Hydroponics by Bob Bird

Hydroponics, Polycarbonate and Pallets

When I first took over my allotment (10 years ago) The bottom 10ft was impossible, even after removing mountains of rubbish and waste, the ground was still full of plastic, glass and other waste. I decided to have raised beds and a polytunnel there. Having been given a broken polytunnel frame, I repaired and rebuilt it. Unfortunately, after multiple collapses, it was no longer fit for use.

So with polycarbonate sheets and pallets, I built the ‘greenhouse’ pictured. It was an outstanding success last season! 2 crops of strawberries, amazing peppers (3 different varieties), tomatoes and sweet potatoes.  I put this down to the greenhouse feeling 2 to 3 degrees warmer than my glass ones.

Not the end of the story! The space behind it, was still not producing anything, so I decided to build another. Hoping for multiple crops again, I decided to go for hydroponics as well.

Here is the build of the new house.

Initial building is quick, using smaller pallets, with poly carbonate sheets  and long lengths of timber to strengthen them.

Fortunately, I was given a number of larger pallets (8ft x 4ft and larger). I broke these up to provide the framing and structure. More pallets and polycarbonnet sheets were added as I went.

On the end of the original structure, you can see the end of the new house. (2m wide approx.) The door is at the rear. It’s about 4 m long.

Below you can see the interior. A bench set up to work the hydroponics on. A long window for ventilation.  You will notice, black plastic and weedguard on the bench, that’s to protect the bench and for the raised beds not completed yet.

Still some snagging and taping to do and the hydroponic system to make, but that’s for another time. Cost so far, 3 boxes of screws, 2 pairs of hinges. I do have some spare sheets of polycarbonate, 2m by 1m approx and some half sheets if any one is interested in them. ( Small donation to my beer fund always welcomed.

Bob Bird Plot 87