Adjustable Frame Low Tunnel: Make Home Gardening Season Last Longer!

Posted by Organic Heirloom Gardens on Jan 2nd 2018

We all know that feeling when fall is coming and our garden beds are getting ready to die.

Time to watch the squirrels use them to bury nuts for later in the winter.

…...or MAYBE NOT!

GENERAL

Low tunnels are the perfect solution for the home gardener.

Protection for fall and winter crops.
Extend your grow season by months if not for the entire winter in some zones with the right crops.
Provide shelter to start summer crops earlier in the season.
BIGGER PLANTS and A BIGGER HARVEST!

Cabbage, Carrots, Lettuce, Spinach, Radishes and more will all thrive during even the winter months in almost all US Zones when using a low tunnel setup. These crops are all cold hearty already. When you use a low tunnel they will have a little extra protection and grow much faster.

Heirloom Tomatoes and Extremely Hot Peppers are my favorite summer crops to get started early. Both are very sensitive to frost and freeze, especially hot peppers like the scorpion and Carolina Reaper. Using a low tunnel you do not have to worry about temperatures down to as low as the upper 20s. This allows you to get your plants out earlier. Both peppers and tomatoes benefit from as long of a grow season as you can give them. If you want 6 foot tall hot pepper plants, this will give you a great jump start on other gardeners.

ADJUSTABLE FRAME LOW TUNNEL WITH CONVERTIBLE TOP

It is easy to see why low tunnels would be great for the home gardener to use. Now all you need is a system that will work year in and year out in different spots in your garden. That is where this adjustable system is more than just a few hoops throw together with plastic draped over it. This system will allow you to adjust to different row widths giving you the ability to reuse the system in different places year after year. The top folds back all as one piece easily with one person. You can remove it for warmer weather or rain/watering then easily slide it right back over the frame to put it back on. This system can handle wind and even some snow weight because of the tension and the crap ton of staples! It can be used on regular beds or raised beds.

SPECIFICATIONS

LENGTH - 8 Feet (Non Adjustable in this Version)
WIDTH - 32-60 Inches (Adjustable)
DOME HEIGHT - 24-36 Inches Approx (Depending on Adjusted Width)
TOP - Agriculture Plastic, Easily Removable and Replaceable, Folds Back For Watering

MATERIALS

(5) 8ft 2x4s
(8) 3”+ Decking Screws
(8-16) <1.5” Screws
(A Lot) Heavy Duty Staples
(16+ Feet) 6 Foot Wide Ag Fabric Plastic
(4) 6’8” x ½” PVC Pipe
(2-4) ⅜” x 4+” Carriage Bolts with Wing Nuts
(4) Small L Brackets

FULL PLANS CLICK HERE!!!!

Once you get the unit finished you can put it over any row 32-60 inches wide by 8 feet long that needs protection. When summer is here simply take the PVC poles out and collapse to its smallest size and store for next year. There couldn’t be a better solution to extend the growing season for your home garden!