Plastic drinks bottle greenhouse.

[simoncpg]

Dear All
I am planning to build a greenhouse out of 2LTR plastic drinks bottles, obviously this needs some amount of bottles (aprox 1000 ) I am thinking of asking the local headmaster for help re parents.
Any IDEAS.
Thanks Simon.

[splatcat]

surely it would blow away..?

[Shadylane]

surely it would blow away..?

You slide them down bamboo canes and then secure the canes I think. I remember people talking about these last year. I'd research it first because it's a bit of a mammoth task and I think the problem would be that the plastic would degrade in the sun and would probably only last a season.

[oldie]

There's one of these and a cold frame on a local allotment site. Been there for I think 3 years and still looks good.

[selfraising]

Hi there
Don't know if this link will help but there seems to be a downloadable plan

Greenhouse from Plastic Bottles - Greenhouse

[Scarlet]

There was another thread on the same topic discussed on here some time ago - might help
http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...use_40427.html

[Dottie]

I think they are a great idea, especially if you get hold of an old greenhose frame. Folk often get rid of frames when they have broken glass to replace. Then all you need is the canes and bottles. Best of luck.

[Chef_uk]

One of the best recycling uses for a plastic bottle in my opinion. The yield you could get far outweighs any issue with lifespan in my book.

[TonyF]

... and I think the problem would be that the plastic would degrade in the sun and would probably only last a season.

Degrading in the sun depends on a number of factors, especially the type of plastic used (not all water bottles are made of the same plastic) and how sunny it is. I use 1, 5 and 8 litre water bottles for a few jobs in the garden. The one litre bottles are mainly from fruit juices and they last for several years, those I use as watering aids so far have lasted 4 years.

The 8 litre (and a few 5 litre) bottles are used as mini greenhouses or mini cloches and they've been in use for at least 3 years with no ill effects at all.

One of the problems may be that with thinner gauge plastic, the sun will actually buckle/warp them (as it does for tray lids) but then we regularly get temperatures of 35 here in the summer so you may not have that problem.

[Plot103]

There are some YouTube videos about this. These show a couple of slightly different construction techniques:

YouTube - Will, Young Reporter for The2 interviewing Mr Bullock

YouTube - Clare's Allotment

[Claire72]

I would probably ask on freecycle for bottles, if you ask the local school, they may ask you to build one for them too!!!!!