Hoophouse project

[looknlearn]

I have finally gotten around to resizing and orginaizing some of the pictures of our hoophouse raising. I hope these are a good size for those with slower internet connections. If not let me know.

We selected the place for the hoophouse to maximize sun on the hoophouse and the keep it away from trees which might drop a branch and damage the plastic.
So with the location selected and it measured out with stakes and string we put up the first hoop to see how it was gonna work.

Once we had it figured out Dad started framing out the end in that first hoop.

Then we drove sections of 1 3/4 inch (about 4.5 cm) in the ground for the legs of the hoops made of 1 3/8 inch (about 3.5 cm) to slip into.


While the layout was figured out and the small pipes were being cut and driven into the ground some of the guys were bending the hoops out of two sections of pipe which fit together at the ends. Unfortunately there were no pictures taken of the pipe bending jig but I tried to describe it here.http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/rural-living/188810-frost-has-killed-my-garden-3.html#post2157094
Once all the short larger pipes were driven into the ground it was simple and easy to grab a hoop and insert each end into the pipes and then repeat with the next one.

Once enough of the hoops were installed some guys started working on the bracing down the ridge.



Once the all the hoops were completed the other end wall was built with a single door and framing for a vent in the future.

I think that was it for the first day.




The following day we did much of the bracing and plywooded the end wall.


We attached 2x4's along the first bend on the walls (see left wall in above picture) to attach the plastic to and for a solid attachment when we made the sides roll-up-able at a later date.
This was our completed hoophouse before the plastic was put up.

Here is what the completed hoophouse looked like when we put the compost in, right after planting, as it grew, and finally the jungle later in the summer.





Here is the exterior in the summer and the rock pile. We installed roll up sides earlier last summer. These pictures were from last summer.

 

[looknlearn]

The doors and the vent were found at Buffalo Reuse, a place which disassembles old abondonded houses and sells the parts pretty cheap at a warehouse. Great place.:thumbsup:

I'll try to add some details later about tying up the tomatoes and how we did that and about the roll-up sides.

 

[forgeblast]

wonderful write up, thank you very much.

 

[ArtMech]

Excellent job!
Tell me, looknlearn, are You able to get Your tractor with the attachment inside the hoophouse to plough up or to till the soil? I mean, is the doors' width enough to get it in?

 

[looknlearn]

wonderful write up, thank you very much.

Thanks and you are welcome.

Excellent job!
Tell me, looknlearn, are You able to get Your tractor with the attachment inside the hoophouse to plough up or to till the soil? I mean, is the doors' width enough to get it in?

Yes, the economy tractor fits though the front door with the wheels narrowed. The wheels will narrow to fit behind a 4 ft snow plow and they will also get quite wide. I worked up the soil in the hoop house originally with the tractor and a two tined subsoiler type implement which went down about 12 inch into the soil. Pulled out many rocks and chunks of old house foundation.

 

[ArtMech]

The idea of my next spring hoophouse project is, that it could be shifted to any place of the tilled soil. The weight will be so that 2 persons could lift it and easily carry to the place required.
This hoophouse will provide our family by greens.

 

[wedge40]

The idea of my next spring hoophouse project is, that it could be shifted to any place of the tilled soil. The weight will be so that 2 persons could lift it and easily carry to the place required.
This hoophouse will provide our family by greens.

Remember, anything two people can carry by them selfs, mother nature can and will move by her self.

Wedge

 

[looknlearn]

The idea of my next spring hoophouse project is, that it could be shifted to any place of the tilled soil. The weight will be so that 2 persons could lift it and easily carry to the place required.
This hoophouse will provide our family by greens.

That is a good idea. We are thinking of a way to move our hoophouse to a few locations but we have not figured out a way. It will be especially difficult with the solid end walls.

An idea to solve the problem that the previous poster, wedge40, brought up is to drive T posts into the hround at each corner to lash the hoophouse to. Those post are not to difficult to remove with a little work or a tractor 3point.

Btw, I like your stick figure guys carrying your hoophouse in the file you posted .:thumbsup:

 

[Farmerford]

Nice job.

I will show my ignorance: How does the hoophouse help you? E.g., does it lengthen the growing season by keeping the temperatures up in the fall and spring? And if it does lengthen the growing season, are you able to plant two crops?

I assume the fabric lets in sufficient sunlight to grow the plants?

Does it keep the rain from the plants?

I would enjoy learning exactly how you use it.

Thanks.

 

[ArtMech]

Remember, anything two people can carry by them selfs, mother nature can and will move by her self.

