DIY Network

Building a Greenhouse Building a Greenhouse From "Fresh from the Garden" episode DFFG-113

When you purchase a greenhouse kit, it will come complete with a roof hub, roof, side and bottom poles, a greenhouse cover, tie-down stakes and guy rope to hold the house in place. (A kit can be put together by one person, but it's easier --naturally -- if you have help. To assemble, just follow these simple steps, consulting the manufacturer's instructions for specific details:

advertisement

1. The first step is to separate the frame poles that are tied together. The center hub piece will be the point of reference for the entire Greenhouse. It connects the poles, holds up the roof and will be the guide for getting the cover on straight. Each of the roof poles is curved. The curves face down to attach to the wall poles.

2. One at a time, place the roof poles into the center hub. Make sure the clip lock snaps in place. This snap keeps the poles from collapsing under the weight of the cover. Next, place the curved pole into the straight pole. Make sure the curve is facing down. Continue until all of the poles are in place. Set the completed roof out of the way until the walls are complete.

3. The straight poles are the bottom supports that connect all of the sides. Each pole has a joint connector to attach a side pole and another bottom pole. Snap one bottom pole to a second one making sure the joints connector faces up.

4. Work your way around until all of the bottom poles are in place. Before you attach the side poles, slide or carry the completed frame into the place you plan on using it. It'll be harder to mover later on. Next snap the side poles into the joint connections along the bottom poles. The poles have safety snaps that must lock in place or the greenhouse will not be stable. Do not move onto the next pole until the snap lock clicks into the slot.

5. Get help to install the side poles. If you are working alone, work from one side to the other. Set the roof poles on top of the side poles. Slide each one securely into the side poles.

6. To install the cover over the line up the seams with the side poles and the center with the top of the roof.

7. Pull the cover over the frame until the center point is lined up with the roof hub. Spread the cover over the side poles and on down to the bottom frame. The cover is tight and it takes some work to get each of the seams lined up with the poles.

8. The cover has webbing straps to attach it to the frame. Loop the cover and strap under the frame pole and buckle the strap like this. There's one of these buckles on each side and they need to be tight to keep the warm air inside the greenhouse from expanding through the sides. Go around once to get them all buckled and then come back later, once the cover has relaxed over the frame, and tighten them again.

9. With the cover finished, thread the door cable through the channel at the inside top of the door. To secure the greenhouse put a 16" stake through each of the stake loops on the outside corners of the greenhouse. Hammer it into the ground at a 45 degree angle. Tie a guy rope to the D-Ring on the corner and stake it down with a 10" stake. Repeat for all 6 corners.

10. Use a hammer to drive the stakes into the ground. Add mulch and heavy plastic to the ground to make a floor for your greenhouse.