Building A Greenhouse

At Bootstrap Farmer we field a lot of calls from people looking to build their first hoop house. We get questions from every possible type of person. Often this is the biggest construction project that folks have taken on, so there are naturally many questions. People are terrified to make a mistake. Given the job hoop houses have of protecting valuable crops as well as a significant up front investment, we certainly understand how important it is to build it right the first time.

One of the first things you want to consider when building your DIY greenhouse is where to place it. Since a greenhouse is a semi-permanent structure, you will want to carefully decide this. There are a few factors which are crucial to consider.

Learn how to attach the greenhouse plastic film on a greenhouse frame most efficiently with tips and tricks from experienced greenhouse farmers. Get your greenhouse plastic from Bootstrap Farmer and attach it to your greenhouse using our tips!

Shipping a hoop house for the first time can be intimidating. This guide will walk you through a breakdown of what happens after you order your greenhouse kit and what you need to unload a freight delivery.

Don’t start shopping for a hoop house without reading this first. Learn about available add-ons, options to consider and how to avoid hidden costs on the backend. Don’t get surprised by hidden costs! We will show you what to look for when buying any greenhouse but particularly hoop house style greenhouses.

Hoop houses provide simplicity, adaptability, opportunities for crop diversification, opportunities to extend your growing season, and ease of maintenance. Learn more about hoop houses on the farm at Bootstrap Farmer today!

Using frost blankets to extend your growing system is something every grower should be doing. Learn how and when to use frost blankets in your garden or greenhouse from Bootstrap Farmer.

The use of covers has become an increasingly popular option for growers searching for chemical-free ways to manage weed pressure and exclude insects. On many market farming operations, the use of covers is a vital aspect of the systems of production. Here, we break down the most commonly used covers and how to use them.

Insect netting creates a barrier between plants and pests. Use on row crops or in vented side walls in hoop house greenhouses.

The strength and interior air volume in hoop houses are made possible to the millennia-old building shape, the arch. Pipes equally bent into roughly half circles are very strong, especially when properly connected. Arches evenly distribute weight and live loads (wind) to the ground posts and in turn the ground.

End walls seem to give folks anxiety. From a structural standpoint, the hoop house itself isn’t reliant on the endwalls to stay up. However, having contact points to secure greenhouse plastic is very important. 

Caterpillar Tunnels are relatively inexpensive, temporary hoop houses that resemble the bug they are named for. 'Cat Tunnels' are designed to be structurally simple and low cost. For this reason, they lack many of the components that add to the rigidity of a structure, including endwalls. If you already have incorporated a caterpillar style tunnel into your operation, it is absolutely possible to reinforce it.

Ground Posts are the poles that go into the ground to anchor the structure into the ground. Each pole works both independently as an anchor point and together as a connected structure.

Double layer inflation kits create an insulating layer of air between a double layer of poly plastic. This helps to reduce condensation and conserve heat inside of the hoop house.

Pest control is top of mind for any farmer or gardener, whether they're growing in a greenhouse or the great outdoors. However, pesticides and insecticides are indiscriminately harsh and often wind up killing pollinators that help plants thrive. Luckily, you can always rely on nature's pesticide: beneficial insects.

Choosing a high-quality plastic pays in volumes throughout the growing season. Although it is a greater investment, it can be an asset that can last many seasons and pay for itself many times over through the increases in production. Quality plastic provides many more benefits than merely covering a structure. Opting for the cheaper plastic may seem tempting, but in our opinion, a high-quality plastic will pay greater dividends in comparison.

Just like water and sunlight, soil plays a crucial role in the success of garden plants and crops, containing all the essential minerals that encourage growth. However, this also means that the opposite is true — if your soil isn't suited to the plants you're trying to grow, you're in for a difficult time. Testing soil pH is a simple and effective way to get a read on soil quality and make necessary changes before you sow your seeds. 

Are you asking yourself, what size plastic do I need for my hoop house? The size of your greenhouse film isn't necessarily determined by just the length and width.  You must account for the total length of the pipes you are using to complete a hoop, and also your endwalls.