Today, I’m excited to share a great video on building a winter greenhouse from a YouTube channel Live.Life.Simple. His journey of building a hoop house, a project aimed at extending our growing season as the cooler weather sets in the Rockies. The best part? He managed to keep the cost under $200! For those interested in following along, I’ve listed all the materials you’ll need in the article below.
The Plan
Our goal was to construct a 10 by 10 hoop house, also known as a high tunnel, on a budget. We wanted to fit two 3 by 8 raised beds inside this structure. Additionally, we planned to add another small hoop house tunnel on top with a hinge, which I’ll cover in a different video.
Materials and Measurements
Frame Construction
- Lumber: We started with four 2 by 6 by 10 pieces of lumber. Two were cut to 120 inches (10 feet), and the other two to 117 inches. This ensured that when put together, one side would be exactly ten feet.
- Screws: A box of galvanized or deck screws, inch and a quarter, was used to hold the grommets for the hoops.
- Grommets: We needed 22 grommets to stabilize the hoops, placed every two feet.
Hoop Construction
- PVC Pipes: For the hoops, we used 10-foot sections of three-quarter inch PVC, joined with PVC cement to make 20-foot sections. This length was crucial to ensure enough height to stand up inside the hoop house.
- Type of PVC: It’s important to choose the right type of PVC. We used schedule 40 for its rigidity, though it’s slightly more expensive.
Supports and Door
- Supports: For the supports, we used 2 by 4 by 10 treated lumber, cut in half. We also used 3/4 inch PVC, cut into two-inch pieces, for additional support.
- Door: The door dimensions were tailored to our needs, with a width of 36 inches and a height of 74 inches. We added cross supports for rigidity and aesthetics.
Building Process
- Assembling the Frame: After cutting the lumber to the required dimensions, we assembled the frame, placing the conduit grommets at two-foot intervals.
- Inserting Hoops: The PVC hoops were then inserted into the grommets and secured with screws.
- Adding Supports: The supports, made from halved 2 by 4s and PVC pieces, were added next. These were crucial for the structure’s stability.
- Constructing the Door: We built a door frame slightly larger than the door for ease of fitting. The door was then hung using hinges.
Final Thoughts
Building this hoop house was a rewarding experience, especially knowing it will help extend our growing season. The project was budget-friendly and manageable in just one day. I invite you to join me for part two, where we’ll finish up by installing the doors and adding the final touches.
Stay tuned, and happy gardening! 🌻👨🌾🌱
