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Taber, Alberta

I am planning to put in a 16 x 16 cloche next year like Joel Holland has in his videos. My problem is that I regularly get winds in excess of 100 km/h (60 m/h) in May. Has anyone used this style of cloche in high wind areas and how did they do?
Thanks
Alan

10/25/2004 11:33:33 PM

[email protected]

Allan
I did and it ended up in the neighbors dug out.
Anything with a single layer of poly gets torn to shreds in no time. We get the same winds here.
If you put on 2 layers of poly and and secure it together tightly, and pick up an air blower from a green house store, and inflate the cloche, it can withstand most of the winds. The air pillow acts as a shock absorber. I did this 2 years ago and not one tear yet.
Ventilation will be very important, I found out the hard way. 85 degrees outside is 125 degrees inside, plants burn up quick.
I've got 2 20 x 48 greenhouses(modified cold frames). Do a winter patch tour, next time your in Calgary and check it out

Eddy

10/26/2004 12:20:50 AM

Puyallup, WA

Did you say 60 mph winds in May? Good grief, man! That better be one strong hoop house! Mine blow apart at 40 mph!

10/26/2004 12:44:26 AM

Taber, Alberta

Yup, 60 mph (and sometimes higher) and they blow for days on end. I built a 4x8 x 4 foot high shelter out of leftover lumber from my deck building, and wrapped it with 2 layers of poly. It got blown over and would have kept on going if it wasn't for the back fence (I hadn't planted yet). The problem is my plant this year outgrew it too fast and it didn't like the cold nights in June. I did it on the inexpensive side (which is what I want to keep it at next year) and once I got it anchored to the ground well, it kept my plant nice and toasty warm in May, even with 4 inches of snow on it.
Hey Eddy, I'll most definately have to check out your place this winter. We don't get up there as often as we would like, but I'll pay you a visit before spring.
Alan

10/26/2004 1:48:43 AM

Cornwall UK.(50N 5W)300ft.

I'm not sure what Joel Holland uses but I've used sink waste pipe for hoops for the last 3 years with structures around 60ft long got away with it for the first two but not this year blown away by 60 mph in July.Next year I plan on using some timber reinforcing and one house made from old roof trusses to be safe.The plastic hoops are also becoming more brittle and prone to snapping as they get older.I really like the design though and in the wrong year anything will blow away here.

10/26/2004 4:09:58 AM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

My Hoophouse has 6 auger anchors holding it down. Go to your home improvement store and look for them by the play ground equipment. Also look for them by the fence supplies. Also run a small diameter rope criss-cross across the hoops to hold the plastic tight. No problem with wind on my hoophouse.

10/26/2004 9:13:12 AM

I'm with Gordon... GO UTES!

My friend Brian C. uses poly cords over the plastic, between
the hoops. I haven't tried it but I think that really holds
things in place.

Last year I experimented with dome shaped hoop houses,
similar in style to what you might see in a camping tent.
I get some monster storms each year, and while nothing is
perfect, the domes held up much better than the typical
hoophouses with a wood frame (half-buried tin can...) Of
course, this comes at the expense of space inside the plastic.

You can see some of this in my online journal:

http:/idahopumpkin.tripod.com/

See the May 2004 section. The key to it is bolting the
PVC pipes together, and having a vertical support. -Cliff

10/26/2004 5:46:12 PM

Oz

Pick up truck "bungee" netting might help.

10/27/2004 12:05:59 AM

Taber, Alberta

Thanks for the great ideas. I don't think I'll have a problem getting the hoops to stay in the ground, but the problem I'm worried is the plastic getting ripped. I might try a double layer of poly and the rope idea. Mind you, a trip to visit Eddy might change my mind.

10/27/2004 8:29:54 PM