Self-Built Hoop Greenhouse?

Building a hoop greenhouse is a fun and affordable way to keep your garden thriving all year round. By following these 10 simple steps, you can create a warm, protected environment for your plants, extending your growing season and improving your gardening experience. The pros and cons of different building materials used to create DIY backyard greenhouses, high tunnels, and hoop houses are discussed. Hoop houses are great for a variety of reasons, such as limiting access to pests, keeping plants safe from freezing, warming soil earlier, and more.

To build a 12’x32′ hoop-style greenhouse for under $400, follow these steps: determine the width of your row, stake the boards, level out the soil, add mulch, and put paneling. You can use cattle fencing or PVC hoops wrapped in plastic covering, or place metal stakes into the ground and slide six-foot sections of PVC pipe over the plants, creating an arch effect.

In summary, building a hoop greenhouse is a cost-effective and practical way to keep your garden thriving all year round. By following these steps, you can create a warm, protected environment for your plants, extend your growing season, and improve your gardening experience.

What can I use to make greenhouse hoops?

The best hoop house options include metal, PVC pipes, metal or wood hip boards and baseboards, and UV stabilized hoop house plastic. PVC pipes, made from polyvinyl chloride, are commonly used for electrical applications and cold water supply lines due to their low cost. However, they are not strong and can Bend when exposed to heat. When building a hoop house or other application covered with plastic, it must be painted, as PVC and plastic are not compatible materials.

PVC will degrade the plastic when exposed to UV rays, and using PVC directly against polyethylene plastic will void the warranty on the plastic. Overall, the choice between metal, PVC, and plastic depends on the specific needs and requirements of the project.

What is the best plastic for a greenhouse hoop?

Polyethylene (PE) is a widely used greenhouse plastic due to its competitive price and excellent mechanical properties. It is easily incorporated with additives to improve its characteristics. PE is classified based on density, with low-density being the most common. Medium-density plastic is used in small tunnels and mulch, while high-density plastic is used for pipes, bottles, caps, containers, irrigation, and drainage parts. Low-density polyethylene is the most commonly used in agriculture, offering four-year durability and resistance to sulphur. It can be yellow or colorless.

Is a hoop house as good as a greenhouse?

A hoop house, also known as a crop or high tunnel, is a warm, unheated, and less durable alternative to a greenhouse in northern Nevada. It allows plants to control their growing environment and is less expensive. To set up a hoop house, it’s important to choose a location that is flat, sunny, with good drainage and soil. A nearby water source and close source of electricity are also essential. In-ground growers should amend the soil before building.

What pipe to use for hoop house?

PVC pipes are commonly used for hoops, with diameters ranging from 1 in. to 2 in., with 2-in. being the most common due to its durability against strong winds and snow. New plastic pipes are recommended for construction, as weathered ones can break when bent. Once bent and weathered, the pipes can be reused for future projects. Once rebar stakes are set, the PVC pipe is placed by placing one end over one stake and bending to place the opposite end on the opposite side. If stakes are perpendicular to the ground, placing the pipe on the spike is difficult, so stakes should be placed at a 30-degree angle.

What grows well in a hoop house?

Leafy greens like lettuce, spinach, and kale can thrive in hoop houses, which provide a sheltered environment for plants to extend their growing season. These plants are resilient to cooler temperatures, making them ideal for late fall and early spring. Hoop houses are popular among gardeners and small-scale farmers due to their ability to host a variety of vegetables, enabling fresh, organic produce in the backyard.

In this blog post, we’ll explore ten vegetables that thrive in hoop houses, including tomatoes, which benefit from a warmer, sheltered environment, accelerate growth, enhance fruit production, reduce disease risk, and provide pest protection.

What can I make a hoop out of?

To create a hoop, you can use various materials such as plastic-coated coat hangers, aluminum rod, brass rod, aluminum craft wire, or heavy baling wire. Wrapping the hoops with twine, yarn, or other fabric increases their bubble juice-holding capacity. Wire can also be inserted into hollow diamond braid cord and bamboo tape-style yarn.

There are several methods for creating nice hoops, including freehand bending or bending around a circular form like a frying pan or flower pot. These materials are inexpensive, easy to work with, and can last for years. Wrapping the hoops with twine or yarn also increases their capacity.

