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The window sill is the best place to grow seedlings, but it can accommodate few boxes. Shelves allow you to expand the space. The process of manufacturing a structure is no different from assembling stationary shelving, only other dimensions are calculated. It is customary to equip three shelves for seedlings on the windowsill due to the limited height of the window opening. The distance between tiers is from 40 to 60 cm.
Steel structure
Metal shelf for seedlings suitable for a window provided there is a wooden window sill. The structure will be heavy, plus the weight of the boxes with soil and seedlings. The plastic window sill may have dents. The design diagram with shelves is shown in the photo. For example, we take a metal bookcase, differing only in size. You can leave the width according to the diagram, and calculate the height according to your window opening.
Steel shelves for seedlings are made dismountable with a bolted connection or welded into a single structure. Although, in the second option, only the frame is solid. The shelves themselves can be easily removed from the crossbars. For the frame, a profile with a section of 20x20 mm and a corner with a side width of 25 mm are used.The shelves are cut out of chipboard, multi-layer 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 shelves for seedlings on a windowsill from steel blanks:
- The dimensions of the structure are calculated so that there is a gap of 50 mm between the frame, the side walls of the window opening and the glass. It will not be possible to place more than three shelves on top of the window sill. 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 100 mm from the bottom and top, attach the jumpers. The elements will play the role of stiffening ribs, reinforcing the rectangular frames.
- The rectangles are placed in a vertical position, the lower and upper corners are connected with jumpers.
- The frame is ready. Now all that remains is to equip it with shelf holders. 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, holes are drilled at the side posts of the frame.
- The holders themselves are made from angle steel. The blanks are cut to a length corresponding to the width of the frame. Holes are drilled at the ends of the corners. Here it is important to ensure that the holes on the holders and frame posts match.
- The drilled corners are connected with bolts to the side posts of the frame.
It is advisable to paint a metal rack for aesthetics and protection against corrosion. The shelves are cut to the appropriate size for the frame and placed on holders made from corners.
Shelves on a frame made of PVC pipes
A beautiful shelf for seedlings on the window with your own hands will be made from PVC pipes. Assembling the frame resembles a construction set. In addition to pipes, you will need fittings: tees, crosses and elbows. The connection method depends on the type of material used. PVC water pipes are joined by soldering, glue or detachable fittings. The last option is more convenient. After growing the seedlings, the shelves with the frame can be disassembled for storage into small parts.
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 strengthen the frame with additional bypass lines under the bottom and above the top shelf. You will get five horizontal rectangles.
Shelves require rigid lintels. 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 from pieces of pipe and inserted into the holes of the tees.
The shelves for the rack are cut from the same plywood or chipboard. The frame made of PVC pipes turned out beautiful. For aesthetics, you can lay sheets of tempered glass. This shelf for seedlings will fit effectively on a plastic window, and due to its light weight it will not create much pressure on the window sill.
Wooden frame with height-adjustable shelf
A do-it-yourself wooden shelf for seedlings on a windowsill is the most common option. The material is light, inexpensive and easy to process.To make a rack with one shelf adjustable in height, you will need 4 racks made of boards 40–50 mm thick. On one side, 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 they are connected at the top and bottom with timber strapping with a cross-section of 40x40 mm. The resulting rectangular stretchers 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.
Wooden frame made of timber
It makes no sense to consider in detail how to make shelves for seedlings with your own hands and attach them to a frame made of wooden beams. The assembly technology is similar to the production of metal structures.
First, two rectangles are assembled from timber - the side posts of the frame. The elements are connected to each other by jumpers of the upper and lower trim. Cross members are installed inside the side rectangles. These will be the shelf holders. All elements are assembled using self-tapping screws. The shelves themselves can be made not only from slabs, but also collapsible, using pieces of thin boards.
Two options for shelves made of plastic boxes
Depending on the crops grown, seedlings can be large or small. Shelves for low plants can be made from plastic boxes stacked on top of each other. But first the containers need to be prepared.Using a sharp knife, cut off most of the side walls of the boxes. There should be a low side. The corner legs are left untouched. The prepared containers are placed on top of each other to create a rack with shelves.
The solution to the question of how to make a shelf for seedlings with lighting is to use LED or fluorescent lamps. Light sources are attached to the bottom of the box next in height to the tier.
For tall seedlings, the distance between the shelves is increased. Plastic boxes are prepared using a similar technology. To lengthen the racks, cut pieces of metal rod. The rods are inserted into the recesses of the drawer legs. A piece of hose is put on each rod. These will be limiters that prevent the upper tier container from settling. The rod should protrude from under the hose. When the next box is placed on top of the pins, its legs will rest against the stop.
Beautiful stand made of plastic window sills
You can make beautiful shelves for seedlings on the window with your own hands from plastic window sills. The blanks are sawn off to a length of 5 cm less than the width of the window opening. The side ends are covered with plastic plugs. Holes for the racks are drilled in the center of the window sill near the front bend and in the far corners. This can be easily done with a drill with an attachment. A console is fixed in each hole with self-tapping screws, pipes are inserted and clamped.
A beautiful design of shelves on three legs is equipped with lighting. A tubular fluorescent lamp is fixed on the back side of each window sill or an LED strip is glued.
Ideas for making temporary shelves
Typically, seedlings need temporary shelves for windows, which can be easily disassembled after planting.A good idea is based on making two side racks with jumpers in the form of a ladder. The structures are placed flush against the side walls of the window opening. Shelves are laid on the lintels. It is better to make shields from thin boards. The bars are nailed from below along both edges of the shelf. They will rest against the lintels of the stairs, preventing the sides from falling.
Temporary shelves for seedlings on a wooden window can be made from tempered glass. L-shaped shaped brackets are screwed along the edges and to the middle of the frame with self-tapping screws. Glass shelves are removed from old furniture and placed on fixed holders. LED lights will not only benefit the seedlings, but will also become a real window decoration.
A very simple option is to hang shelves with ropes. In the design, it is important to ensure reliable fastening of the brackets. For shelves, edged boards, chipboard or old plastic window sills are suitable. Holes are drilled in the workpieces at a distance of 10 cm from the side edges. Two brackets are fixed in the upper part of the window opening. A 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 of how to arrange the shelves on the window for seedlings so that they bring maximum benefit to the plants. The answer is simple. It is necessary to combine artificial and natural lighting. The shelves are equipped with lighting from lamps, and foil reflectors are placed on the sides and opposite the window.
