Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
3.
Sink two 2-foot lengths of rebar or a metal stake at least one foot into
the ground. Place the plastic pipe over the exposed length; this will help
to keep the hoops in place.
4.
Use greenhouse plastic to cover the frame you have constructed. Make
sure you purchase an extra two feet of plastic so you can easily secure it
to the end hoops.
5.
Use garden clips to attach the plastic to the hoops. These anchor the
plastic and can be purchased in many seed catalogs.
6.
Drape plastic over each end and secure it with your clips. The ends can
also be left open for ventilation; the decision will depend on what you
want to use your tunnel for and what time of year it is.
Keep the plastic clear of snow and other objects that may weigh it
down. Place a thermometer in the center of the tunnel so you can
keep an eye on the temperature. A plastic tunnel with open ends
usually has enough ventilation for a 10- to 20-foot tunnel. Anything
longer may need additional ventilation on the sides, especially if you
get hot weather during the summer months. The easiest way to
ventilate the sides of your plastic tunnel is to lift the plastic from the
ground and place a box or crate under it, leaving an open space on
either side of the crate. Do this every ten feet on either side of the
tunnel; this will allow cool air in and push the warmer air out the
ends.
Glass Greenhouses
The glass greenhouse is a permanent and more expensive structure
for your garden. It serves the same functions as a cold frame or
plastic tunnel. The glass greenhouse is usually more attractive to
look at and can be built to suit your garden style. Greenhouses come
in all sizes and prices. If you are choosing to build a glass green-
