High Yield Greenhouse and Hoop House Systems

High yield greenhouse and hoop house systems are seasonal structures designed to protect crops from weather such as rain, cold temperatures or wind, as well as pests such as rodents. While less expensive than greenhouses, these structures do provide less climate control and climate protection.

Hoop houses provide vegetable growers with an ideal environment to extend their growing season and increase yields compared to field production, leading to faster returns on their investments.

Cost-Effectiveness

Hoop houses and greenhouses can extend your growing season while simultaneously enabling you to produce crops not possible in the field, such as tomato, cucumber and pepper plants. Furthermore, these structures protect plants from cold and inclement weather that would normally reduce crop quality, extend harvest season length and protect from insects and fungal pathogens that threaten crop health – providing quicker returns than field production!

There are various hoop house kits available to DIYers and professional growers. The most basic models comprise steel pipe frames set into the ground and covered with one or two layers of greenhouse-grade plastic, sometimes featuring roll-up sidewalls with end vents to regulate temperature control or an automated heating and ventilation system for year-round use. Assembly may take from several hours up to several days by an experienced worker depending on its size.

Greenhouses are more complex and costly investments than hoop houses; however, Alaska growers may still find them cost-effective if the right materials and design are selected for construction. Examples include polycarbonate panels or glass structures made out of wood or metal as well as greenhouses equipped with climate control features that offer precise temperature and humidity regulation.

Hoop houses and greenhouses can be cost-effective alternatives to field production. By starting to plant early and harvesting beyond the typical growing season, these structures can help lower overall production costs while protecting crops from pests and diseases that might otherwise threaten them in an outdoor setting.

Selecting suitable cultivars and varieties for your greenhouse or hoophouse is of utmost importance, as these must be capable of flourishing under high temperatures, relative humidity, freezing conditions and have adequate day length for optimal growth. Some crops may even cost more to cultivate in this setting than in their natural environments.

Variety of Crops

High yield greenhouse and hoop house systems allow growers to plant early in the year than is possible outdoors, extending the growing season into fall or even early winter – which allows farmers to produce a wider variety of crops with decreased pesticide and chemical use.

Hoop houses differ from greenhouses by not typically employing heating and cooling systems; instead they rely on passive solar heating. Hoop houses consist of steel pipe frames anchored into the ground that are covered with one or two layers of greenhouse grade plastic and feature features like ridge vents, louvers or roll-up sidewalls to control climate within. They may be planted with crops grown either directly on their surfaces, raised beds, containers or can even be watered manually via drip systems or hand watering.

Hoop houses can be an efficient way to cultivate warm-season vegetables like tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers in Alaska; such crops cannot thrive outdoors but thrive under more consistent temperatures and daylengths in a hoop house. Furthermore, perennial crops like peas and beans may even be harvested during the winter with this method.

Hoop houses provide an ideal environment for hardy plants grown in containers, like berries and greens, that require protection from cold winds and snowy environments such as outdoor gardens. Hoop houses can also help jump-start overwintering crops like carrots and onions that could otherwise die during their first season outside the greenhouse.

To achieve maximum results from hoop house growing operations, it’s essential to know which cultivars and varieties will thrive under specific conditions. They must be tolerant of higher temperatures and humidity levels as well as disease and pest pressures not present in their native field habitat.

Apart from temperature, other key considerations for creating an effective hoop house include soil conditions, drainage and using suitable fertilizers. Water usage needs to be closely monitored as too much can block precious light and cause fungal diseases if left too long in the soil. Drip systems or systems which deliver soluble fertilizers are effective ways of providing water directly to the root zone without wetting foliage; proper irrigation techniques also can help.

Increased Profits

Hoop houses provide higher yields and longer growing seasons that can increase crop profits considerably, especially when used to cultivate crops with high market value such as tomatoes, peppers, leafy greens and strawberries. Hoop house production has also been shown to enhance horticultural produce quality when compared with field production (Frey et al. 2020a; Lamont 2009).

Structures such as hoop houses can extend the growing season for various vegetables, such as vine and leafy crops like tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuces, and strawberries/brambles; as well as high-value horticultural products like cut flowers/ornamental plants/cut flowers etc. Furthermore, they provide an ideal environment for high value crops like melons/peppers which may otherwise be vulnerable to insect pests/disease issues in fields.

Hoop houses provide commercial vegetable growers with additional flexibility and versatility, as they can accommodate different growing systems such as raised beds or in-ground plantings, while adapting to various climate zones, be they warm or cool regions.

Hoop houses are typically constructed using screw piles for anchorage, eliminating the cost of pouring concrete foundation. Furthermore, these buildings can easily be moved or expanded as your business expands – perfect for providing longer growing seasons and keeping markets stocked at critical shopping moments for fresh, high-quality food products!

As with any farming operation, high tunnel or hoop house management requires careful attention to soils, fertilization and irrigation practices. This is particularly essential as the growing environment differs significantly from field production in terms of temperature, moisture levels and solar radiation. SARE’s resources in Season Extension Techniques topic room provide invaluable help for farmers who wish to better understand these differences so that their hoop houses produce higher yields with faster payback periods than expected.

Flexibility

Hoop houses and greenhouses offer growers many advantages, including season extension, improved crop quality and faster harvesting time. Their use allows farmers to sell produce year-round while diversifying their operations; indeed in certain parts of the country it may even extend growing seasons by several months!

Hoop house systems come in various shapes, sizes and materials but all aim to protect crops from harsh weather conditions and extend their growing season. Hoop houses can be used to cultivate leafy greens, herbs, fruits and flowers – among others!

Hoop houses provide many advantages to farmers and farm operators alike. Hoop houses not only increase crop yield and profitability but they can also serve as a valuable conservation tool on farms by helping minimize soil erosion and runoff while supporting local food markets with access to fresh, healthy foods year-round.

Hoop houses can be an effective tool for increasing crop production, but they can be costly investments. To maximize profits and make the best use of this investment, growers must select appropriate crops and manage them correctly within the structure – including using drip irrigation which conserves water while helping prevent foliar diseases and ensure enough soil moisture monitoring is performed daily for optimal crop health.

Another method of increasing profits is through seasonal hoop house production that capitalizes on local demand, providing high yields with rapid payback times for the investment. When selecting cultivars or varieties for production in this manner, care should be taken in selecting varieties which can withstand higher temperatures and humidity levels as well as disease or pest pressure that does not exist in their native field conditions.

Thermal mass can help stabilize temperature fluctuations within a hoop house by collecting sunlight during the day and then discharging this heat at night, helping prevent overheating. Insulation and sealing also play a key role in mitigating air infiltration losses and perimeter loss losses that threaten overheating in any greenhouse design.