Many gardeners long for a greenhouse, but for some, a greenhouse may be too costly. There is an alternative which is becoming more and more popular all over the United States. On abandoned city lots and on old garden spots, people are erecting "high tunnels" or "hoop houses."
Simply put, these temporary structures are plastic or steel hoops covered with plastic. These structures can assure gardeners a longer and more productive growing season. Experts claim they can extend the growing season up to three planting zones. In this part of the country that can give one or two more growing months in the spring and fall. This means the average gardener could have homegrown tomatoes in May.
High tunnels are not heated and use the soil they cover. They help keep bugs and worms off the vegetable plants. They keep the hot sun from blistering tomatoes. They allow a gardener to grow cold tolerant vegetables like spinach, lettuce, cabbage, and other greens most of the year.
Several businesses in the United States offer hoop house kits. An 8X10 foot kit can be as inexpensive as $300. Larger ones, of course, are more costly.
High tunnel gardens have been used on empty lots in Flint, Michigan. One lady there was gardening in a high tunnel on the lot where once sat the home in which she had been raised.
In Baltimore, Maryland, a high school has a small complex of three high tunnels in which they grow vegetables for four school kitchens. The kids call the complex "Hoop Village."
Recently the Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA) made available money for a pilot project to introduce growers to high tunnel growing. The Service could pay up to 75 percent of the costs for hoop houses.
As with any government program, there are stipulations:
- the hoop house must be erected on land which has a farm and tract number (see your local USDA office to get a tract number)
- the high tunnels must be constructed with manufactured kits
- the high tunnel must be must be erected on "existing cultivated cropland" which had a crop grown on it within the last five years. Gardens are considered croplands.
- the high tunnel may not be located on the farm yard or on lawn areas
- the plants in the high tunnels must be planted in the soil—not in pots or on tables. No flowers are allowed.
- there can be no artificial heating or cooling
- the high tunnel cannot be a permanent structure and must have a 6 mill plastic cover
- the purpose of the high tunnel must improve plant, soil, or water quality, besides extending the growing season
- compliance to these rules will be checked yearly for four years
Whether people choose greenhouses or hoop houses, they will have longer and better growing conditions. Wouldn't you like a fresh, home-grown tomato for Mother's Day?
Those interested in checking the USDA's offer, contact Lynn Jenkins, 1-417- 451-1007, extension 3, or visit him at the USDA office in Neosho.
