Hilltophigh
Well-Known Member
Last year I built a little hoop house out of PVC. It worked good but I get strong winds where I live and it did not hold up the best. This year I built a stronger one closer to the house to block some of the winds. I used 1" sch 40 PVC for everything even the door. I have built everything from my brain no drawings. I need to add a few more cross braces like on the back of the building, secure the shade cloth with more zip ties and bury the chicken wire and shade cloth around the outside. I also used chicken wire on the floor to keep out gophers and ground squirrels. I used the same shade cloth from my hoop house from last year because it is expensive and was still in great shape. The building is 10' wide and 15' long with a center height of 9' 8". I have 50% aluminet shade cloth on it. From a distance it looks like a metal shed. I use 50% shade last year with good results. It keeps the plants much cooler and yet they still have enough sun to thrive. I will put a few plants out to see how warm it will stay in feb. I think I will need to cover it with plastic for next winter to keep the heat in. I will put a few plants out early, the begining of March to have an early crop finish in May. Then my plan is to move my summer crop outside. Has anyone else in the southwest tried this yet? What % shade cloth did you use if you have done this? and what were your results. Where I live eletric is insane and the sun works much better. I think I can grow outside for all but 3 months with help from a few lights when there is not enough hours of light from the sun. Here are a few photos, please all input is welcome. 
