March 2019 - 33

Site, design keys to hoophouse selection
By Dean Peterson
FGN Correspondent
The flexible design of hoophouses gives
growers many choices. They must select
a site, choose a design - probably Gothic
Arch or Quonset, decide on the type
of ventilation, endwall and fabric, and
prepare for the installation.
An east-west siting is preferred for
hoophouses, but is not as important as
selecting a location exposed to full sunlight.
" Look around for potential shade, " said
Phil Irwin, installations manager of Nifty
Hoops, a hoophouse supplier from Ann
Arbor, Michigan. Irwin was a speaker at the
recent Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable & Farm
Market EXPO in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
The hoophouse should be twice as
far away as it is tall from trees and other
hazards that could fall on the structure.
" These are a major investment, " Irwin said.
" You don't want a tree branch to fall and
have to call us six months after installation
to get your hoophouse re-covered. "
The site must be level. A clay soil is
preferred because it will hold the posts
the most securely. " The key to any good
hoophouse is a good foundation, " Irwin
said. Earth anchors can be added to
compensate for other soil types.
Growers are asked to rototill the
hoophouse site before installation to
ensure evenness, Irwin said. This ensures
the best installation of the baseboard.
A Gothic Arch is the design most
growers should consider first in a northern
climate like Michigan. " A Gothic Arch
is very durable, " Irwin said. Its ability to
withstand inclement weather comes from
its sharp peak and sloping sides. The walls
slope in from the sides making a gradual
curve that peaks at the roof.
Proper positioning of the plastic is key to
a Gothic Arch's weather resilience. Pulling
the roof plastic tight creates a hard ridge
across the top, which keeps the snow or
rain moving off
the hoophouse.
" If you don't
have plastic
tightness, water
puddles and
snow build-up
is possible, "
Irwin said.
A Gothic
PHIL IRWIN
Arch also has
more overhead
space for tall plants like tomatoes that
need trellising.
A hoophouse with a Quonset design
isn't as big as a Gothic Arch. " It's smaller
and doesn't take up the huge space of
a Gothic design, " Irwin said. It has a
sloping roof and lacks the sharp peak of a
Gothic Arch.
A Quonset better fits smaller growers
or growers in urban environments. It's
adaptable and fits a caterpillar design.
This design allows growers to expand
their hoophouse in sections.
A caterpillar style is also mobile. " Use
it to start your transplants in the field and
then move the hoophouse to the next
location, " Irwin said.
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There are many endwall options for
both Gothic Arch and Quonset designs.
There are doors for workers and doors
for equipment in many sizes. There are
roll up endwall options. Endwalls can be
made from a number of different fabrics
and plastics.
Ventilation is an important consideration.
Nifty Hoops offers a 78-inch, roll up side
curtain that can be automated or manually
operated by a hand crank. Hand cranks can
be difficult to operate on large hoophouses.
" With 200 feet of hoophouse, that side
curtain gets heavy, " Irwin said.
Nifty Hoops also offers a 48-inch louver
vent mounted to the endwall operated with
DC power. " DC only uses power when
opening and closing doors, " Irwin said. " An
AC unit draws power all of the time. "
When automated, both the roll up side
curtain and the louver vent can both be
operated by thermostat.
" Controlling them with thermostats
means growers don't have to live in the
hoophouse watching the thermometer, "
Irwin said.
Other ventilation options in the
industry include tube vents, gable vents
and drop down curtains - often used in
combinations.
There are many types of covering
used on hoophouses. The covering can
be clear or white (opaque) and treated
or untreated. Ultraviolet light (UV)
resistance, infrared blocking and anticondensation
properties are some of the
common treatments available.
A trial run may be the best way for
growers to see what works for them. " See
if you can grow what you want to grow
under plastic, " Irwin said.
The first step may be simpler for other
growers. " Maybe you're starting out and
all you know is you want to grow under
plastic, " Irwin said. FGN
Manzate, Penncozeb and the UPL logo are trademarks of UPL Corporation Limited or its
related companies. Products manufactured for UPL NA Inc. 630 Freedom Business Center,
King of Prussia, PA 19406. ©February, 2019. All rights reserved. www.upi-usa.com
FGN | MARCH 2019 | 33
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March 2019

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