As crazy as it might sound, I've been a bit paranoid lately that I would come home from work to find that all of my fall and winter crops have wilted from the heat of the day...inside my hoop houses that is. Here in New England, we've been enjoying a good dose of Indian summer lately, all the more reason why it's critical to make sure that my hoop houses are properly vented. Last Sunday, while I was doing some work in the garden, I opened one of my hoop houses to find the Spinach looking not so happy, the moist heat hitting me as I lifted the handle. It must have been at least 25 degrees warmer inside. I have to make a mental note to order a couple of max/min thermometers to better monitor how warm it gets inside the hoop houses relative to the temperature outside. I'd like to start keeping a record for future reference. That being said, I hope our Indian summer lasts for a few more weeks.
Well, that's one way to do it! Yes...the hoop houses get pretty hot inside, that's why I incorporated the little fan into mine.
ReplyDeleteThey can really heat up fast with strong sun. I had romaine growing in my cold frame late feb this year! Your tunnels look pretty light, you can get gas lifts that automatically open when the temperature goes to high. I was going to get one for the cold frame but the double glazed top is to heavy for them to operate. Here a link to one of the suppliers : http://www.leevalley.com/garden/page.aspx?c=1&cat=2,43224&p=10543
ReplyDeleteYou guys get so technical! I used to just cut slits in the top of the plastic. As it heated up inside, the plastic dome would expand and the slits would open to expel the hot air. As it cooled, the pressure inside would drop and the slits would close. Not exactly a perfect way to vent, but it was cheap (free).
ReplyDeleteI want to make some hoop houses for my raised beds. They look easy enough, I just haven't had time to do it yet. I definitely have included vents in the plans. This post just helps confirm the need for them!
ReplyDeleteThat is why I stick to remay row covers most of the time when I have plants underneath. I know they don't work for winter covers, but I'm not going to try to grow over the winter this year. Some year I want some cold frames with automatic vent openers.
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