DIY PVC GREENHOUSE - 2 Years Later 

I really appreciate and enjoy when people do followups at a later date showing what worked and what they would change. Nobody's perfect the 1st time around. Thanks for all your time!

The follow-up is great! Most just show how their "great idea" goes together, but they almost never go back and show the lessons learned like you did!

Really appreciate your willingness to share what works and what doesn’t. It really helps to build realistic expectations about farming. A lot of RU-vidrs set people up for failure with unrealistic expectations believing that everything is all super simple. Glad to see it’s still holding up well!

Plastic has memory so take your lighter or heat gun and heat the plastic clip lengthwise down the center and then once it's a little pliable squeeze the plastic clip closed a little and let it cool a couple minutes... then do it again when it loses its grip in a year.... or use self tapping screws to hold it :) Cool idea rolling it up!

I like the fact youve shown us the not so good part of the greenhouse, I much prefer seeing what youve done warts and all, I learn more from that. Thank you, and take care of yourself.

So happy to learn from your opportunities. I am adding a little greenhouse to my chicken coop for next winter.

I built one several years back. Before RU-vid. Wanted to see what I could grow. Over winter. Did great till -10 at night and colder. Carrots, lettuce, spinach. But to much snow kept collapsing. Think spacing of hoops was 4 ‘ . Set up a low tunnel last winter. With heat tape last winter. Got more greens and carrots than we can eat. Wish I planted onions.

I made a 6 x 8 unheated greenhouse out of pallets , pvc pipe and used scrap lumber and can't wait to use it! I had to purchase a couple new 2 x 4's, a roll of 6 ml green house plastic ,a white tarp for severe weather and 3/4" cpvc pvc pipes for the arch's.I plan on installing a couple automatic exhaust fans and vents later but for now I have a manually operated window on one end and an air vent on the other.Like you I can already see things I'd do different if I built another but I will use this one until its not practical to fix any longer.Thanks for your video.Your greenhouse is very well built and has held up well I think! You did a fantastic job making it and I look forward to future updates!

I am of a similar mind. Buying a something is often cheaper than making it in the long run. Of course, there are times when it is the other way around. It is hard to know which what to go. Sometimes it is just what is convenient time and money wise. Thank for having my over for a visit...

Thank you for the update! I am planing to build me a tomato hoop house this year and watching your videos its a great help!

I ended up getting a 50' kit from farmers friend and I really like it so far. Couldnt fit all 50 so 30' is set up for now. Its been up for about a week and I have arugula coming up but I seeded way too thick😂 need to tinker and modify the earthway a bit.

Thank you for sharing. I grew up on a farm and miss it a lot.

Thanks Josh.

Hi Josh, Thank you for this video. I have been wanting to try my hand with some greenhouse growing and bought supplies to make low tunnels over several of my raised beds but now it is supposed to get up into the upper 70s and 80s so... I guess here in California summer is starting. Oh well. I still have a few lettuce plants that overwintered that I am harvesting from. Super impressed with all of your hard work both at your home and at the farm. Stay safe, be well and all the best from California 💛

Thanks Josh!

Here in U.K. I used 2" scaffold poles and 63 mm alkathene pipe for hoops solid as a rock Cheers

I built a greenhouse of the exact same design in the fall of 2017. I agree with your conclusion that I would’ve been better off buying a kit. I’m in Michigan so I’ve had to reinforce the PVC bows to deal with the snow load. My greenhouse is still in use but it’s just not great like you said. And I don’t think I’ve saved much money compared to a kit. Thanks for the update!

Heat it by the same way you heat a home. solar running through tubing in floor and how else running could be best utilized. The main heating tubes (the evacuated glass/gas ones will heat that sucker and could get too hot. but hey , let the moister run down the walls and collect it. a perfect circle.

Much obliged

Great video again and keep them coming...love watching everyday

I've been on the fence of buying a kit or diy. You have me convinced now to go with the kit. Thank you.

