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Simple ways to upgrade your hoophouse

If you’re growing in a greenhouse, you might be upgrading or expanding your operation this summer. Many farmers start with a simple greenhouse and add features over time. This can be a great option for farmers who want to start on a low budget and scale up, or who are testing out the method before investing in a high-tech greenhouse.

Down at the Bayberry Fresh farm in Fort Collins, Farmer Haydn Christensen has some upgrades in the works for his own hoop houses. For the past few years, Haydn’s hoop houses have been seasonal operations with passive heating and cooling. He was using a bag system with coco coir to grow cherry tomatoes.

This spring, Haydn is extending the season with a few upgrades, including propane for better heating, larger fans for active cooling, a double layer of polyethylene for the hoop house wall, and a switch to slabs for his tomato plants.

Upstart University got a chance to look at these upgrades.