Hey guys, this was a huge issue for me in the beginning when trying to decide what type of plastic to go with for my hoop house covering. Hopefully you can learn from my experiences and choose the right plastic from the start.
Mike Kincaid I just wanted to give you an update on the two figs I told you about. Strawberry verte and raspberry latte. I have four cuttings and want you to know that your method is outstanding. Day 20 and I can see some thick roots through the cups. I know I know you said patience but I couldn’t help myself. I know you said you didn’t have those varieties but since I have four cuttings as soon as they get big enough I’ll send you a cutting from each or maybe the two plants I have I haven’t decided how much room we will have when we move to a new place. Thanks for everything!
Wasn’t expecting you to offer anything in return but I can’t say no. Thanks to you and my friend who sent me the cuttinngs it’s become a new obsession. Lol I’m going to start to wake them up and hopefully in the next few weeks I can contact you about mailing them. Thanks again for everything.
Very cool, thank you. I was thinking of building a hoop house, partially underground, as soon as the ground thaws to finish my digging i started, but now Im realizing I really need a greenhouse for my tropical fruit trees as I live in frigid Canada. Thanks so much for the helpful info. My Two new Rhodies I got, survived a brutal winter out here, but look rough, Ill make just a little hoop cold frame for them.
Good advice thanks Mike. I have a greenhouse but would love to have a hoop house as well but not enough room in my very small garden! All the best, Graham🇬🇧🇬🇧
are you planning on doing a video on how you built your hoop house? If not, can you tell me which direction to face the longsides? How you have your shade cloth mounted on the top without using a hip board? Where you can buy 50% white shade cloth woven material? All I see is knitted shade cloth which allows water to pass through it? Member and currently working on making my propagation frame you designed. Great video! Thanks, Mike.
Glad you got the videos! You'll be extremely happy with the frame when you get it up and running. It's perfect for any type of cutting through the year.
Hi Mike, Thanks for you responses. Was thinking about your suggestion about using insulation board on the bottom of the lower frame. However, I was concerned about water having a pass through it. Later read an article that suggested using insulation board on the bottom frame's inside walls. Between the wood and the media (much). Did some research and found some 1" thick x 2'x2' insulation board with a R5 rating and thinking of using a 4oz container of liquid nail to adhere the material. Provided link to the insulation board below. Would welcome your thoughts on this approach. www.homedepot.com/p/Project-Panels-FOAMULAR-1-in-x-2-ft-x-2-ft-R-5-Small-Projects-Rigid-Pink-Foam-Board-Insulation-Sheathing-PP1/203553730
Good info Mike! I wonder if your Gazebo Lady has an existing wooden frame? Rigid panels -- Fiberglass, polycarbonate, double acrylic etc., might look pretty sweet.
Haha, I've had the same problem over the years and just decided to go with both. They really serve different purposes so it's best to have 2 separate structures, one for a green house and one for a hoop house. Of course, I haven't build the second one yet, lol.
@@MikeKincaid79 As I was reading your comment I was fixing to as where the videos with the greenhouse were. Lol. Then I seen it's in the getting around to it list. 😂 You do a great job. I don't know how you have so much time.
I think my question would be, what’s best for trying to start from seed and or for propagating? I have a small little green house four foot tall, 3 feet deep and four feet wide and has clear plastic on top that can open and close for a lid. However, this offers no protection from direct sun and would fry my new cuttings (I believe)? Could I just get some 55% white plastic to use as over head protection when doing propagation? Great video Mike. Spring is here and thanks for all the work that you do, very inspired by your videos. Cheers
I really like the 55% shade cloth for propagation. The new cuttings need that lower light level. Remember though, that my structure isn't sealed up and has plenty of ventilation so the plastic cuts down on light and heat and that's it. If you have a small frame and completely enclose it, the inside will build up a lot of heat even with 55% shade cloth. Also, you don't need a greenhouse. I propagated plants for years before I built mine and really only built it to house young rhododendrons. Over the years I've come to use it for just about everything I do now but started without it.
Thanks Mike, I appreciate the fast reply. I’m constantly out there opening and closing the lid and monitoring the temperature via in house thermometer and soil temperature thermometer. Too much time on my hands right now haha I have bottom heat going at the moment and use the sealed up tubs as you do (pop the lids with bottom heat) but will not use bottom heat as soon as it heats up enough, works great. You’re always an inspiration with your videos and even provide some humour which is awesome. Thanks again. Cheers.
Hi Mike, love your videos, moved to Troutdale a couple years ago and have learned so much about growing and propagating which I totally love. My question for is I want a greenhouse to grow vegetables during the winter months but the winds are very strong here. Any suggestions on how to build one that will withstands these winds? Thanks
Great explanation! Thanks Mike I never looked into it and didn't know the difference! Good to see you as well! Have a great weekend! Hugs! 💜🌱 P.s. miss Johnny! 😆
@@MikeKincaid79 when spring is coming he will make his appearance! We had so much rain from the past few months, I feel moldy😀 I am done, I want some sun but not high temperatures.
