If you have 4'x4' garden boxes, here is a simple way to build a PVC frame. The materials should cost less than $20.
The Protection Frame:
Materials List
- 2ft rebar (4)
- 4ft PVC (5)
- PVC T-joints (2)
- shade screen (summer)
- painter’s drop cloth (winter)
Assembly
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Using a mallet, drive a rebar into the ground just outside each corner of the garden box. Leave at least 6" of rebar exposed.- Place a 4' section of PVC on each rebar
- Bend two of the adjacent 4' PVC pipes towards each other and hold them together with the cross section of a T-joint. Position the branch of the joint so that it is pointing across the top of the garden.
- Repeat on the other side of the garden with the other two PVC pipes and T-joint.
- Put the last piece of PVC between the two T-joints.
In the summer, cover the frame with shade screen during the hottest parts of the day. During the Fall, Winter, and Spring you can protect plants from frost and snow. You can add an additional 4 weeks of frost protection on both sides of the winter season.
Here in Phoenix Arizona, our frost dates are December 15th through February 15th. That's only 8 weeks, meaning that we can grow vegetables throughout the winter here. For both Summer and Winter protection in Phoenix Arizona, I've used old sheets over the garden bed with great success.
Other parts of the country may require a sturdier frame to support snow. Perhaps having loops every 2' rather than 4' would be sufficient. Or a second identical frame as described here, turned 90 degrees, would certainly be stronger. Another modification might be to add a center pole to support the 4' span across the garden box.
Summary
The benefits of building a protection frame like this will far outweigh the one time expense of gathering the supplies. I hope you consider extending your garden's growing season with a similar project.
How have you protected your vegetables and extended your growing season? Please share links, pictures, and comments below.
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