Build Your Own Hoop Greenhouse

Also known as a hoophouse, a PVC hoop greenhouse is inexpensive and easy to construct in a matter of a few hours or less. A simple hoop structure provides shelter for plants and raises the temperature up to 10 degrees higher. You can grow longer and even grow certain types of plants in the winter. You will need some basic supplies before you can build this structure. Your local garden center or hardware store can be a good place to stock up.

Supplies necessary for a hoophouse include heavy duty PVC for stakes, light duty PVC for ribs, tee connectors, cross connectors, clear plastic sheeting, black poly pipe for clips and PVC for reinforcing joints. Before you start building your greenhouse, mark the location on the ground so you'll know where to build. Even if you don't use pre-designed plans, you need some kind of guidelines. You can design your own plans using your computer and print them out for easy reference. There are certainly plenty of existing plans on the Internet that others have used to construct hoophouses.

Before you begin, make sure you have all your materials close by. If you have one or more people to help you, construction will go even faster. The first part of construction is setting up your stakes, which should be as straight as possible and placed approximately three feet apart on either side. Then, set up each separate hoop. The hoops fit nicely over your stakes as long as the stakes are a bit smaller in size. The last step before wrapping the greenhouse is to apply the ridge line. The ridge line helps provide for a stable foundation. Finally, you will need to wrap your greenhouse.

There are several ways to attach your plastic sheeting to the frame. Some people use large clips to secure the plastic to the frame. These clips can be purchased at your local office supply shop. In addition to or instead of using clips, secure the edges of the sheeting under heavy two by four pieces of lumber to add extra stability. Your entrance to the hothouse will basically be a plastic curtain which can be pulled and held aside or closed.

With the right plans, tools and supplies you can build your own hoop greenhouse in no time. Hoop greenhouses are a great place to grow flowers that require lots of heat and light as well as vegetables and fruits like tomatoes, peppers and berries. They're ideal for the gardener who is new to greenhouse gardening and wants a simple, affordable setup.

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