Since tomatoes are a sensitive plant variety, you can protect them from harsh weather by building a tomato canopy yourself. Although the plants usually grow healthily after cultivation with proper plant care, rain or excessive sun can sometimes damage them. This often causes stems and leaves to yellow and fruits to become watery and inedible despite being ripe. For this reason, it would make sense to take protective measures and create a cost-effective roof yourself. Below are some relevant examples and simple steps you can follow to maintain thriving tomato plants.
How do you build a tomato roof yourself and what needs to be taken into account?
The creation of such a structureProtecting tomato plantsfrom rain is usually not a complicated DIY garden project. To do this you will need simple tools, but you should first measure and plan the garden area you want to protect.
If yourTomato plants, for example, in raised bedsor growing in planters, it is important to consider the correct positioning of the roof structure. In addition, the precise measurements are necessary because the legs of the canopy must remain stable in the ground in adverse weather conditions.
With this in mind, depending on the size of your plants, you should carefully estimate how high you want to build your own tomato roof. In addition, some varieties are more susceptible to plant diseases such as brown rot. Theproper cultivation of tomatoesunder one roof can accordingly reduce the damage caused.
What materials can you use to build a tomato roof yourself?
Many materials and supplies are suitable for building such a structure, such as wooden posts, PVC or metal pipes, as well as foil and corrugated sheets. You can easily attach these to each other without having to build a complex tomato roof yourself.
Depending on the width of your garden bed, you can choose either flat or higher structures to offer your plants the best possible protection. Such a structure also allows you to yourGarden plants with climbing aidsto support growth. Here's a simple option you can consider.
Create a simple protective roof using PVC pipes and corrugated sheeting
To be able to build such a simple structure as a tomato roof yourself, you can use lightweight and easy-to-fix PVC pipes. This can be a cheap alternative to purchasing expensive building materials. Here are some other materials and tools you will need for this:
- 4 or 5 pieces of PVC pipes, depending on the size of your garden bed.
- 4pcs 90 degree PVC connectors with side outlet.
- 8 pieces PVC tees.
- 1 piece clear corrugated polycarbonate roof sheet or any plastic sheet.
- 1 package with 2-hole straps, although you may need less, but there are usually more in the package.
- 28 drywall screws
- This is an example list and you may need to purchase several screws or pipes if you don't have any on hand at home.
Build your own tomato roof with the right tools
Use a PVC cutting tool, a hacksaw works well. If you have to cut a lot, you can also use a chop saw or choose a multifunctional saw for various materials. You may also need scissors for cutting roof panels and a cordless drill. To keep the legs stable, you can use an auger to drill holes in the ground. Otherwise, you can simply follow the example guide below step by step.
Step-by-step instructions
- First, try cutting two of the longer PVC pipes in half for the legs of the scaffolding.
- First, cut long pipes into 4 pieces each.
- After that, first create the top of the structure with the four 90 degree side outlet connectors.
- Then add the four legs.
- Once you've assembled your base frame, you'll want to choose the best position for your tomato canopy.
- Next, mark where the grid arms will be most useful. You should have two cuts on each leg, all the same length.
- The 3-way 90 degree tee works, but 4 additional cuts need to be made. You can then reassemble this with the remaining parts.
- Now remove the top of the tomato canopy from the legs so that you can screw it in place more easily and sturdily.
- Then take a pair of scissors and use them to cut the clear corrugated or plastic sheet in half. This means you get two parts that are easy to attach.
- First, you should decide which ends the rainwater should drain from in order to position the roof panel in the appropriate direction.
- The next step is to place the panel on the frame and secure it with screws.
- You can experiment with the position of the plate before screwing it onto either the top or bottom of the frame.
- If you are happy with the result, you can place a plastic sheet at the bottom to collect the dew drops.
- If you attach the plate to the underside of the scaffolding, you can also stretch the film on the top.
- First, you can put the top back together and move your tomato canopy to the desired location.
- Make sure your protective structure is well secured by firmly anchoring the legs of the shelter into the garden soil to keep the whole thing in place. You can use the earth drill for this.
- Finally, you can use straps or rope to attach the protective legs to the top.
