We put up a small greenhouse on part of our patio each winter to keep some tropicals warm and toasty. It's about 24 ft across the back. The gutter drains into a 300 gallon rain tank at the end of the patio.

The PVC pipe is laid out at 4 ft intervals

Plastic is attached to a board under the eaves.

The PVC pipe is screwed into the board under the eaves. The other end of the pipe is threaded onto rebar at the end of the patio.

After all the pots get in, we close the end up with plastic and a door.

Ready for winter

What a great idea and structure, Sandi!

Thank you, Janice!

Cool!

I was thinking of a waist-height lean-to if I ever get rid of certain bushes, but BOWING the PVC out from the eaves is a GREAT idea!

It's so nice when we get the occasional icy evening and I can walk out onto the patio and smell the plants and a bloom or two. Some of my plumerias bloom thru the winter. We have lights strung along the eaves, so I can see at night. The heaters keep it tolerable.

I did have a "hip high" hoop house to cover my in ground tropical hibiscus. I only had Xmas lights strung around them and they survived our winter and bloomed in the enclosure. They got really large, and I eventually gave them away.

We've gone thru so many remotes for our heaters. Just haven't found any that are truly reliable. Our winters are short, so we really don't need a big greenhouse, but I wouldn't turn it down if offered one for Xmas! I have a tiny one on the side of the house that's all glass. It's more a storage shed, tho. 'Too tiny for most things and on the north side of the house, but too cute to take down.

There's an article I wrote about constructing a temporary greenhouse along the fence line to cover my tropicals. My DH was away and I put it up by myself...except for the plastic, which my DD helped me with. I was pretty proud of myself, until I raised the plastic one warm day. The wind caught the rolled up plastic and carried it over the fence to my neighbors' backyard, pulling out one side of the PVC pipe as it went over the fence too. DH just rolled his eyes...

Forgot to add the door pic. It gets unscrewed and stored each spring (which is mid-Feb. for us)! Isn't very pretty in winter, but no one goes into the backyard then anyway.

Love it!!! Sure beats the temporary greenhouse that I made with the kid's swingset one spring.

That's a clever idea. Wish I'd have thought of that when we HAD a swing set!

I am going to erect Bubbles' temporary greenhouse this year on the side of our garage. It won't be very wide or long but it will take the stress off the space in the garage. Some of our plants have gotten really too large for the garage. I wanted to use thick clear vinyl but the price per foot is expensive. I found this on Amazon to use as the cover. What do you think?? The windows will allow some sun to come into the greenhouse. Depending on how far it will reach will depend on whether I use it sideways or lengthwise. Either way, light will get through. It also has ties on the sides to help anchor it down to PVC. Now, to work on a doorway...

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CBMJJ8E/

Sandi, we did the exact same thing a couple of winters ago, minus the door. We just had a plastic flap. We're in GA. And we put it on the south side of the house (back). but I actually had spider plants in there all winter, no heat and they survived. Big pots with gerbers and they blossomed all winter. I was lucky though and DH agreed we really needed a real GH. I think he was getting tired of putting up and taking down!

I think DH is getting tired of putting it up too. I keep trying to get rid of some plants, but it doesn't always work out. He should be grateful it's plants, and not shoes, that I like to collect.

Arlene, I have plumerias blooming out there in winter! Last year, I stored them in the garage and they were all slow to bloom. I'm putting some back on the patio this year.

We bought a few Pelonis oil filled electric heaters for our hoop house along the fence line . I liked them so much, we bought two for the patio hoop. We don't have to have them every night, but they do keep it tolerable when it's freezing. I think they're safer than other heaters we've tried.

Cheryl, I found Home Depot had 6 mil clear plastic in a 100 ft roll with free shipping that was cheaper than anything I found on Amazon. We have to replace the plastic on both hoop houses this year. I think it was around $50. at HD. If you were closer, I could share. I haven't ordered it yet, but I'm glad to have found it. I just want to see if my definition of "clear" is the same as theirs.

If you decide to use the gazebos, I think you'll have to find a way to weigh them down. At least here, the winter wind is fierce, occasionally!

One thing, Sandi, that plastic from Home Depot is not the thing to use because it will break down and it will disintegrate into millions of pieces. What a mess. I speak from experience. You need greenhouse plastic.

Thanks for warning~ Sometimes a bargain isn't a bargain!

I knew about the denigration part of plastic. I wanted clear plastic vinyl. The sun would be able to get through that. I saw where someone made panels out of cheap Dollar Store clear shower curtains. That would last! But who wants to frame every panel! They sell it by the foot. That would be crazy expensive! The 2 gazebo panels are only $17 with shipping. The windows would let the light in. But the white color would let the HOA notice. But by the time I am notified, it would be time to take it down. I would rather spend the money on extra pvc and rebar for a stronger structure. The panels also have ties to help hold it down. But otherwise, I like the hand clamps you used, Sandi. We don't get really windy winters but it can gusty at times and I would guard against wind for sure. Like my plants and frost, all it takes is one good gust, right?---I have a heater normally used in the garage. It is electric but is "radiating" I think? I bought it a Costco. As long as I keep things away from touching it, it should be as safe in an outdoor structure as it is in a garage.

The Greenhouse walls are up and have survived the big storm we had last night. I will construct some type of doorway this week. Since the width-wise use of these gazebo walls didn't cover down to the ground, next year I will use them lengthwise and go from 14' to 20 ft greenhouse. I am going to put up mylar foam board on the sides to help reflect the light inside.

That looks pretty cool! I just replied to your other post. It looks like it should be a great temporary greenhouse if it lasted through the storm you just experienced.

Saturday, I finally ordered a roll of clear plastic here. Fellow gardener recommended the business. It should be delivered Friday. I won't know the price until Friday, but they give a discount to MGers. My friend paid $310. for a 28x100 ft roll. I ordered a 20x100 ft roll. Hope mine is a bit cheaper. BTW, the hand clamps are from Harbor Freight.

I ended up using tarp clamps made for trucks. I think I spent too much money on them @$1.30 ea. Oh well. Those are the things that will last and take up little space in storage. They went on like clothes pins. Plus, there is a loop on each of them. If I want to I can string a cord through it holding the tarp down even further. I am contemplating using clear vinyl for the door openings. You can get it at fabric places like Joanne's etc. But I think it is sold by the foot so it can get expensive. Comes in 8 foot widths. I am still trying to keep somewhat incognito from the HOA.

Our HOA has never bothered about anything in the backyard, so far. It's more fussy about boats and RVs visiting in driveways. Tarp clamps sound like a good investment.

The floor of the greenhouse is on a deck. Do I need to cover it to keep the cold out from the bottom?