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The window sill is the best place to grow seedlings, but it does not fit many boxes. Shelves allow you to expand the space. The manufacturing process of the structure is no different from the assembly of stationary racks, only other dimensions are calculated. It is customary to equip three shelves for seedlings on the windowsill due to the limitation of the height of the window opening. The distance between the tiers is from 40 to 60 cm.
steel structure
A metal shelf for seedlings on the window is suitable, provided that there is a wooden window sill. The design will turn out to be heavy, plus the weight of boxes with earth and seedlings. The plastic window sill may have dents. The design scheme with shelves is shown in the photo. For example, a metal bookcase is taken, which differs only in size. You can leave the width according to the scheme, and calculate the height according to your window opening.
Steel shelves for seedlings are made collapsible with a bolted connection or welded into a single structure. Although, in the second version, only the frame is solid. The shelves themselves are easily removed from the crossbars. For the frame, a profile with a section of 20×20 mm and a corner with a side width of 25 mm are used. Shelves are cut from chipboard, plywood or other similar boards. The exact amount of materials depends on the size of the structure, which is usually adjusted to the dimensions of the window opening.
Let’s look at how to make seedling shelves on the windowsill from steel blanks:
- The dimensions of the structure are calculated so that a gap of 50 mm remains between the frame, the side walls of the window opening and the glass. More than three shelves can not be placed on top of the windowsill. On average, the height of the tier will be 500 mm.
- Two rectangles are assembled from the profile. These will be the side elements of the frame. Stepping back from the bottom and top of 100 mm, fasten the jumpers. The elements will play the role of stiffeners, reinforcing the rectangular frames.
- The rectangles are placed in a vertical position, connecting the lower and upper corners with jumpers.
- The frame is ready. Now it remains to equip it with holders for shelves. It is better not to weld them, but to make them with a bolted connection. This will allow you to change the height of the shelves in the future. To fix the holders at the side racks of the frame, holes are drilled.
- The holders themselves are made from a steel corner. The blanks are cut to a length corresponding to the width of the frame. Holes are drilled at the ends of the corners. It is important to observe the coincidence of the holes on the holders and racks of the frame.
- The drilled corners are bolted to the side posts of the frame.
It is desirable to paint a metal rack for aesthetics and corrosion protection. The shelves are cut out to the size corresponding to the frame and placed on the holders from the corners.
Shelves on a frame made of PVC pipes
A beautiful shelf for seedlings on the window with your own hands will be made of PVC pipes. The assembly of the frame resembles a constructor. In addition to pipes, you will need fittings: tees, crosses and elbows. The connection method depends on the type of material used. Plumbing PVC pipes are joined by soldering, glue or detachable fittings. The last option is more convenient. After growing seedlings, shelves with a frame can be disassembled for storage into small parts.
The assembly of the frame similarly begins with two side posts in the shape of a rectangle. They are connected to each other by a bypass line of pipes and crosses at the height of each future shelf. Basically, you get two vertical rectangles connected by three horizontal rectangles. If the pipe is too thin, it is better to reinforce the frame with additional bypass lines under the bottom and above the top shelf. You will get five horizontal rectangles.
Shelves need hard jumpers. When assembling horizontal rectangles, tees are installed. They are mounted on opposite pipes so that the central holes are located opposite each other. Jumpers are cut out of pipe pieces and inserted into the holes of the tees.
Shelves for shelving are cut from the same plywood or chipboard. The frame made of PVC pipes turned out beautiful. For aesthetics, tempered glass sheets can be laid. Such a shelf for seedlings will effectively fit into a plastic window, and due to its light weight it will not create much pressure on the windowsill.
Wooden frame with height adjustable shelf
Do-it-yourself wooden shelf for seedlings on the windowsill is the most common option. The material is light, inexpensive, and easy to work with. To make a rack with one shelf adjustable in height, you will need 4 racks from a board 40–50 mm thick. On the one hand, grooves are sawn in increments of 50–100 mm. The width of the cut is a couple of millimeters greater than the thickness of the material for the shelf.
