Raised Bed Hoop House: A Guide to Building Your Own

Do you want to extend your growing season and protect your plants from harsh weather conditions? Look no further than a raised bed hoop house! This simple and affordable structure can provide a controlled environment for your plants, allowing you to grow crops year-round. In this guide, we'll show you how to build your own raised bed hoop house in just a few easy steps.

What is a Raised Bed Hoop House?

A raised bed hoop house is a structure that covers a raised garden bed with a plastic or fabric covering. The frame of the hoop house is typically made of PVC or metal pipes bent into an arc shape, creating a tunnel-like structure over the raised bed. The plastic or fabric covering acts as a greenhouse, trapping heat and moisture inside and protecting the plants from harsh weather conditions such as frost, wind, and heavy rain.

Materials Needed

To build your own raised bed hoop house, you will need the following materials:

• Four 10-foot PVC pipes (3/4 inch diameter)
• Two 8-foot PVC pipes (3/4 inch diameter)
• Four three-way PVC connectors (3/4 inch diameter)
• Two four-way PVC connectors (3/4 inch diameter)
• Eight metal rebar stakes (18 inches long)
• One roll of clear plastic sheeting (6 mil thickness)
• One roll of UV-resistant plastic sheeting (6 mil thickness)
• Zip ties
• Scissors

Building the Frame

The first step in building your raised bed hoop house is to construct the frame. Follow these steps:

1. Insert one end of each 10-foot PVC pipe into a three-way PVC connector.
2. Connect the two three-way PVC connectors with an 8-foot PVC pipe in the middle to create the top of the frame.
3. Insert the other end of each 10-foot PVC pipe into a four-way PVC connector.
4. Insert a metal rebar stake into the ground on each corner of the raised bed.
5. Slide the four-way PVC connectors onto the metal rebar stakes.
6. Attach the four upright PVC pipes to the four-way PVC connectors.
7. Bend the top of the frame down to form an arc shape, then secure the two ends of the frame together with a zip tie.

Attaching the Cover

Once the frame is complete, it's time to attach the cover. Follow these steps:

1. Cut a piece of clear plastic sheeting to fit the length and width of the raised bed.
2. Lay the plastic sheeting over the frame, making sure it hangs down evenly on both sides.
3. Secure the plastic sheeting to the frame with zip ties, starting at one end and working your way down to the other end.
4. Cut a piece of UV-resistant plastic sheeting to fit the length and width of the raised bed.
5. Lay the UV-resistant plastic sheeting over the clear plastic sheeting, making sure it hangs down evenly on both sides.
6. Secure the UV-resistant plastic sheeting to the frame with zip ties, starting at one end and working your way down to the other end.

Maintaining Your Raised Bed Hoop House

Now that your raised bed hoop house is complete, it's important to maintain it properly to ensure the health and productivity of your plants. Here are some tips:

• Water your plants regularly, but be mindful not to overwater them. The plastic covering will trap moisture inside, so make sure to monitor the soil moisture levels.
• Open the ends of the hoop house on warm and sunny days to allow air flow and prevent overheating.
• Close the ends of the hoop house on cold and windy days to retain heat and protect the plants from frost damage.
• Check the plastic covering regularly for tears or holes, and patch them as needed.
• Remove any snow accumulation from the top of the hoop house to prevent damage to the frame.

A completed raised bed hoop house frame.

A raised bed hoop house is a great way to extend your growing season and protect your plants from harsh weather conditions. With just a few materials and some basic construction skills, you can build your own raised bed hoop house in no time. Remember to maintain your hoop house properly to ensure the health and productivity of your plants. Happy gardening!

greenhouse gardening, DIY projects, vegetable gardening, garden structures