Mike, you mentioned how you keep your rhododendrons in your hoop house winter and summer and how you deal with the temperature changes. My question: how old are your rhododendrons before they leave the hoop house and you permanently plant them in the ground?
They usually stay in the hoop house for a couple years but as an experiment I've planted newly rooted cuttings of rhododendrons straight out in the landscape to see how they do and it works out just fine. Thanks for asking!
Great stuff, Mike! I am inspired and just started rose & hydrangea cuttings.. What bottom layer material do you use for hoop house? Appears woven, and weed barrier. And, how often do you have to replace the ground fabric - and plastic on your hoop house. Thank you! amazing work.
Lol yes I got it Is a HOOP HOUSE and is FLEXIBLE. Great choice. Greenhouse is. . Crazy. In summer time is so double super hot. And winter there's spiders! At night is so cold! My plants are fine, the spiders are ok too. I got plants peppermint inside in the Greenhouse in every corner and the smells of it the spiders run away but far away oh and aphids too Lol The lavender helps too specially mosquitoes and no more spiders! Mike? You sell Rhododendrons?
I agree with you in principal however with a bit of planning your hoop house you may be able to create a hybrid, something between a hoop house and a green house with modern ideas. Your advise on deciding on want you want inside is critical before planning your build
That's just it, what are you growing? For all the plants I grow in here, I don't want them in a greenhouse environment. They need their dormancy period with a little protection from wind and frost. I'll build a separate greenhouse elsewhere.
Mike: Regarding you cold frame, I always wondered whether the direction of your tunnel is important to you. If so, is your tunnel aligned North-South, or East-West? And for what reason? Did you have it installed? Or did you do it yourself?
Check out those videos with high wind resistance hoop houses. Mention in the video title.. the prevailing wind should strike the long side of the hoophouse. My prevailing wind comes from the west but any suitable location I have would align the hoop house in line with the prevailing wind . So if door are opened a wind storm would lift the hoophouse
Commercial growers try to run North & South. That way shadows cast by roof structure, trusses, hanging baskets etc. keep moving across the plants all day and don't create shade "zones" like an East/West layout tends to. In a residential situation where you may have no choice - -you just learn to adapt. An East/West layout will capture more Winter sun in colder latitudes.
that was a lot of information mike. thanks. i had to laugh because on facebook yesterday there was a sequence of 2 guys making a shelter in the woods in winter. they made a teepee and surrounded it with plastic wrap, a separate door made of wrap and put a small stove inside and cooked. what was even funnier was that viewers complain about what did they do with the wrap. did they leave it in the woods or bring it home to the recycle bins. the hut seemed to get a zero in popularity. have a good one, carmine. ps. did joey mullen get in touch with you? i emailed him to get in touch with you also. cp.
Hello! Thanks for this video! I have a lean-to shed that is roughly 12' x 25' that I am considering converting into a cold frame or greenhouse. I will be stripping the tin off and I am considering my covering options. We are zone 6 and I would like to keep it warm during the winter months. I was looking into polycarbonate paneling, but that stuff seems a little pricey. Now considering starting with plastic sheeting. Do you think the double layer work for this application? Open to any suggestions. We will be framing out the ends for doors to be opened during summer months for better air flow.
Yes, double layer plastic works well too. I have a friend that has a hoophouse with double layer plastic and she roots all her rhododendrons in there. You have to have a little fan to blow air between the layers to separate them and create the space or "insulation" but they're fairly cheap.
Not sure if this is the right place to put a question. However, I live in a townhouse and would like start propagating, but I don't have land. Garage is to cold in the winter here in Illinois. So I have a basement. Will shelves and shop lights do? Just trying to get petunias through the IL winter.
Mike can you do me a good one and make a video to show the differences between azaleas dahlias and rhododendrons. I took some cuttings from my work but not sure what i took i just liked the flowers when they were in season which is febuary march in Louisiana. Thanks if you can help me. I may be a idiot but would really like to know.
Hi mike, Do you sell Rodos by mail? I have a new flower bed that will be filled soon, and I would like to have one of your Rodo's as seen in your hoop house. Thanks for your answer. Ken
Yes, the roots still need to be kept moist during the winter but I water much less. During the summer, I water daily and during the winter I water about once a month.
Hi Mike, Thanks for you responses. Was thinking about your suggestion about using insulation board on the bottom of the lower frame. However, I was concerned about water having a pass through it. Later read an article that suggested using insulation board on the bottom frame's inside walls. Between the wood and the media (much). Did some research and found some 1" thick x 2'x2' insulation board with a R5 rating and thinking of using a 4oz container of liquid nail to adhere the material. Provided link to the insulation board below. Would welcome your thoughts on this approach. www.homedepot.com/p/Project-Panels-FOAMULAR-1-in-x-2-ft-x-2-ft-R-5-Small-Projects-Rigid-Pink-Foam-Board-Insulation-Sheathing-PP1/203553730 Show less
Sounds like you're on the right track. If you needed more insulation on the bottom then you could use sand. You could also drill holes in the insulation or raise the frame off the insulation about 1/2 inch so water can drain out the sides.
