Hoop-House Design 101: Making your own hoop house for under $1000
A hoop house is non-heated greenhouse. It is a great place for cold hardy plants in the winter and a great place for seed starting and plants that can handle extreme heat in the summer, but make sure to set your mouse traps. Based on your climate, you may choose to forego the plastic wrap and just use a shade cloth. A hoop house can also be used for a quick-garage/ storage set up if you have the space.
Materials needed :
- Hoop Bender ($59 – prices vary based on size and tunnel choice)
- Ground post driver ($33)
- Sledge hammer
- Work Table
- Top Rail Fencing Posts
- Cross connectors
- Bolts (carriage bolts)
- J hooks
- 8’ Poly Latch Channels ($10.15 x #?) based on how long of tunnel you decide to build
- 4’ Poly Latch Wire ($1.95 x #?)
- Greenhouse film ( 6 mil) (lots of options here)
- ***Quick HoopsTM High Tunnel Bender Instruction Manual <http://www.johnnyseeds.com/growers-library/tools-supplies/9018-quickhoops-high-tunnel-bender-instruction-manual.html> To not waste our energy re-writing this manual and giving step by step instructions – Go Read Manual NOW— if you want to build a hoop house high Tunnel just follow these instruction from johnny seeds – it is that easy – We followed the instructions for the first one to the T and for the second one we did a couple modifications, we now have 2 hoop houses now – 1 for growing food and 1 is used for a garage for our Polaris and Dirt bikes – right now until we can afford the upgrade)
Material Descriptions and uses:
– Hoop Bender (we used the 12’ High tunnel) – Protect your crops and extend your season early in the spring and late in the fall. Bend your own hoops to create a 12′ wide, 7′ or 8 1/2′ high tunnel of any desired length out of locally available 1 3/8″ chain link fence top rail. Includes extensive illustrated instructions on how we built our own walk-in caterpillar-style tunnels as well as traditional coverings with roll-up sides and end walls. Also included with the bender, which mounts to any solid horizontal surface (picnic table, bench, hay wagon, etc.), is a lever bar for added leverage when “finishing” the bend. -( $59)
– Ground Post Driver – Prevents ground posts from deforming while safely and properly securing ground posts. An instrumental tool for safely and properly securing your ground posts. Mushroom shaped driver takes sledge hammer impact to prevent ground posts from deforming. 1-13/16″ diam. x 2″ top; 1 1/4″ diam. x 2 1/4″ bottom. Fits neatly into 1 5/8″ ground post. Top will flare some after repeated use.
– Work Table – Attach the hoop bender to the table to get good leverage when bending the posts.
– Top Rail Fencing Posts ( we used 18 total for our first hoop house, but -it all depends on how long you decide to make your hoop house) (Can purchase this at a local hardware store)
– Cross connectors ( optional from Johnny seeds – Convenient aluminum connectors save time, money and make greenhouse structures stronger! Much easier than drilling and through-bolting, especially in overhead applications. Can be used to connect ridge pole or purlins to bows. Ideally sized for 1 3/8″ top rail fence piping. Pack of 2 $5.73). OR Bolts (carriage bolts) – (Can purchase this at a local hardware store)
– J hooks – Used on bottom to attach string when wanting roll up sides( Can purchase this at a local hardware store)
– Poly Latch Channel – A convenient, reusable, and high-integrity connection system for high tunnel plastic and other cover materials. Extruded aluminum channel attaches to high tunnel frames, baseboards, and hipboards. Bends readily over hoops and has a machined groove to center drill bits or self-drilling tek screws when attaching. Preformed stainless-steel Poly Latch Wire securely locks high tunnel covers into the channel by snapping over the covering and into the channel to quickly secure greenhouse film, shade cloth, etc. Holds its shape, even with repeated use. Conveniently tensions greenhouse film as wire is installed. Safety glasses or goggles are highly recommended. Pieces sold individually. (1 Unit = 1 eight-foot section – $10.15)
– Poly Latch Wire – A convenient, reusable, and high-integrity connection system for high tunnel plastic and other cover materials. Extruded aluminum channel attaches to high tunnel frames, baseboards, and hipboards. Bends readily over hoops and has a machined groove to center drill bits or self-drilling tek screws when attaching. Preformed stainless-steel Poly Latch Wire securely locks high tunnel covers into the channel by snapping over the covering and into the channel to quickly secure greenhouse film, shade cloth, etc. Holds its shape, even with repeated use. Conveniently tensions greenhouse film as wire is installed. Safety glasses or goggles are highly recommended. Pieces sold individually. (1 Unit = 1 four-foot section – $1.95)
– There are a couple of choices for our hour Greenhouse plastic or “film”
- Greenhouse Film – Tufflite IV – 28’ x 65’ – $252 from Johnnyseeds.com (prices vary on desired plastic and size of hoop-house)
- Or SunMaster® Custom Cut White Greenhouse Film ($6.69ft x desired length) from farmtek.com
- Or (greenhousemegastore.com also offers affordable greenhouse films)
– Shade Cloth – Reduces heat and light intensity, resulting in better quality and higher yields. (prices vary on size of hoop-house)
Pick your site, prep the area, plan your design, read the manual and place your order @ johhnyselect.com for all the stuff you can’t buy at your local hardware store. Tip: You will want a couple friends on the day you add the greenhouse film – especially if it is windy. Eight hands our better than four when it comes to holding down the plastic on a windy day, trust us.
Hope this helps you get started on your first hoop-house! Comment with questions!
Just boom life!
@traconanda & @guymitchelljr.
