Hoop House Project
UNL Extension Research Specialist Dale Lindgren talks about the challenges he faced when installing a high tunnel or hoop house.
5 Responses to Hoop House Project
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UNL Extension Research Specialist Dale Lindgren talks about the challenges he faced when installing a high tunnel or hoop house.
@steflova2 The popularity to me, a hoop house in the summer where I am, in southeast texas is basically useless during the heat of the year. But months from sept to march I can grow tomatoes, cucumbers, squash and peppers. Then in the summer when its so hot, i can remove the plastic and put a shade cloth over it to grow tomatoes that would blister in 100 degree weather. This combined with the fact a hoop house is usually less than 200 dollars to build with pvc
itsjustdeb579
November 2, 2011 at 10:35 am
For those not in the industry, you may find an a-framed greenhouse easier to build. But I’m a wholesale nursery manger with 14yrs in the business, and have all kinds of greenhouses and I like the hoop house design the best for backyard growing. A well built hoop house with proper ventilation and 6mill poly cover is very versatile and hard to beat. Check out Lost Creek’s benders, I hear they are very easy to use…
SunFireFarm
November 2, 2011 at 10:49 am
@steflova2 , Hoop houses are traditionaly are half circles because of the structural advantage of the half circle or arch to transmit the weight of water or snow to the ground. The down side to this design is the lack of head room at the house’s sides. High tunnels developed out the need to have more usable sq/ft while not having an excess of greenhouse height. You never want a green house to be taller than necessary as you then have to work harder to change the increased amount of air inside.
SunFireFarm
November 2, 2011 at 11:22 am
Unfortunately steflova2, I’m the TV guy, so I’m not sure I can give you a definitive answer. I think you are on to something about the wind and rain, as a box the rainwater would collect on top. I’ve seen simple models built with rebar and pvc pipes stuck right into the garden soil.
bucslim
November 2, 2011 at 11:37 am
could someone explain the popularity of the hoop shape? Is it because it deflects the wind and rain most easily?
It seems to me that a box shaped green house would be easier to build due to skipping the bending of pipes. I’m brand new to greenhouses. Please explain. Thanks
steflova2
November 2, 2011 at 12:10 pm