As soon as daylight broke yesterday I was off to the hardware store. I knew the very first thing I wanted to install in my new greenhouse was gutters. I had previously viewed a set of greenhouse gutters once before in a magazine and thought they looked amazing.
Since my greenhouse is 14′ long I decided to purchase 10′ gutters. This would leave me 2′ on both ends to put a container in the corner if I chose to at a later time.
I chose to use galvanized gutters. The gutters ran about $6 each plus another $3 for the end caps.
The L brackets were $2.25 for a set of 2. I called the man who sold me the greenhouse and asked how many I should use. He said 3 per 10′ length should be sufficient. He also added it was not necessary to purchase the heavy-duty brackets, the regular ones would be fine.
I ended up installing 4 10′ gutters along the left side of the greenhouse. I spaced the top 3 about 12″ apart and the bottom one about 24″ from the one above it. My plan was to plant radishes, spinach and Parisian carrots in the top gutters and romaine lettuce in the bottom gutter.
I lined the gutters with 1″ 5/8 minus gravel {I did not drill holes in the bottom of the gutters}.
I then filled the lined gutters with wet Miracle Grow seed starting soil.
The first seeds I planted were Ed Hume’s Easter Egg Radish.
After planting the radish seeds 1/4″ deep I carefully tamped down the soil.
One tray down, three to go. 😉
~Mavis
Update: 1 month later.
Katie W. says
Very cool idea!
Greg says
Wow it’s now 2021 ! Hope all is well with you .
We’re breaking ground on a lean to greenhouse this week here in eastern NC.
I’m going to steal your idea. Except I’m going to use large diameter bamboo. Our neighbors have a patch. Thankx
Left Of Ordinary says
Brilliant! I’m suffering a bit from greenhouse envy. :O)
You Can Call Me Jane says
VERY fun. Keep these posts coming. You’re going to have the coolest greenhouse ever. I just know it.
Desi says
That looks neat. I’ve not ever seen that. I’m looking forward to seeing your posts on this!
Jennifer says
Oh I love this idea!! How easy and amazing!
Angela R says
Mavis, this is beautiful! I would LOVE a greenhouse for my garden. Can you tell me – where you able to find a deal on one? Any tips? They seem really spendy, but I’d love one some day.
Lisa says
I was so inspired by this idea that we are adding them to our new greenhouse today!!
Jackie says
Your site is a real blessing. Our garden space is now a pasture for our two cows and bull and I have been walking around our small farm looking for a new garden site. Well long story short your ideas of trellis, gutter planter and wooden pallet planters have solved my problems. One question, do you think the gutter planters would work outside we don’t have a greenhouse? Thank you for sharing your time and ideas.
Jackie
Mavis says
Yes the gutters would work outside just fine. You will need to drill a few holes on the bottom of them to allow for easy drainage though. 🙂
Dean'Na Conyers says
Love the idea and plan to implement it in my new greenhouse! First thought that popped in my head, was do I need to drill drainage holes in them? I see you said you didn’t in yours inside the greenhouse, but Jackie does. I’m new to gardening, so forgive my ignorance in asking. But why not in the greenhouse?
Cindy says
Because in a greenhouse YOU control how much water goes into the gutters. Outside, it rains and they would flood and retain too much water.
Max says
Very nice use of space. Is the “left side” of your greenhouse the North side? I wonder if there is any chance the zinc on the galvanized gutters can migrate to the food? We need some to be healthy but how much is that? Food safe paint on the soil contact surfaces, after proper prep, might be worth considering. I will be erecting my greenhouse next month and I hope to see more of your ideas. Thanks for sharing.
Kip says
I’ve installed them in my greenhouse also. Did short ones on both side of the entry door. Have them for herbs and they work great.
Johnna says
Great idea. The field mice eat all my lettuce from my raised beds so I’m going to do this ASAP!! I’ve seen you transplant the lettuce from the gutters, but could I leave it in? Maybe pick a specific varietal of smaller lettuce??? THANKS in advance!
Melissa Doroquez says
Were your gutters just sitting on top of the L-brackets? I am thinking of suspending some between 4×4’s as a faux fence and was wondering if I could do it that way or if I needed to drill into the gutters. I noticed yours were seemingly easily removable to replant elsewhere. Or I may just drill into the two end caps but I would love the answer regardless.
Mavis Butterfield says
Hi Melissa, the gutters were just sitting on L brackets for easy removal. I Hope that helps.
OJ Cotes says
a question… have you tried strawberries in these gutters? do you think they might work. I love this gutter idea for the veggies you mentioned and will definitely do some. oj
Mavis Butterfield says
https://www.onehundreddollarsamonth.com/how-to-grow-food-in-a-greenhouse-planting-strawberries-in-gutters/
https://www.onehundreddollarsamonth.com/update-how-to-grow-food-in-a-greenhouse-planting-strawberries-in-gutters/
Ann says
Just sawthis post by accident this morning and rescued our old gutters from the skip. They are now attached to the sides of the greenouse we are fixing up .
Not as elegant as yours but hopefully functional.
Many thsnks for dharing such an inspiring idea.
Cynthia says
Did you post a follow up showing your results with growing in your gutter gardens?
Mavis Butterfield says
Here’s one: https://www.onehundreddollarsamonth.com/how-to-grow-vegetables-in-a-greenhouse-lettuce-spinach-tomatoes-basil-and-more/