Managed to get this done ('right' anyways) at the last minute (2AM'ish) the other night as our first freezing temps where setting in. Forecast starting like the weekend before last was pitching us multiple nights below 40F. Greenhouse being semi-optional was OVER. Since the freak cold snaps started up back in Oct. I'd been contemplating all sorts of make shift snap together COTS (commercial off the shelf) greenhouse ideas such as PVC etc. Winter actually proved a bit more forgiving than fall actually had though, so doing anything about the ideal situation of having a greenhouse or 3 in place kept getting back seated to getting other things done. But then the blue on the forecast had me seeing only red since last week. When pushed to the task the one clear choice was milk crates, as they're already the backbone.
WIRE FRAME
After the first couple nights in sorting out deployment I had settled for 10G insulated electrical wire to hoist the plastic up with. I knew this simply wouldn't last for more than a few days, but I had it on hand and time was short as I had <40F on the doorstep that night.
OH NOES
Had bought too little of granite gravel for the crate columns, which BTW only the 4 corners and 2 long-run center columns were to be built 'right' at the time(still are technically), but ran out of gravel. Gravel in the bottom 1-2 crates in each (the proper Home Depot bags for 2 full crates is about 2.5), with ties on most sides of all crates is the idea. But I ran short only grabbing 5 bags of gravel. By morning the far long side (the center column over there was the one given no gravel, and not properly tied). Well that center column flew right down by morning, and both corners over there were bowed all the way in. [Not sure if I got photos we'll see. (okay, the tarped over images above do show after the first collapse event)] Kind of expected really, was a quick fix for the night. But it did weaken the soil underneath those corners crates (not to be the first time lol).
LOL
All the center path columns are filled with various rootcrop bulbs and etc plants suited for the cramp at the moment, including all those in those 2 collapsed doorway columns. What fun lol.
Got that fixed eventually, still with wire frame though, which did last a few more nights for the little plants...
UPGRADES
Now with proper fix in mind & motion, the FREEZE was fast approaching. Now the design is a nice outer edge 2x4" cap complete with 2000' twine web. I actually managed majority of the building portions myself, including the spiders webbing portion which took maybe an hour & half. For the web the roll ran as one continuous strand until the very end I attached straight shot, TIGHT pulled lines across each way all the way to each far side, from each center and then corner to corner. should help channel of the inevitable rain with the web proper being there to hopefully sort of make it 'springy' as needed.
Tried to go in there to take a photo but the lens would fog up in 1 second.
Its still holding pretty tight, but not like a drum as I sort of had it at first. Will build proper door and be adding all sorts of bracing tweeks, as we as dedicating the center corridor columns and really ruggedizing them out. Sprayers, etc. Plastic should be toast right around when its time to switch to shade nets...
Oh, it cost a bit more than $100 having to buy the gravel on short notice, and would have cost more without the scrap strips of lumber I had on hand. The right garage could run most of this project with parts on hand, except maybe the crates (where I get them is secret, but given to me by the owners).
So we saved all of the little plants, still in business, but took some hits on the bigger ones having to rush all this last minute left little time for the entire op.
Will post back after it rains....
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