DIY Hoop Houses for Home Gardens

Now that temperatures are dropping, it's time to put your garden to bed. Here's how to make your own hoop house covers for your garden.

Most regions require a light- or medium-weight polypropylene or polyester fabric, found in local garden shops or online at johnnyseeds.com.

1. Cut three 6-foot lengths of ½-inch flexible PVC pipe with handheld cutters (adjusting for the height of your crops).

2. Screw ½-inch C-clamps at opposite points on the interior wall of beds, spaced every 2 feet. Insert pipe pieces into C-clamps, creating a hoop.

3. Cover hoops with fabric or plastic, clamping it tightly onto the pipes. On bright, warmer days, pull back the covers to give plants a chance to soak up the sun and to prevent overheating.

Keep Reading:

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• No Mean Green Here: Smart Smoothies from the Garden
• The ABCs of a Fall Kitchen Garden
• Vegetable Garden Designs