Building A Greenhouse

Putting up the hoops is one of the most dramatic steps in your build process. Finally, all of your preparation and work starts to look as big as it will be. Putting the hoops together and setting them is when the structure really starts to look like something. Read more to learn all about installing hoops for a hoop house.

Ridge poles, optional purlins, and cross connectors work together to connect and stabilize the hoops on a hoop house structure. Learn how these components work together to create a sturdy structure.

Learn how to anchor your hoop house or greenhouse with properly installed ground posts. Learn from this step by step guide from Bootstrap Farmer.

You will want to read this before you decide what to install as your hoop house floor! Learn about different ways to increase drainage and mitigate flooding issues with your greenhouse floor choices. There are a wide variety of options when it comes to flooring in a hoop house and each has its own pluses and minuses. 

The baseboards and hip braces of your hoop house build are the final attachment points between each hoop. Learn how to properly install them on your hoop house kit from Bootstrap Farmer.

Before you get ready to build a DIY hoop house, we recommend you get a good grasp on what materials are best for the build. Read about the pros and cons of different building materials that are used to create DIY backyard greenhouses, high tunnels, and hoop houses.

Insect netting is a preventative way of pest management for hoop houses, market crops, and greenhouses. It provides a barrier between pests and plants. Learn about this IPM method for your farm.

Infrastructure allowing farms to extend the growing seasons are especially advantageous; therefore, it is no surprise that the caterpillar tunnel and high tunnel discussion inevitably arises when looking at the options available. But what exactly are the pros and cons, and what are the big differences between the two? 

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.

Beneficial insects efficiently control pests in gardens, greenhouses and on farms without the use of harsh pesticides. Learn what type of insects will tackle the pests in your garden and how to keep them.

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!

Learn about maintaining your hoop house greenhouse with this guide. Click here for simple tips that will protect your investment and extend the life of your growing structure from Bootstrap Farmer.

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 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.

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. 

The beautiful thing about modern greenhouse and high tunnel technology is that your operation no longer has to stop or slow down during the long, cold winter months. But along with having a proper high tunnel winter growing setup in place before winter comes knocking, it's also crucial to have a planting schedule laid out so you can have the most successful winter harvest possible. 

A traditional andhigh tunnel greenhouse have many similarities, but several key differences that could affect your buying decision as well. Find out more about these two greenhouses to determine the best choice for your operation.

This calculator estimates the load local to your area. If you need certified calculations for your structure, you'll need to work with your own engineer.  This calculator is only meant to serve as a reference, not an official measurement of snow load local to a given location. 

Want to build a greenhouse?  This guide will give you detailed plans on building a greenhouse while minimizing cost and maximizing efficiency.  The greenhouses we prefer to build are known asQuick Hoop or Hoop Houses.  Quick hoop houses are a cheap way to build a greenhouse and don't require a team of people for construction.  These hoop houses can be built by one person with the occasional helping hand.