Hoophouse project

[looknlearn]

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.

Saracenas already answered but here is what the hoophouse did for us. We were able to have tomatoes earlier, we grew lots of peppers and hot peppers including some that a friend picked up from Guatemala, and we grew okra which did very well. When all that was spent we cleaned out the hoophouse and planted greens. We sold greens into the first week of December. It would freeze at night but when the sun came out the greens would thaw and able to be harvested. Winter greens and carrots are better than ones grown in the summer due too the great taste and crispness. Also the the colder temperatures keep them from bolting to quickly which allows a longer harvest period on the same plants.

In answer to the rain. One thing is helps in is that there is no splashup from rain on the the fruit which helps in preventing disease. Although it can be a pain without the rain and snow because watering is a fulltime job at all times including when it is raining (drip irrigation helps considerably), and the soil will build up salts (supposedly) which is not washed out because of no rain or snowmelt.(One good reason to make a hoophouse movable between at least two spots)

 

[ArtMech]

(... to make a hoophouse movable between at least two spots)

Or to make it or its 'roof' removable for winter season.

 

[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.

I probably had to share realization of the project last spring, right after it had been finished. But I thought strong wind or hurricane (sometimes we have the wind speeds up to 45-50 mph here) will bring the hoophouse away and there will be nothing to post a message about... :laughing: But thankfully that didn't happen. Our hoophouse survived and it is prepared now for the second season planting. Hope the four anchors (peaces of concrete fixed by chain inside a hoophouse) did their job to prevent the construction from being blown away.
Right now it is sowed a few kinds of greens inside and waiting for the tomatoes to be planted. The soil is warm comparing to the outside, where the ice is still available in the depth of 7-10". White sprinkle is the lime, which I have inserted into the soil. Green grass unavailability around the hoophouse shows the conditions at the open air are still not friendly enough. It's about 32F.

 

[ArtMech]

There are 5 kinds of tomato seedlings (shown in a pic) growing on a kitchen's windowsill currently. Their age is 6 days. Soon they'll be separated into individual pots. When they'll reach the height of about 1'-1.5', they'll be replanted into a hoophouse.
Can't wait to feel fresh taste of tomato ... :licking:

 

[looknlearn]

Looking very good. I am ready for summer to come around here.

 

[Amblansman]

Here in South West Oklahoma we have an entirely different problem. We have too much heat and the sunshine just burns our plants up regardless of how much water you put on them. Last year our area set the all time hottest monthly average high temperature for the US. It was brutal.

I have had very poor success growing tomatoes these past few years because once the temeratures hit the high 90's they won't set fruit. We have had that happen as early as late April. If I can keep the vines alive untill late summer when the temps drop a little, they start setting fruit like crazy, just in time to frost over bushels of green tomatoes. Around the end of October we usually get our first good freeze, and then we might have some warm weeks throughout the winter except for a cold snap of a month or 6 weeks. So, a hoophouse might help me later in the season to extend it, but I have also heard others in this area have success by using shade cloth over their plants. I am going to try that, but with the winds we get here the structure needs either to be very rigid, or needs to give a little in the higher winds. Not tornadoes mind you, but the regular 35 - 60 MPH winds we get 4- 5 times a Summer.

And no, I do not envy you folks who have the problem of cold temps until May and June and snow loads that would collapse a car roof. Every location has its own challenges I suppose.

I am inspired to see if I can come up with something to try the shade cloth with. The ideas you have shared all look like theywill work for a permanent structure, But I want to be able to tear mine down and move it so I can till my Garden and rotate the crops in the different areas.

 

[jimmyj]

Nice thread and thanks for sharing. The hot houses make such a huge difference in colder areas. I want more of them if I could!

 

[Dr_Zinj]

I recall reading about an organic small-commercial farm over in Maine that uses portable hoop houses mounted on rollers that run on a rail system. They just blow the debris out of the rails every once in a while, and easily pushable by one person. Takes 4 to pick the house up and mount/dismount it on the rails though.

 

[forgeblast]

Dr Z thats colmans four season harvest the book is great.