Hoophouse production

Growing for Market has been promoting the benefits of hoophouse production for more than a decade, since the GFM editors put up four hoophouses on their own farm in Kansas. It's hard to overstate the importance of a hoophouse to a small-scale vegetable and flower farm. The benefits are so significant that we believe a hoophouse should be one of the first things you buy when starting a small farm. You are much more assured of success growing in a hoophouse than outside.

You can trust Growing for Market to keep you informed about developments in hoophouse production. You'll find updates on this website, and you'll read the most cutting-edge practical articles in the regular issues of Growing for Market. If you're not already a subscriber, please join us and subscribe today.

The Hoophouse Handbook is a collection of articles from GFM about hoophouse production. It covers buying, siting and building the best structure for your location, plus articles by growers all over North America about the most valuable crops to grow in a hoophouse. The Hoophouse Handbook is 60 pages, softcover, with color photos. $16, or $12.80 for GFM subscribers. Buy The Hoophouse Handbook

Hoophouse party

Mar 28, 2011

Here's an unusual use for your high tunnel: party space. Ralph Cramer, the U.S. distributor for Haygrove tunnels, sent along these photos of a Haygrove Super Solo converted to an elegant evening dinner venue.

How to get snow off a hoophouse

Jan 20, 2011

Although most hoophouses can withstand some snow load, if you've got too much snow, you need to get it off. Here's how.

USDA reports huge increase in protected food crops

Dec 21, 2010

The 2009 Census of Horticulture Specialties shows a 149% increase in food crops and veggie transplants produced under plastic during the previous decade.

Advice from growers on what kind of hoophouse to buy

Growing for Market readers weigh in on their experiences with hoophouse structures — what kind they bought, whether they like it, and what they wish they had done differently.

What to Start in the Hoophouse

When daylength is less than 10 hours, as it is during the depths of winter in much of North America, most plants stop growing because of the lack of light. But in early to mid February, the days are long enough again for plant growth to resume. If you have a heated greenhouse or an unheated hoophouse, you can get an extra-early start to your season. Here are some ideas for plants to start now through April.

More information on hoophouses

Dec 27, 2009

Growing for Market is your best source for information about hoophouse/high tunnel production. SUBSCRIBE TODAY so you don't miss a thing! Bookmark this site and check back periodically to see what's new.

Click on the headline above for a list of current resources.