Permanent Raised Bed Gardening: Overcoming Weather Woes

Formula for success: black plastic mulch used with a crop cover

Remove the poly film or apply shade fabric when temperature at plant level within a fully vented house reaches 90°F. We have reduced air temperature successfully by using a 50 percent shade fabric over the poly film.

During cool weather, roll down the sides in the early evening to trap as much heat as possible. As the season progresses, sides can remain open when night temperatures don't fall below 65°F. A minimum/maximum thermometer is excellent for keeping tabs on day and night temperatures. If the forecast calls for rain during the night, close the hoop house before retiring for the evening.

If you're serious about gardening, hoop house and crop cover technology can help you beat those weather woes. We use this technology religiously at the Noble Foundation. It works for us, and it will work for you too.

See the appendix at the end of this book for a list of literature on the use of crop covers and hoop houses (high tunnels). Also included is a list of hoop house and crop cover merchandisers.

10-foot-wide moveable hoop house constructed of 1-inch diameter PVC pipe and cabling for added strength

10-foot-wide permanent hoop house built of 2-inch high-pressure polyethylene pipe