, cut to 2 foot lengths, for the posts of the low tunnel. They were hammered into the ground, through the black tarp, about 6 inches. The purpose of the black tarp is for heat retention.
We then cut some hoola hoops that I bought at Dollar Tree in half, and slid them inside the pvc "posts". If you space the posts about 2 feet wide, the hoop section will stay inside them perfectly.
We then draped the plastic we were able to salvage, over the top and used rain jugs to weigh it down. We have no wind break so by being low, and having the additional weight, it has helped keep the plastic on. Just remember that the seedlings will dry out fast in this set up, especially on a sunny day, so you should water at least twice per day.
We then cut some hoola hoops that I bought at Dollar Tree in half, and slid them inside the pvc "posts". If you space the posts about 2 feet wide, the hoop section will stay inside them perfectly.
We then draped the plastic we were able to salvage, over the top and used rain jugs to weigh it down. We have no wind break so by being low, and having the additional weight, it has helped keep the plastic on. Just remember that the seedlings will dry out fast in this set up, especially on a sunny day, so you should water at least twice per day.
And here we have the seedling trays. I was able to get the ones in the photo on the left, on clearance at the end of last year's season. The ones on the right are actually the lids for those same trays, sitting in plastic plant trays. It allows us to you both pieces and provides some support.
We currently have 5 types of tomatoes, 2 types of cucumbers, 3 types of lettuce, spinach, mustard greens, and some corn sprouting. Next up to get started is green beans, okra, and sunflowers. I am nearly out of seeds that I saved, so I will be buying more this week.
Seed starting can be done almost anywhere with this particular design, and it's inexpensive. We plan to make one more low tunnel. We plan to move the hoop sections to the garden and add deer netting in place of the plastic, to protect our strawberry crop this year from the birds. You could also do the same configuration, and add shade cloth to protect lettuce and other tender plants from the heat of the sun.
What does your seed starting look like? Do you have a greenhouse, grow lights on an indoor setup in your home? Share! We would love to see your ideas!
We currently have 5 types of tomatoes, 2 types of cucumbers, 3 types of lettuce, spinach, mustard greens, and some corn sprouting. Next up to get started is green beans, okra, and sunflowers. I am nearly out of seeds that I saved, so I will be buying more this week.
Seed starting can be done almost anywhere with this particular design, and it's inexpensive. We plan to make one more low tunnel. We plan to move the hoop sections to the garden and add deer netting in place of the plastic, to protect our strawberry crop this year from the birds. You could also do the same configuration, and add shade cloth to protect lettuce and other tender plants from the heat of the sun.
What does your seed starting look like? Do you have a greenhouse, grow lights on an indoor setup in your home? Share! We would love to see your ideas!