Wedge

I'll ask Mother Nature not to do this the way Tucker has adviced.

 

[ArtMech]

Nice job.

I will show my ignorance: How does the hoophouse help you? E.g., does it lengthen the growing season by keeping the temperatures up in the fall and spring? And if it does lengthen the growing season, are you able to plant two crops?

I assume the fabric lets in sufficient sunlight to grow the plants?

Does it keep the rain from the plants?

I would enjoy learning exactly how you use it.

Thanks.

In the countries with comparetively short summer, yes, the hoophouse keeps temperature up inside.
In my area we sometimes even have frost in June at nights, which may kill all the plants. You can plant in the mid of June, but you will have the greens late in summer then.
No, we don't have two crops in the hoophouse, but some species of greens or vegetables are ripenning within the whole summer. You may have a few different species of tomato - early and late, for example.
And yes, it lengthens the growing season but just for one crop in my case.
The fabric really lets sufficient sunlight inside the hoophouse, but you need watering to keep sufficient dampness inside.

 

[rd_macgregor]

A point that I have often wondered about is whether the little bumps where the clamps are down the ridgeline abrade the cover and shorten its life... or, am I just imagining a problem that doesn't exist?
BOB

 

[looknlearn]

A point that I have often wondered about is whether the little bumps where the clamps are down the ridgeline abrade the cover and shorten its life... or, am I just imagining a problem that doesn't exist?
BOB

I have wondered the same thing but we haven't had a problem in a little over a year. The clamps are aluminum with no sharp edges but I guess time will tell. We are not looking forward to having to replace the plastic for any reason, though I know it will deteriorate over time.

 

[forgeblast]

what mil is the plastic?

 

[looknlearn]

what mil is the plastic?

6 mil I believe. It is actually some type of 'greenhouse' plastic that is supposed to last better in the sun or somethin about how it lets the light though. Can't remember exactly.

 

[ArtMech]

...We are thinking of a way to move our hoophouse to a few locations but we have not figured out a way. It will be especially difficult with the solid end walls...

Tucker,
You might take a look at the other ideas of the hoophouses before doing some changes in your garden.
Example: Euro-serre
Maybe it is not necessary to move your big hoophouse to another location, keep it as a stationary, if you can get tractor inside to till the soil, to bring compost et cetera. You can build a new smaller one or even a few small if your greens business goes well.
In some countries (including mine) there are the industrial hoophouses, which are growing greens in over the whole year excluding periods, when they need to refresh the soil.

Images are just for idea. It's really a good time to think to be prepared for spring works.

 

[mojoinco]

I'd like to see the detail of the beam clamps and the end wall to roof clamps. And of the sidewall roll up process.

My wife and I have been toying with something like this. We bought a baby greenhouse, but it just isn't practical (too small for extending a growing season).

Thanks!

 

[looknlearn]

I'd like to see the detail of the beam clamps and the end wall to roof clamps. And of the sidewall roll up process.

My wife and I have been toying with something like this. We bought a baby greenhouse, but it just isn't practical (too small for extending a growing season).

Thanks!

Here are some pictures of the clamps and how we attached the end walls.
To attach the end wall into the first hoop we just cut a notch in the studs and used plumbers tape to hold it. It doesn't look to professional but it works and has held though some decent wind storms.


Here are some pictures of the clamps.



I don't know where are were bought our clamps but here is a place that sells them.Cross Connector for Purlin | Miscellaneous Accessories | Growers Solution


I couldn't find any pictures of the rollup sides so I'll have to take some.

 

[mojoinco]

Thanks!
I can add this to my list of 237 things to keep in mind when I come across materials. We bought an almost useless greenhouse last year (used). With similar weather (not as wet, and not that cold for very long) as Rochester, it doesn't help much.

But a large 'season extender' would be a lot of help here in hail land.

 

[looknlearn]

Thanks!
I can add this to my list of 237 things to keep in mind when I come across materials. We bought an almost useless greenhouse last year (used). With similar weather (not as wet, and not that cold for very long) as Rochester, it doesn't help much.

But a large 'season extender' would be a lot of help here in hail land.

Some things to think about. I don't know what kind of sun you get, but the hoophouse does not warm up much at all on a cloudy day. On the other hand a good sunny day even in winter will warm it considerably. In the summer it is hard to keep it cool enough, thus the roll-up sides.
Another thing is, you mentioned hail. I don't know what size hail you get, and you might have experience with hail and your small hoophouse already but it might damage the plastic on the hoophouse. We do not get much hail here or hail of a large size so I don't know how they take it.