How long do hoop greenhouses last?

Hoop houses are budget-friendly greenhouses that offer numerous benefits, including cost-effectiveness and easy maintenance. The only ongoing expense is replacing the poly film, which can last beyond the 4-year warranty if well-maintained. Greenhouses require annual power, infrastructure taxes, and maintenance, with panels expiring around 5-8 years into use. However, if the intended crops will easily cover the cost, the investment might be justified for the operation. Overall, hoop houses offer a more cost-effective solution for greenhouse operations.

How far apart should PVC hoop house be?

The hoop house design should consider snow loading and wind force. Hoops at 6-foot spacing are suitable for snow loads up to 9 inches, while 4-foot spacing is recommended for extreme precipitation. Researching past weather extremes at Twin Oaks revealed that a hoop house could be destroyed by winds in the 75-to-80-mph range. Hoop house shapes also play a role in their functionality. The Gothic shape sheds snow more easily than the round Quonset shape, providing more headroom and better sun angles. Round is easier for bending tubes, but the Gothic shape is more suitable for bending tubes. Hoop houses should be built with a sturdy foundation and be prepared for extreme weather conditions.

What can be used as garden hoops?

Gardeners can create a DIY hoop house using materials like PVC pipe, greenhouse plastic, and shade cloth. This setup optimizes greenhouse effect and provides year-round protection for plants, especially in raised beds. To plan the hoop house, assess the garden space by measuring the dimensions of the beds, considering sunlight exposure, wind direction, and maintenance accessibility. Ensure there is enough space around the bed for row covers and other cover materials, such as greenhouse plastic or shade cloth, to create a secure and efficient protective tunnel. This setup enhances productivity and plant health in both summer and winter seasons.

What size PVC to use for garden hoops?

The raised beds are made of 1x12s and supported by 2×4 sections due to various constraints. The hoophouses are made of 1/2-inch PVC pipe in 10-foot lengths, with clips and pipe sized to suit each other. The hoops are held on with simple brackets, which can be found at hardware stores for 29 cents each.

The plastic is a clear-ish plastic dropcloth or tarp from local hardware stores, such as Ace or any store that remembers when they need another one. The plastic is held on the hoops by hoophouse clips, which can be obtained from various sources. A pro tip is to place one of the plastic clips between the two hoop-holding brackets, providing extra security, especially in windy weather.

On non-raised beds, larger diameter PVC is cut into 12-16 inch sections and driven into the ground until about 3-6 inches are sticking out. The 1/2 inch pipe is then inserted into each section and bent over into the other side. The hoops, plastic, and clips are the same as above.

To make the poly plastic last longer, reduce abrasion between the poly and the hoop with adhesive Felt Cladding Tape. If it’s windy, rocks on either end of the tarp may be needed to secure it. Peaceful Valley also suggests Cinch Strap and boards to hold down the poly in windy weather.

How do I keep my hoop house cool in the summer?

Natural ventilation in greenhouses is essential for optimal cooling, humidity removal, and air mixing. To ensure proper functioning, use side vents in addition to roof vents, open doors, use open weave interior shade screens, turn off air circulation fans, and add a skirt to rollup sidewalls. Maintenance is crucial, including checking fan belts for wear and tension, cleaning fan blades, and lubricating shutters.

Redirect air circulation fan flow by directing all HAF fans to blow from shutter end to fan end, sealing cracks, and closing doors to maximize air flow through the crop. Save energy by staging fans using two stage thermostats or an electronic controller, selecting NEMA premium motors with an efficiency of 86. Clean insect screening by spraying water from inside or vacuuming from outside to remove dust, leaves, insects, and other obstructions.

Use evaporative cooling to lower greenhouse temperatures to several degrees below outside ambient, using portable evaporative coolers that are easy to set up. Maintain fan and pad systems by keeping them clean of dirt and debris, flushing or bleeding off some water and adding an algaecide. Nozzle clogging on fog systems from chemical and particulate matter can be controlled using rain or treated water.

In summary, proper greenhouse ventilation systems should provide cooling, humidity removal, and air mixing, with maintenance and evaporative cooling being key components.