Comments on: An Inexpensive, Hail Proof, PVC Pipe Greenhouse

By: R D McKeever

R D McKeever — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 02:23:55 +0000

Just discovered your site. Had a couple questions & recommendation. Has anyone tried adding foil coated bubble insulation to the polar side to block heat loss and reflect sunlight? Also, has anyone added hydronic heat to the floor to speed germination?

If your readers haven’t been to builditsolar.com, they may find it helpful with heating in cold season.

By: Dave

Dave — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:23:55 +0000

Andrew: No issues with pollination! I usually keep both the front and back doors open throughout the summer, so that’s my ventilation and it allows plenty of bugs to get inside to pollinate!

By: Andrew

Andrew — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 05:10:07 +0000

Thanks for the tips……. gardening rocks!!

Have you had any problems with polination in the hoop house and have you added a ventiation system?
Cheers

By: Dave

Dave — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 14:51:28 +0000

Gar: That sounds great! If you can, send us some pictures when you get that all done!

By: Gar

Gar — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 10:54:00 +0000

Hi Dave,
I’ve got a retired 2mx1x1 deep septic tank, sealed side, so I am going to build the polytunnel over it, solar panel, and water pipe heat the polytunnel sub soil! Since the soil heating system is above the heated water reservoir, I shall use a pump, for the purpose. I may be able to integrate that from the storage battery of the Solar panel also, depending on its size.

I’ve been looking for the cheapest and best polytunnel diy, which is how I found your site.

Regards,
G

By: Dave

Dave — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 23:59:26 +0000

Matthew: Someone wiser than I has to answer that one! That kind of math is not my expertise!

By: Matthew

Matthew — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 21:47:29 +0000

We are planing on building a series of hoop houses with 10 – 12 peaks 30′ long and E W orientation
What would the spacing have to be between them to still receive full southern sun in the winter?
Located in west central NM
Not sure but they might be N S orientated .
Great stuff here
Thanks
Be well

By: Dave

Dave — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 21:02:04 +0000

Tom, your pics didn’t come through. But do try again – I’d love to see what you did.

By: Tom

Tom — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 17:58:11 +0000

I built my 12′ x 16′ hoophouse in Michigan with a Gothic arch so help shed snow. I did this by installing a 90 degree pvc elbow in at the peak (actually heated them up and bent them to approx 60 degree to alleviate stress on the joint), see attached photo. I wonder if anyone has experimented with ground insulation around the edges, or is that ineffective?

By: Dave

Dave — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 14:07:28 +0000

Carrie: I can’t say for sure. It may depend on the color of the metal panels. My plastic manufacturer recommends painting anything metal that touches the plastic with white paint to reflect the heat.