To get started, you'll need some large cement blocks, two-by-fours, bricks or rocks and some large sheets of plastic. (These sheets come in different thicknesses. For this project, you'll want about a 1- to 2-millimeter thickness.)Steps
1. Place the concrete blocks vertically at intervals along the row of plants.
2. Lay the board on top of the blocks.
3. Drape the plastic over the boards, making sure there is plenty of clearance between the top of the plants and the plastic (you don't want the plastic freezing to your plants).
Tip: The plastic should extend about 2' to 3' past the bottom of the bricks. If you're covering a large area, use heavy tape to connect the sheets of plastic.
4. To hold down the sides of the plastic, simply place rocks, bricks or another board on top.
5. You'll want to leave openings on the ends of the plastic to allow for good air flow.
Tips:
- Here's an important piece of advice: you'll want to close the openings if temperatures start dropping below 32 degrees.
- Another tip for protecting your plants is to place milk jugs filled with hot water inside the temporary greenhouse.
- If the temperature should dip into the 20s, drape a blanket or a piece of burlap over the plastic. Don't let the extra weight smash your plants. You may want to place stakes underneath the plastic to support the weight of the material.
- And as the day heats up, don't forget to remove the plastic so Mother Nature can take over.
