Portable Greenhouse Built On Wagon Running Frame

2019 - Volume #43, Issue #4, Page #29

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When Dave Capen’s wife Liz said no to the construction of a wooden-framed greenhouse on their property, he decided to build one on wheels.
    “We use it to grow plants that we start in our house and then move out when they get too big. Later on we transplant them to our gardens. Our total cost was only about $100,” says Dave.
    He started with a flatbed wagon with a pressure-treated wood floor. He bought four 20-ft. lengths of 1/2-in. rerod and cut them in half. He bent five 10-ft. long pieces into a hoop shape, by marking the middle and then bending the rods over a barrel. He then drilled five 5/8-in. dia. holes on each side of the wagon floor and pushed the hoops into place.
    Capen left the other 3 rods straight and zip-tied them lengthwise to the underside of the hoops, placing one rod on top of the hoops and the other 2 about halfway down the sides. He then cut out 2 pieces of scrap plywood and attached them to the upper half of the frame at both ends. The ends of the rods run through holes drilled into the plywood, which helps hold the plywood in place. Cross wires help stabilize the frame.
    Once the frame was finished, he bought a roll of 6-mil. plastic for $30 and cut it into thirds. One piece is attached permanently to the top of the hoops. The other 2 pieces form the sides and are attached to the top piece between pairs of slat boards. The bottom of each side is covered by duct tape to help keep the plastic from ripping, and grommets run through the taped plastic. Bungie cords that run through the grommets attach to the wagon frame.
    “By removing the bungie cords, we can flip the sides up for easy access to the plants inside,” says Capen. “We use the same idea on the front and back sides of the frame.”
    The portable greenhouse contains 60 square feet of usable space. “Since we don’t need room to walk through, we can use the entire floor of the wagon to grow plants,” says Capen. “If it gets too cold or windy, we just push the greenhouse into our barn. We can also move the greenhouse to a shady or sunny area, depending on conditions. I use a thermometer to keep track of the temperature inside the greenhouse.”
    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Liz Capen, 588 Shaftsbury Hollow Rd. N., Bennington, Vt. 05257 (ph 802 447-4993; lizcapen101@outlook.com).

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Portable Greenhouse Built On Wagon Running Frame BUILDINGS Miscellaneous When Dave Capen’s wife Liz said no to the construction of a wooden-framed greenhouse on their property he decided to build one on wheels “We use it to grow plants that we start in our house and then move out when they get too big Later on we transplant them to our gardens Our total cost was only about $100 ” says Dave He started with a flatbed wagon with a pressure-treated wood floor He bought four 20-ft lengths of 1/2-in rerod and cut them in half He bent five 10-ft long pieces into a hoop shape by marking the middle and then bending the rods over a barrel He then drilled five 5/8-in dia holes on each side of the wagon floor and pushed the hoops into place Capen left the other 3 rods straight and zip-tied them lengthwise to the underside of the hoops placing one rod on top of the hoops and the other 2 about halfway down the sides He then cut out 2 pieces of scrap plywood and attached them to the upper half of the frame at both ends The ends of the rods run through holes drilled into the plywood which helps hold the plywood in place Cross wires help stabilize the frame Once the frame was finished he bought a roll of 6-mil plastic for $30 and cut it into thirds One piece is attached permanently to the top of the hoops The other 2 pieces form the sides and are attached to the top piece between pairs of slat boards The bottom of each side is covered by duct tape to help keep the plastic from ripping and grommets run through the taped plastic Bungie cords that run through the grommets attach to the wagon frame “By removing the bungie cords we can flip the sides up for easy access to the plants inside ” says Capen “We use the same idea on the front and back sides of the frame ” The portable greenhouse contains 60 square feet of usable space “Since we don’t need room to walk through we can use the entire floor of the wagon to grow plants ” says Capen “If it gets too cold or windy we just push the greenhouse into our barn We can also move the greenhouse to a shady or sunny area depending on conditions I use a thermometer to keep track of the temperature inside the greenhouse ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Liz Capen 588 Shaftsbury Hollow Rd N Bennington Vt 05257 ph 802 447-4993; lizcapen101@outlook com

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