The frame is assembled so that the slots are inside the structure. The boards form corner posts, and from above and below they are connected with a strapping from a bar with a section of 40×40 mm. The resulting rectangular subframes will become the basis for the stationary lower and upper shelves. The intermediate third shelf is freely inserted into the grooves of the desired height.
Timber frame
It makes no sense to consider in detail how to make shelves for seedlings with your own hands and fix them on a frame made of wooden beams. The assembly technology is similar to the manufacture of metal structures.
First, two rectangles are assembled from the timber – the side racks of the frame. Between themselves, the elements are connected by jumpers of the upper and lower strapping. Crossbars are installed inside the side rectangles. These will be the shelf holders. The assembly of all elements is carried out with self-tapping screws. The shelves themselves can be made not only from the plate, but also collapsible, using pieces of a thin board.
Two options for shelves made of plastic boxes
Depending on the crops grown, seedlings are large and small. Shelves for low plants can be made from plastic boxes stacked on top of each other. But first, the containers must be prepared. With a sharp knife, cut off most of the side walls of the boxes. There should be a low rim. The corner legs are left intact. Prepared containers are stacked on top of each other to make a rack with shelves.
The solution to the question of how to make a backlit seedling shelf is to use LED or fluorescent lights. Light sources are fixed to the bottom of the box next in height to the tier.
For tall seedlings, increase the distance between the shelves. Plastic boxes are prepared using a similar technology. To lengthen the racks, pieces of a metal rod are cut. The rods are inserted into the recesses of the legs of the box. A piece of hose is put on each rod. These will be the limiters that prevent the container of the upper tier from settling. The rod from under the hose should protrude. When the next box is placed on top of the pins, its legs will rest against the limiter.
Beautiful stand made of plastic window sills
Beautiful shelves for seedlings on the window with your own hands will be obtained from plastic window sills. The blanks are sawn off 5 cm less than the width of the window opening. The side ends are closed with plastic plugs. Holes for racks are drilled in the center of the window sill near the front bend and in the far corners. It is easy to do this with a drill with a nozzle. In each hole, the console is fixed with self-tapping screws, the pipes are inserted and clamped.
A beautiful design of shelves on three legs is equipped with lighting. On the back of each window sill, a tubular fluorescent lamp is fixed or an LED strip is glued.
Temporary Shelf Ideas
Usually, temporary shelves for windows are needed for seedlings, which are easily disassembled after planting. A good idea is based on the manufacture of two side racks with jumpers in the form of a ladder. The structures are placed close to the side walls of the window opening. Shelves are laid on the jumpers. It is better to make shields from a thin board. Bars are nailed from below along both edges of the shelf. They will rest against the lintels of the ladder, preventing the sidewalls from falling.
On a wooden window, temporary shelves for seedlings can be made of tempered glass. L-shaped curly brackets are screwed along the edges and to the middle of the frame with self-tapping screws. Glass shelves are taken out of old furniture and placed on fixed holders. LED lighting will not only benefit the seedlings, but will also become a real decoration of the window.
A very simple option is to hang the shelves with ropes. In the design, it is important to ensure reliable fastening of the brackets. Edged board, chipboard or old plastic window sills are suitable for shelves. Holes are drilled in the blanks, retreating 10 cm from the side edges. Two brackets are fixed at the top of the window opening. The rope is threaded through each hole in the shelf, a fixing loop is made, after which the finished structure is hung on hooks.
The video shows an example of making a shelf:
After completing the assembly of the rack, the question remains how to equip the shelves on the seedling window so that they benefit the plants to the maximum. The answer is simple. It is necessary to combine artificial and natural lighting. Shelves are equipped with backlighting from lamps, and foil reflectors are placed on the sides and opposite the windows.