Thanks for sharing

Josh, you have always had good, straightforward and practical advice in your videos and this one is no exception. I hope you will post another one in a couple more years to update on how the hoop tunnel has held up. Meanwhile, what is your location? I'm seriously asking because I am in Zone 8B in Jackson, MS which gets up to 75 inches of rain, extreme heat and humidity for long periods during the summer, and is subject to hurricanes, tornados, hail storms, and all sorts of other natural hazards. Hurricane Ida last week passed within 20 miles of my property breaking off large tree limbs and downing other trees. I believe a one layer plastic sheeting poly cover just won't withstand the type weather we routinely get here. I don't want to have to tear it down and rebuild the tunnel every time we get some destructive weather because some years that happens multiple times per year. If you are in Syracuse, NY, which has the least natural disaster events in the county, you are never going to get tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, and hail storms so nearly anything will probably work there. But I am not sure it will work well here in Mississippi. Also, the heat from our summers zap our plants to the point where most of them have to be watered every single day. Mother Nature gives us up to 75 inches of free rainfall that doesn't require me to spend any of my time replicating. But if I seal off the plants via a hoop house, isn't that going to mean I have to spend my time and effort watering plants to replicate what nature provides free? The bottom line is I don't need more time consuming chores! LOL. Your thoughts on these things would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! PS> I really like the roll up sides idea!

I would rather have a piece of artwork made by me than an equal piece made by others , therefore great tunnel man! 😎 P.S. I know a couple of people with homemade greenhouses and the greenhouse film in both cases is about 25 years old although 'slightly' weathered! lol

great update!

Awesome. Im looking forward to building my own!! That Will happen this year!

She looks like a beauty son!

Nice looking hoop house man if you put cross bracing corner to corner on your door itll help stop the sag/ rubbing on bottom

Great looking greenhouse and thanks for the update! We are just getting started building our own from wood we mill on our sawmill and I will be incorporating some of the design elements from your build.

Thanks for the imput on this, i acquired some conduit like you used for next to nothing but decided not to use and have started building a greenhouse based on Ana Whites plans. Her design is using clear roofing panels but i will be using greenhouse plastic as i already have it. Been thinking about how to secure the plastic. Looked at wigglewire but atm cant swing the expense, will probably use your method of strips of ripped deckboards and screws. Looking forward to getting it put into use this year. Ours will mainly be used for starts and possibly overwintering. Been

Hello Josh, Thank you so much fir the follow up video. You mentioned about the kit; what sort of kit do you recommend please?if you can share few, that will help me a lot. Any help is appreciated. Thank you.

I just got my BSF 1020 trays, hobby gardener here.... Super excited (even if it cost me an arm and a leg to get the trays, cell trays and domes)

Hey Josh, good video again Brother. One thing tho is that the chemical reaction between PVC and the plastic is when you use the white, plumbing PVC only, not the gray, electrical conduit that you used on yours. But your correct in everything you said about painting or covering the pipe to eliminate degradation of the plastic IF you build with WHITE pvc, not gray. If you use the gray electrical conduits you havethen you can put the plastic directly against the frame. Everything else is spot on buddy, good video

I built mine 8ft by 16 ft. 2x6 treated base. no cutting. same kind of pipe... BUT...I built mine Cathedral style instead of Gothic style as yours is. that is...straight sides and 45 degree sloped roof. I wish I had done Gothic. The PVC connections are rubbing on the plastic even if its tight. The white clips don't hold enough so that it takes many more than usually recommended. I used ABS plastic pipe 3 inches long and split. they work... and they are cheap and that's about all you can say about them. I used a nail strip to anchor the plastic on the bottom. I was using the weight of the frame on top of more pipe with the plastic attached to hold the plastic tight but it wasn't enough. *Next time:* I will build it Gothic Style. 12 feet wide to use the whole pipe. The plastic long enough to bury 2 feet of it in the ground. Make full sized doors on the ends to open up full air flow. (its what I have now for just that reason). Thanks for the update. It really helps anchor my own design that incorporates all the learning.

good explanations of what worked and what not so well. Did you do any attachment or weighting tp keep the bottom 2' of roll able side wall tight against the conduit ? Your use of the EMT to roll the walls is great. Thanks for the video.

