My Hoop-Frame Greenhouse In the Snow
Well, not that long ago I showed you that a hoop-frame greenhouse could survive a Canadian winter. I should probably add “so far” to the end of that statement. We had a whole pile of snow (by central Alberta standards) over the past two days and I was away and thus unable to brush off the snow that was piling up on my greenhouse. So I was a little worried when I looked out this morning and saw my greenhouse looking like this.
The snow had accumulated on the top enough to start bending the pvc pipes and the roof began sinking. This is what it looked like inside.
On one hand, I was sad to see it getting squashed by the snow like that. But on the other hand, I was over joyed to see that although it had bent, nothing had broken! Everything was intact – just a little bent out of shape. So here’s another positive for using PVC pipe. It can bend quite a bit, still not break, and then resume it’s shape again when the pressure is off.
So I took out my shovel and scraped the snow back from the sides and brushed the snow off of the roof best I could. Some chunks were frozen to the plastic at the top, and I didn’t want to risk wrecking the plastic, so I left some up there. But the warm weather that will come eventually, hopefully, should melt that away.
While there certainly are some risks to this type of greenhouse structure (after all, I do live in Canada), and we’re not out of the woods yet (still six more months of winter… well, three at least), I still stand behind my PVC pipe greenhouse.
December 23rd, 2009 at 11:52 am
I hope it stands up – I can’t believe how much snow we’ve gotten here in Alberta so far!
December 23rd, 2009 at 6:18 pm
Merry Christmas Dave.
Good follow up on this project. One of the issues with any kind of roof profile other than an A frame is snow build up. This is a good recommend for the hoop system and is probably pretty typical. You likely chose wisely in not taking the ice off as those chunks are likely what does most plastic covers in. I waiting to see how my plain 6 mil poly will stand up but I am anticipating if we get high winds it will likely not stand up. So far so good.
Hoop houses are really catching on so hopefully covers will improve and be more readily available. Northern Greenhouses seems to be the best on the Prairies right now.
Clayton
December 24th, 2009 at 3:27 pm
Merry christmas to you an your family from iceland:=)
January 5th, 2010 at 8:04 pm
We live in MI so my husband made a greenhouse that comes apart and can be stored in the garage for the winter months. E-Z to put up AND take down. Love your photos.
January 21st, 2010 at 8:16 am
I am in michigan and have been using a seasonal hoop house. this year plan to keep up all year. did yours make it this far? we are considering changing to an A frame house instead. what kind of plastic did you use. we are considering the woven poly stuff for added strength. possibly change pvc to conduit if stay with hoop style. any information you can give for wintering is appreciated.
Sincerely
Tiffany
January 21st, 2010 at 9:02 am
The greenhouse is still going strong! A-frame is a good design as well. I would likely do that if I had the space. I used 11mm woven poly from http://www.northerngreenhouse.com – check it out! They are a great place for ideas!
February 2nd, 2010 at 8:46 pm
We sure did get a lot of snow this winter, didn’t we? Even more around your area than we did here, I think (I’m from Calgary, but until very recently my parents owned a cottage at Sylvan Lake).
LOVE your greenhouse! Glad it’s stood up! I’ve bookmarked your instructions for it too to show my aunt (who may be buying an acreage soon).
I’m a beginner when it comes to gardening. Sure, I helped my mom as a kid, but I’m not sure how much that counts, since I’ve never done it on my own (well…unless you count the rhubarb out back and the bulbs out front). As you said, “it’s a world of difference between helping your folks pull some weeds and going out and making a beautiful yard of your own.” This year I hope to venture into the world of vegetable gardening for the first time (on my own), and I was wondering which vegetables you start propagating indoors, what your method is, and how soon you start. (Maybe blog material?) Thanks!
February 2nd, 2010 at 9:35 pm
Hey Jenna,
In a quick summary, I get an early indoor start on tomatoes, cucumbers, watermelons, peppers, and sometimes corn. I’ve started as early as late Feb, but I think this year will be late March. I typically start in those 1″x1″ plugs with a clear plastic lid until they out grow it. I’m also short on good south-facing windows so I have a couple of fluorescent tube lights that I hang just above the tops. It’s not the best setup, but it works. Remind me in early March to blog about my seed starting and I’ll write a post for ya with lots of pics!
February 3rd, 2010 at 12:41 pm
[...] on a winter day is visiting people whose winters are much worse than ours, I suggest visiting the Alberta Gardener where hoop houses are taken very seriously, or Gardening Zone 3B . Or for a humorous take on a [...]
February 12th, 2010 at 12:16 am
Hi Dave,
Being that it is one continuous piece I think it stands up in the wind much better, than if there were any seems. Over the two seasons I have gotten small rips or holes from one thing or another, but I patch it upright away with clear Duct tape, and it’s as strong as ever. Maybe even stronger!! 
Alberta winters can be brutal,in many respects. My hoop style greenhouse from your website will be coming into it’s 3rd season this spring!!
It still has the original 6 mil plastic
We have had similar problems to yours, with accumulating snow, but my husband built some temporary supports, just for the winter, to go down the length of the building. And then we just try to watch and brush off the excess after a heavy snowfall. We’ve had some bending but never anything broken, and ours is 32 feet long.
I love my greenhouse!
Keep up the good work.
May 19th, 2010 at 8:27 am
We live in MI so my husband made a greenhouse that comes apart and can be stored in the garage for the winter months. E-Z to put up AND take down. Love your photos.