Mousefield
Elite Member
- Joined
- Aug 24, 2008
- Messages
- 2,585
- Tractor
- Sold 2008 CK35 HST
My wife gave me a copy of an old magazine article regarding mini hooped greenhouses. So put it together over a couple of our existing raised beds. One bed is 4 X 10 ft and the other 5 X 12 ft.
Up our way we get tomato blight, caused by wet and cold climates. Often the tomatos are almost full size and the plants will just die.
So to keep the moisture off I did the following.
Cut some rebar into 20 inches lengths. These went 2 ft apart on both sides of the raised beds. Then had 10 ft lengths of PVC pipe that were inserted into the rebar on each side to make the hoop. Then got greenhouse plastic to cover it.
The plastic was the most expensive at $130.00 for both pieces, 14 ft X 20 Ft.
I was going to use vapor barrier plastic but that has UV protection in it so not good for growing plants. The rebar I got from a home owner who had extra 10 ft lengths. It was cheap. The PVC cost $4.00 per 20 ft piece, they cut it in half for me. I did use a 1 X 2 ridge board and duct taped :cool2: it to each hoop to keep them the same height as the PVC pipe is just loose over the rebar. Screwed the ridge board to a 1 X 2 inch on each end.
In the fall we will dismantle it and store it so should last us a number of years. We are not permanently fastening the plastic, just using heavy boards for weight, so will be easy to fold up and store. The mini hooped greenhouse can also be used for any type of crop, either to start items earlier outside or keep them longer in the fall. Made the wife happy so I guess that says it all. :drink:
Up our way we get tomato blight, caused by wet and cold climates. Often the tomatos are almost full size and the plants will just die.
So to keep the moisture off I did the following.
Cut some rebar into 20 inches lengths. These went 2 ft apart on both sides of the raised beds. Then had 10 ft lengths of PVC pipe that were inserted into the rebar on each side to make the hoop. Then got greenhouse plastic to cover it.
The plastic was the most expensive at $130.00 for both pieces, 14 ft X 20 Ft.
I was going to use vapor barrier plastic but that has UV protection in it so not good for growing plants. The rebar I got from a home owner who had extra 10 ft lengths. It was cheap. The PVC cost $4.00 per 20 ft piece, they cut it in half for me. I did use a 1 X 2 ridge board and duct taped :cool2: it to each hoop to keep them the same height as the PVC pipe is just loose over the rebar. Screwed the ridge board to a 1 X 2 inch on each end.
In the fall we will dismantle it and store it so should last us a number of years. We are not permanently fastening the plastic, just using heavy boards for weight, so will be easy to fold up and store. The mini hooped greenhouse can also be used for any type of crop, either to start items earlier outside or keep them longer in the fall. Made the wife happy so I guess that says it all. :drink: