What are the Different Types of Hoop House?
Hoop houses come in various types and sizes, each designed to meet different gardening or farming needs. The type you choose depends on factors like climate, crop type, and whether you're a gardener or a commercial grower. Here's a breakdown of the different types of hoop houses:
1. Low Tunnel Hoop House
Size: Low tunnels are typically about 1m in height, making them compact structures that sit close to the ground.
Best For: Protecting low-growing crops like lettuce, spinach, radishes, and herbs.
Features:
Made of lightweight materials such as flexible PVC or wire hoops.
Covered with plastic sheeting, row cover fabric, or insect netting.
Easy to install and move around.
Advantages:
Provides protection from frost, wind, and pests.
Ideal for extending the growing season in spring and fall.
Limitations: Limited space inside, not suitable for tall or vining crops like tomatoes.
2. High Tunnel Hoop House
Size: These are much taller, ranging from 2m to 4m in height, allowing people to walk inside and cultivate a wider range of crops.
Best For: Tall crops like tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers, as well as year-round gardening in cold climates.
Features:
More permanent structure compared to low tunnels, often made of galvanized steel or heavy-duty PVC.
Covered with UV-resistant polyethylene plastic for long-term use.
Equipped with ventilation systems like roll-up sides for temperature control.
Advantages:
Can grow a variety of crops, including taller plants.
Offers greater protection against harsh weather (rain, snow, wind).
Allows for better temperature and humidity control.
Limitations: Requires more materials and labor to set up; more expensive than low tunnels.
3. Mini Hoop House (Cold Frame Hoop House)
Size: Smaller than high tunnels but taller than low tunnels, usually between 1m to 2m high.
Best For: Protecting plants in small garden beds, such as raised beds or flower beds.
Features:
Typically built using PVC or metal hoops over small garden spaces.
Covered with plastic sheeting or fabric for frost protection and light insulation.
Can be easily built and moved, ideal for gardeners.
Advantages:
Provides frost protection, making it suitable for early spring or late fall growing.
More affordable than high tunnels, but still spacious enough for medium-height plants.
Limitations: Limited interior space; can only house smaller crops and garden areas.
4. Gothic Arch Hoop House
Shape: Instead of the traditional rounded top, Gothic arch hoop houses have a pointed or steeply pitched roof.
Best For: Areas with heavy snowfall or frequent rain.
Features:
Made of metal or PVC with an arching, pointed roof that allows for better shedding of snow and water.
More durable against harsh weather, particularly snow accumulation.
Advantages:
Better snow and rain shedding due to the steep roof angle, reducing the risk of roof collapse.
Increased vertical space, making it great for tall crops and better airflow.
Limitations: Can be more expensive to build due to the structural design and additional materials required.
5. Quonset Hoop House
Shape: The traditional, round-top or semi-circular design.
Best For: Versatile use for all types of crops, especially in mild climates.
Features:
Semi-circular arches made from metal or PVC, covered with plastic or shade cloth.
Provides good headroom in the center but slopes down at the sides, limiting side-space for plants.
Advantages:
Simple, cost-effective design.
Easy to build and highly customizable in length and width.
Limitations: Poor at shedding snow, so it’s not ideal for areas with heavy snowfall. Limited space on the edges due to the curved design.
6. Shade Hoop House
Purpose: Provides shade rather than temperature control.
Best For: Protecting plants from excessive heat or intense sunlight, especially in hot climates.
Features:
Instead of plastic, shade hoop houses are covered with shade cloth, which allows air to flow freely while reducing the intensity of sunlight.
Often used for crops sensitive to heat, like leafy greens or seedlings.
Advantages:
Helps prevent heat stress and sunburn in crops.
Encourages better airflow and cooling.
Limitations: Does not offer protection from frost or cold, so it’s mainly used in warm climates or summer growing seasons.
7. Commercial/Industrial Hoop House
Size: Large, often covering multiple rows of crops, and can be as long as 30m or more.
Best For: Large-scale farming operations that need to protect or grow crops year-round.
Features:
Built with heavy-duty materials like galvanized steel and covered with durable polyethylene plastic.
Can be outfitted with sophisticated temperature control systems, irrigation, and even automated ventilation.
Large enough for tractors or farm equipment to pass through.
Advantages:
Allows for year-round production, even in extreme climates.
High level of customization and automation available.
Limitations: Expensive and requires more maintenance and resources to operate.
8. Movable/Portable Hoop House
Size: Can range from small (like mini hoop houses) to larger tunnel designs, but designed to be easily relocated.
Best For: Rotational crop systems, allowing you to move the structure from one area of the garden or field to another.
Features:
Built on skids, wheels, or tracks for easy relocation.
Useful for protecting different parts of the garden throughout the season or for crop rotation.
Advantages:
Prevents soil degradation and helps with crop rotation.
Versatile and adaptable, allowing you to extend growing seasons in different garden areas.
Limitations: More complex to build and maintain compared to fixed hoop houses.
9. Solar Hoop House
Purpose: Designed to optimize solar energy to keep the inside warm without additional heating systems.
Best For: Winter gardening in cold climates, where retaining heat is essential.
Features:
Uses double layers of plastic or insulated covers, sometimes with air between the layers for added insulation.
Maximizes sunlight absorption during the day and reduces heat loss at night.
Advantages:
Great for winter growing, reducing the need for supplemental heating.
Efficient in maintaining consistent temperatures inside.
Limitations: Requires more advanced building techniques and materials, potentially increasing costs.
Conclusion
The type of hoop house you choose depends on your climate, crop type, budget, and gardening goals. Low tunnels and mini hoop houses are great for small gardens and extending growing seasons, while high tunnels and commercial hoop houses are better suited for larger operations. In cold climates, Gothic arch or solar hoop houses provide extra protection, and shade hoop houses are ideal for hot, sunny areas.
