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In this issue Homestead Foundation, I will talk about my experience and lessons from operating hoop houses in the past few years.
Simple greenhouse alternative
My hoop house is about 12 feet wide and 48 feet long. If you need a fast and economical large greenhouse, then the hoop house is definitely your best choice. Installation is really fast and very cost-effective.
My DIY hoop house plan
I learned something from it. In my home in central Texas, we experienced extreme heat and cold. In summer, we get a lot of strong sunshine here.What we found to work well is to use 70% shade net In summer. It provides a lot of shadows, but allows the breeze to pass through. We can grow things well in a greenhouse with only mesh.
In winter, just take off the mesh and have plastic Above is the best way. Plastic can definitely keep the greenhouse good and warm. We can grow wonderful plants throughout the winter.
You can also enjoy:
“Top 5 things to consider when building (or buying) a greenhouse”
“Mad Scientists Committed to Independent Heating of Greenhouses to -25F”
Most importantly, it generates considerable maintenance problems twice a year.
In the spring, we will remove the plastic and wear a net eye. Then, in the fall, we will remove the mesh and put on the plastic. We did operate for a while with plastic and mesh in winter, and we found that it didn’t work well.
A greenhouse of this size requires approximately four people to perform maintenance twice a year. This means that we involve the entire family in this trivial matter.
But if you are willing to do that kind of work, you can use the greenhouse in all seasons.
Summer and winter hoop house plans
My other concern is that the mesh seems to be well supported, but I am not sure how long the life of the plastic will be. I think taking it off and putting it back on will increase its wear and tear, and if we keep it in place throughout the year, it may not last that long. I have talked to different commercial greenhouse operators, and depending on the farmers you talk to, plastic seems to last one to three years.
Personally, I think this is a big waste. But it does seem to work, and I don’t know of any real viable alternatives. (Really? If so, please let me know in the comments below!)
Again, if you really need a large greenhouse, and it is very cheap, then the hoop house is a good choice. (Remember, you can Now you can get our comprehensive, step-by-step Hoop House plan for only $30! )
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This article was originally published on January 30, 2017.
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Marjory Wildcraft is the founder of The Grow Network, a community focused on modern self-sufficient living. She was once rated as an off-grid life expert by National Geographic. She hosted the Mother Earth News Online Home Construction Summit and was included in the Who’s Who in the United States for inspiring hundreds of thousands of backyard gardens. Marjory was the focus of an article that won the Reuters Food Sustainability Media Award. She recently wrote The Growth System: A Basic Guide to Modern Self-Sufficiency-From Growing Food to Manufacturing Medicine.
