Here’s how to build a simple DIY hoophouse or greenhouse. It’s the perfect do-it-yourself project, and there are as many ways to build this kind of greenhouse as there are plants to grow in one.
What you’ll need
- Large hoops or bows made of metal or plastic pipe
- A sheet of heavy greenhouse plastic
- Plywood
- 3×3-inch wooden boards
- A hand drill
- Rebar
- 100-foot tape measure
A hoophouse/greenhouse is a series of large hoops made of metal, plastic or wood, secured to the ground and covered with plastic; it’s that simple. A user-friendly hoophouse/greenhouse is an uncomplicated, but not effortless way to build a greenhouse cheaply-I’m talking a few hundred dollars.
Your hoophouse/greenhouse can be up and running in a very short time and you can look forward to your growing season being extended by at least four to six weeks. This kind of hobby greenhouse can even be portable, provided you haven’t made it too large. Every hoophouse is as individual as the person who builds it, but keep these basic techniques in mind.
Find the best site for your greenhouse
Choose the most level ground you can find; if it isn’t perfectly flat do your best to make it that way by removing any rocks, sticks or weeds. If the soil under your hoophouse isn’t the best, enrich it before you start to build. Situate your hoophouse perpendicular to prevailing winds to get the best ventilation; make sure you don’t put it under trees or anything that will shade it too much. Locate your hoophouse/greenhouse close to electricity and water; you’re going to have to irrigate it yourself and being near a source of water will cut down on your workload.
Stake out your greenhouse
Make your hobby greenhouse about 14 to 21 feet wide, and as long or short as you want and mark the corners with stakes. To square the corners, use batter board and twine. Batter boards are just boards you’ll attach to your stakes to mark the boundaries of your hoophouse. Put a stake in each corner and then along each side of the hoophouse, spaced about four feet apart. String the twine between the stakes in as straight a line as possible; here’s where the 100-foot measuring tape comes in handy.
Put down the wooden rails, or boards
Next. lay down the 3×3-inch wooden boards; these are what your hoops will be inserted into. You can anchor the hoops to the boards by drilling through the wood at an outward angle, about 30 degrees, and then pounding 2-foot-long sections of rebar through the wood into the ground. Leave enough of the rebar sticking out so you can slip your hoops over it. Once you get all of your hoops up you might want to add purlins and/or end-braces; these are just horizontal pieces of wood added to the upper portions of your hoops or to the ends for extra support. You’re now ready for the finishing touch-the layer of plastic glazing.
Choose your glazing
The covering, or glazing you use on your greenhouse will be the most expensive part. The ideal cover is cost effective, easy to use, lets in the maximum amount of light and has longevity. Some of your choices are polyethylene, polycarbonate, acrylic and fiberglass.
Polyethylene is a common covering used in greenhouses and a single layer of it should be adequate for your backyard greenhouse. Polyethylene varies a lot in price, and its lifespan of only 1 to 6 years is its biggest drawback. There are tougher varieties of woven and high-density poly that are good to use if you live in a windy area.
Polycarbonate is a rigid plastic material that’s great for maximum energy efficiency. “Polycarb” can be easily cut with a saw; it’s moderate in price and has a lifespan of for 12 to 20 years.
Acrylic is strong and you can cut it easily. Acrylic will expand and contract with temperature swings, and that’s a good thing. A single sheet application is inexpensive; but remember that it will scratch and crack pretty easily. Acrylic has a lifespan of 10 to 30 years.
Fiberglass is easy to cut and work with and is relatively cheap. Be sure to wear a mask and gloves when you work with it because fiberglass dust can irritate your lungs. The best thing about fiberglass is that it’s a great light-diffuser, which will increase photosynthesis in your greenhouse.
Cover your backyard greenhouse with at least one layer of your chosen material. Stretch it very tight and fasten it to the boards by nailing it down with strips of wood or metal.
Sources
- http://www.motherearthnews.com/Organic-Gardening/2003-02-01/Hoop-Houses-aspx
- Related article: Hooping It Up by Kent Fellenbaum, Mother Earth News February/March 2003, p. 32
- http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&aq=t&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GWYE_en____US261&q=wikipedia
Useful resources
- Digginfood.com has a great tutorial on building a mini greenhouse in your yard.
- The Kansas Rural Center is a nonprofit agency based in Whiting, Kansas. It works to promote the health of the land and people through education, research and advocacy. Visit them at http://www.kansasruralcenter.org or write: P.O. Box 133; Whiting, KS 66552; 785-873-3431.
- This site provides you with tips on how to build your own PVC hoophouse and how to turn it into a greenhouse
- This site gives great step by step directions on how to build your own greenhouse
