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Oklahoma Gardening

Excited for a hoophouse tell me about yours

13 years ago

I've been wanting a hoophouse for a while now - and today dh came in and said - let's build one - so tomorrow we'll probably build one -- this one is going to be out of pvc - and later we'll build a real one (dh is a welder) but he just wants to get one up this weekend.

Won't it get too hot in there? Should I just use it to over winter and start seeds?

Tell me how you use yours.

Excited,

Melissia

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Comments (4)

regina_2010
13 years ago
Hi Melissa. You guys are doing the same thing we're trying to do. I found my inspiration from an online article that I showed my husband. He studied it and made his own modifications, just to get started and his job kicked in with long hours/weekends. It's still on the 'to do' list. Good luck and enjoy!

Here is a link that might be useful: $50 hoop house
elkwc
13 years ago
Melissa,
Congratulations. I know you will enjoy it. I'm still working on my greenhouse when I have a few extra minutes from my other projects this time of year. I've done a fair amount of reading ect on hoophouses and greenhouses. I feel in this area even if you removed the ends in the summer the heat would be too much. I have read of a few who pull shade cloth over the top and remove either all or half of the ends and continue to grow in them in the summer. If you leave the ends on in the summer I've been told you will need to start a fan even if you pull the shade cloth over the top. I still feel it will be very hot inside but maybe I'll find out differently. I hadn't originally planned to put any ventilation or openers on mine. But decided after this spring and the experiences of a coworker I might need too. If someone is around all day during the heat and can open the doors,ect and also turn on a small fan then you don't need the automatic openers and vents. That is why many of the greenhouses ect don't have them. I've seen several without them and have been told during the growing season they are there every day. But I think it will be like everything else. The first few years will be a learning experience. And after a few years you will find methods that work well for you.

Regina,
Thanks for the link. A lot of good information. I will use it as I finish mine. Hope you are able to get yours built and growing in it soon. Jay
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regina_2010
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Melissa / Jay: There is a greenhouse forum on here that is really interesting. I've spent a lot of this weekend reading. Check it out if you haven't already as some folks have pictures posted, etc. Hopefully we can compare notes in the near future.
Okiedawn OK Zone 7
13 years ago
Melissia,

I don't have a hoop house, but it is on my 'one of these days' list. My main concern is how any hoophouse will handle the sometimes strong spring winds here.

The Noble Foundation has been doing hoop house research since at least the late 1990s and Stever Upson has tons of info in various articles posted on their website. I especially like the way they've used hoop houses and plasticulture to raise strawberries.

The article linked below is one he wrote in the early 2000s detailing some of their efforts to use hoop houses into early summer by venting, etc.

Dawn

Here is a link that might be useful: Hoop Houses and Summer Heat

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