Josh rules

Hi 😀

Add 3 foot 2-3 inch pvc pipe with reducer. To bottom and will add height. Use black cloth stuff and add bottom. Leave everything same

What holds the sides down when big winds come up? What secures your rollup rod and plastic close to the ground?

You might have addressed this already but is there any direction you should build this, running east & west or north & south? or do you think it matters?

Great chanel!

Any recommendations for me on a poly tunnel kit ? I am in Regina Sask. Cold and windy prairie. It's a jungle out there for shoppers so a guiding hand would help me. I am starting a flower farm. Would like something somewhat larger and taller than yours. I will subscribe . Love your content !

.....Hey there!

Thanks Josh. I have 2 greenhouses the first one is 16 X 32 and the 4 year plastic started its 8th year on April 10 of this year. It is still holding up but if i can get someone to help me i would change it before winter. The other is 24 x 48 and has is going on it will start its 7th year in May of this year. I was blessed by having both given to me. i did have to buy the plastic and some other things, but it saved me lots of money. I may of missed something somewhere in the past, but are you moving??

Do you recommend any particular kits? I like the idea of DIY, but you are right, you usually spend just as much money as buying a kit. I am in Angier! I am very glad I found your channel for some local tips and advice! Thanks!

May just buy a kit. I see some cheapo kits on Amazon I want to avoid ideally but the decent kits are like 5x the cost. Home build looks like a fun project but then I am sure that with all the timber I could be sinking a similar amount. So... Things to think on...

This winter our first snow was a heavy one and crushed the top. With that said I need to make updates during the repair. I plan on opening the sides as you have. You mentioned zigzagging rope to keep the sides tied down to prevent any wind damage. Do you have any footage of how this is done? Also did you use a separate piece of poly for the bottom half of the sides?

Josh Wut do you think of the cheap amazon greenhouses?

Josh where did you go to no new videos

Hey Josh, love your channel I recently came across it. You said that you wouldn't do DIY on a hoop house but what about EMT Gothic style greenhouses? I was going to do a smaller setup about 25x20 and wanted to produce my own supplies for the ability to add onto the end and increase length as needed or deemed possible and I was concerned about cost, and being able to buy the exact same frame components if and when I do decide to add on. I have conduit benders already and I priced the frame out at about 445 with a sheet of 20x55 plastic. I decided to add on an additional 200 dollars in budget for wiggle wire and fastenders/addtional pressure treated lumber. What are your thoughts?

I’m in north Tn and we are getting 70 mph wind gust do you think that would hold up and thanks for the video

I built a 3mx6m (10ftx20ft) polytunnel 7yrs ago and still going strong, same plastic. To buy would have cost three times what it cost to build, expensive in my country!

In my case, there are no kit greenhouses to work with where I want to put one and the design it will need to be. I will have to DIY.

When and why would you need a greenhouse? Might be a "big" question, but was just curious.

How did you secure the lumber to the PVC sections, namely the hip boards and near your door frames?

Nice diy green house. How do you control the critters?

how do you operate your greenhouse during the winter months? do you need heat? or is it passive heating all winter long?

What mill plastic is that

Hey , how do you secure the roll up sides, when they are down?

what is the height?

You need to say which way it is oriented? Which way is south?

Hey freind where can I buy the green house cloth

SO know if you were going to buy a kit instead where would you start shopping?

The only thing i got out of making my own self watering containers out of 18 gallon storage tubs was the belief that I could do it if Lowes ever ran out of their own...was it cool? Yes! Still cool? Yes! But could I have bought something that was purposefully made for it...sadly, yes.

looks like a quarter of a foot ball like that

2nd

If you are going to make your own clamps, don't. PVC deteriorates greenhouse plastic. This necessitates the use of tape between the clamp and the plastic. Time consuming. It also tears the plastic unless you spend big chunks of time beveling the inside. Even with a bevel, the clamps are too tight, and the sched 40 homemade clamps still tear the plastic. Too tight. If you insist on making your own clamps, don't. But if you do, then use sched 21 pvc because it is thinner, and more flexible.

SO, WHY ARE YOU DISAPPOINTED?