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Santa Cruz, CA

We have a cool spring here in Santa Cruz, CA and our soil needs to be warmed up. I'm thinking of making five small greenhouses but was wondering if hoop houses might be better. Also what is the ideal size if you are making individual greenhouses or hoop houses? Thanks for the help -Kristine

11/11/2007 11:10:31 PM

Pinedale, WY

I know some of the stuff I read and tried were 7' x 10'. We are really windy here, and even staking them down and using cinder blocks ours still blew away and got trashed.

11/11/2007 11:31:39 PM

Rexburg, Idaho

I guess it depends on your definition of each. I build 5 hoophouses every spring 20x16'. I do add two 1500 watt heaters to each of them which I think then makes them a greenhouse instead of a simple hoophouse.
Mine are the big variety as I have to leave them until mid June for fear of frost. I doubt you would have that problem so 7x10 would probably be okay.
I think ideal size would 50 x 150'. Then I could leave them up all year. My plants would be protected from germination to harvest. I could keep the night time temps as 65 degrees. Wind, rain, hail, frost and other weather related issues would become non issues.

11/12/2007 7:17:01 AM

Windsor, Ontario, Canada

If you create greenhouses that big Brian C., and put netting across openings, you could avoid most pest problems too. I have thought about this before. The only issue would involve pest that hatch within...

11/12/2007 9:54:47 AM

Santa Cruz, CA

The last day of frost for us is mid April but our soil, being near the ocean, takes a good month or month and a half to warm up.

Do you set you greenhouses/hoop houses out in the Fall so they are ready to go in the Spring? Do you do special prep now in the planting area? I've already amended the whole patch with leaves, lime,and humic acid. It's all tilled in with winter rye as a cover crop.

11/12/2007 10:52:23 AM

Pocatello ([email protected])

I've noticed that the larger the cloche, the warmer they get. Then again, they usually get "warm enough", no matter the size.

I've experimented with just about every design imaginable. And most of them blew out, over, or away in my abundant wind. Then last year my neighbor built cloches that didn't use any PVC pipe. I now see this as key to keeping them up in windy locations.

See here, particularly the entries dated June 11:

http://cliffwarren.byethost5.com/2007/june/index.html

Just say no to PVC.

11/12/2007 12:54:38 PM

Pinedale, WY

Thanks Cliff, mine were PVC.

11/12/2007 1:04:22 PM

Pocatello ([email protected])

Yes, the trouble with PVC is that it flexes in the wind. Then when wind blows on one side it pushes out on another, and pretty soon your plastic becomes dislodged from the ground. I've used large boulders and chunks of concrete in addition to the layer of thick heavy wet soil to try to hold the plastic down.. and it still comes up. Actually, if it doesn't come up then the plastic just shreds. I also sometimes have the PVC pipes break!

My neighbor who is just 60 feet from my patch, had no trouble. I do show a picture of his design there in the second entry for June 11. Next year that's what I'm using.

11/12/2007 1:25:16 PM

[email protected]

I also have experimented with pvc and agree with Cliff. But went one step further, I have had success with PVC by inserting a 1/2 inch rebar into the PVC, Stabilizes the hoop very well. Galvanized or stainless pipes are best though

I currently have 5 Houses, that stay up all year, each is 20 X 48 and I grow 2 plants in each, I am in the process of adding another, it will be 22 X 60, for 2 plants. again a permanent house.

11/12/2007 1:51:00 PM

Santa Cruz, CA

Cliff, nice pictures..
On your neighbors "hoop" houses..how does he keep it from getting too hot? Does he just keep cutting away the plastic? Does he roll it up? does he keep the "hoop" houses in the patch all season and pretty soon there is no plastic left just the wood frame?

11/12/2007 3:12:57 PM

Colorado

if you have smaller hoop house-say 4 x 6. You can weigh them down by placing a lot of dirt on the greenhouse plastic(flaps of extra plasric on sides).

11/12/2007 3:35:42 PM

Pocatello ([email protected])

Those "pyramid" cloches of my neighbors are just sitting on the ground. The shape is naturally wind resistant, to some degree. Consider a teepee, the wind can't really blow them down. Anyway...

On a warmer day you can just prop up one end of the pyramid, and place a log or a bucket underneath. On the ends that should remain in place, it's easy to bend some rebar into a hook, and use that to anchor the side that should not move.

When I build mine, I think I'll add a hatch on one side to allow just the right ventilation.

Once the HH is no longer needed for heat, some sides can be cut to allow the plant to grow out, while leaving one wall that faces the prevailing wind. Eventually all of the plastic is cut away, but the structure can remain until the end of the season.

11/12/2007 10:51:20 PM

Little-TON - Colorado

Very nice blog Cliff, great job.

11/13/2007 9:10:21 AM