hoop houses

[plainleaf]

what method do you use to keep the cover on your home made hoop house?
i am working on a new hoop house and am try a new way and am curious how every one else has done theirs ?

[plainleaf]

[5rod]

hi
i use blue water pipe works ok for me.

[plainleaf]

pipe is obvious for the frame but how do you secure the cover.

ps water pipe in usa is either is usaully white or tan.
especially the type used for hoop houses

[Uncle_Filthster]

I use a staple gun to stitch mine on.  May leave one side free and come up with a bungee type system so I can lift one side of the cover instead of the whole frame on the next batch.

[ACE]

You dig a trench each side of the tunnel and bury the cover in the ground. The first side is easy, it is tensioning the other side that makes it all come together. Definately a two man job.

[galina]

What dimension is your 'hoop house'?  In the UK we have cloches, giant cloches (like the Geoff Hamilton cloche) or polytunnels, but not hoop houses.  And the methods differ according to the size and construction of the thing.

How did you so aptly put our transatlantic language problems recently?  Terms that confuse gardeners ..... ;D

[plainleaf]

20 ft by 4 ft

[galina]

20 ft by 4 ft

That's a poly tunnel. 

The page below may answer your question, url below.  But there is a lot more information on www if you google.

http://www.citadelpolytunnels.com/polytunnel_construction_(basics).aspx

[plainleaf]

what method do you use to keep the cover on your home made hoop house?

[Robert_Brenchley]

No they're not. You can't walk into a GH cloche.

[plainleaf]

robert in USA size is not factor in calling something a hoop house shape is what determines a hoop house.

[davyw1]

BLX...............Roofing lats

[Digeroo]

There seems to be a slight difference in nomenclature here.  I presume that for hoop house we would say polytunnel.

So translating the question is how to keep the plastic on a homemade polytunnel.  Though I presume that the problem is similar with the smaller homemade cloche as well.

I have seen one with cable ties and holes cut into the plastic, not convinced that it would not tear given a strong wind.

I did manage to keep the plastic on one with a slightly larger stiffer plastic piping cut into sections and cut into a shape that clipped over the plastic and onto the piping.  But sometimes they simply jumped off.

[plainleaf]

Digeroo to keep the plastic from ripping grommits might help

one other issue you need consider with you suggestions snow is factor here.

[gwynnethmary]

We just weigh the netting down with strategically placed bricks, but I would love a more accesible method.

[davyw1]

Like i said roofing lats

[grawrc]

Wow! That looks abfab (but in a good way! ;)) !! What's BLX? ??? ???

[davyw1]

Wow! That look abfab (but in a good way! ;)) !! What's BLX? ??? ???

I think i will PM you on that

[Digeroo]

I'm very impressed davyw1.  But it is quite a structure, am I right it has a breeze block base with foundations etc.

[davyw1]

I'm very impressed davyw1.  But it is quite a structure, am I right it has a breeze block base with foundations etc.

Yes the polythene with bricks rolls up for more ventilation