Setting Up a Hoop House
Another hoop house here at my Bedford, New York farm is almost ready to fill with plants, and just in time - cooler weather and possible frost are expected next week.
Over the last few days, my outdoor grounds crew has been busy moving a small hoop house from an area next to my main greenhouse to a location adjacent to another hoop house near my boxwood nursery. I have four hoop houses in all. They are constructed from steel frames and polyethylene panels. It was a big project to move it - there were many steps involved to get it done, but I know it will be put to very good and much needed use.
Enjoy these photos.
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- Moving a hoop house is a very time consuming task, but it just seemed right to have most of the structures in one place. Here is the new location for the smallest of my hoop houses – just outside my former vegetable garden. My property manager, Doug White, measured the area and put down a good, level bed of gravel for the structure.
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- Next, the propane tank that will fuel the heater is installed. These hoop houses are temperature and humidity controlled. They work by heating and circulating air to create an artificial tropical environment.
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- All my hoop houses are Gothic style – notice the pointed arch in the roofline. This design minimizes snow accumulation in winter.
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- Here is the front panel with a single door for access. On each side of the door is an aluminum shutter which allows air to enter and cool the house on very warm days. Fernando cleans the paneling before the rest of the structure is installed.
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- The framing is in place. Its high peak will accommodate taller plants in the center if needed.
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- The frame is made from heavy gauge American made, triple-galvanized steel tubing – all secured with these tension purlin brackets.
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- It is easier to walk around the interior space when the gravel is small, so Jimmy transports smaller pea gravel to place on top of the larger gravel bed inside.
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- Jimmy also fills any gaps beneath the horizontal wood boards that support the side framing. A level is used at all times to ensure everything is completely square and plum.
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- At the back of each greenhouse is a high efficiency Modine boiler and heater. I wanted the greenhouses to have both cold and tempered water for the plants.
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- Here, Cesar digs the trench for the water pipes.
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- This is a side view of the hoop house as Doug and Cesar prepare to drape the “skin” over the top from our trusted Hi-Lo.
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- The fabric comes in two rolls – one is a heavy-duty, woven polyethylene that features an anti-condensate additive to reduce moisture buildup and dripping. The other side contains UV additives that allow the fabric to maintain its strength through the seasons.
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- The team hoists one roll on top of the frame and then the second on top of the first. The two sheets are well labeled, so there is no confusion as to what side faces up and what side faces down. The fabric is pulled taut at the ends of the framework and secured.
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- One can see the two layers of “skin.” These pieces are large and will be cut to fit perfectly once they are in position.
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- This polyethylene fabric is designed to stand up to just about any climate. It also resists rips and tears, so it could last up to 10-years depending on the weather.
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- The space between the two layers of plastic will be filled with air to keep the hoop house taut, smooth, and insulated. The air layer prevents heat loss at half the rate of single-paned glass.
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- Cesar secures spring wires, or wiggle wires, in the metal channels that support the plastic.
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- Here is one channel where the wiggle wire was installed. These three and four foot long spring wires compress and elongate when installed within the metal channels. They are installed all around the structure.
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- Pete secures the wire at the top of the hoop house and along all the edges.
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- Here is a view from above – the hoop house is nearly complete. The crew will finish connecting the electric and water systems, and finish any trimming and building. I am so glad we’ll be ready before the cold autumn weather. We may even get the season’s first frost next week.
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- And just beyond the hoop houses – my gardens and pastures. Look closely and see my handsome Friesians grazing. My farm is so beautiful this time of year.
Martha Pins
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