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Post by ottawagardener on Nov 30, 2008 22:14:09 GMT -5
I am in the 'market' for a new type of polytunnel / high hoophouse for next year. Previously I've been using a wooden A frame structure that I constructed that could be easily disassembled (but then again I'm no engineering genius). It was fine but I think it was overkill. The A frame design was to allow for very heavy snow falls that everyone kept threatening and for easy storage. The upsidedown V ribs could be closed after the season and put away. At any rate, now I want regular round hoops or, even better, a gothic arch.
I've been thinking of looking for a secondhand tempo frame (temporary car shelter) as I need it to be about that size: approx. 8-10' by 15-20' and high enough to stand in (this is an urban garden). However, if it is a good price, I'm willing to ship a frame.
People keep telling me the hoops are easy to construct but I have 1) no truck to transport said hoops so I would have to pay for shipping or beg a friend with a pickup and 2) don't feel all that confident with a pipe bender and know no one with experience using one.
Any suggestions of suppliers or guffaws on my wimpiness with using a pipe bender?
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Post by canadamike on Dec 1, 2008 0:18:55 GMT -5
There is a company selling tempo frames style greenhouses. I looked them up for myself, and it turns out they have a distributor in ....Rockland, of all places. It is ACTION RENTAL .I o there often, know the owner well but never knew.... The company's site: abrisharnois.com/en/products/hobby-greenhouse.phpThe phone number of Action Rental: 613-446-1188 There is also a distributor in Gatineau. But I would bet the no frills business in Rockland will get you a better price. |
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Post by ottawagardener on Dec 1, 2008 0:47:20 GMT -5
Mike, you are the man with the plan... or in this case the supplier. I asked around at all the local places and they shrugged their shoulders. Every time I looked at a tempo, I thought... hmmm... I guess I'm not the only one. I'll have to call to check out the prices. I wonder what kind of cover that is because I'm hoping for some that transmits a lot of light as my hoophouse goes over coldframes that are also covered.  |
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Post by canadamike on Dec 1, 2008 10:15:42 GMT -5
They are a subsidiary of an international supplier of commercial greenhouses. I guess they figured they might as well do something for cars and homes , having all the infrastructures. They should provide adequate covering. I suspect cold frame are for greens. These should enter in a dormant phase around Christmas and start growing back in march, according to Alan, so do not kill yourself over a couple of percentage points of light transmission .
I am going there myself this morning ( the distributor)...
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Post by ottawagardener on Dec 1, 2008 21:47:28 GMT -5
BTW: Great seeing you today Mike!
My greens etc... grow until mid-January (depending on the weather) but as long as the weather is descent are harvestable whenever - mache is amazing!! Then they start up again in March or so like you say.
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Post by Alan on Dec 2, 2008 14:42:49 GMT -5
Those tempo frames actually make really great cold frames and often times you can find them for cheap at yard sales, on swap shops, or from friends who no longer need them, at least they seem to be easy to find when your not looking for one, but then when you do want one they seem impossible to find (like everything else in the world. Anyhow, I used one to make my chicken coop and it is working very well, I'm going to frame it in a little better next year, but it will work for now.
Depending on the weather our greens will go dormant between Christmas and the first couple weeks of January usually, but I think that's more to do with the cold ground/water that seeps in than to do with light.
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Post by pigletwillie on Dec 28, 2008 15:00:24 GMT -5
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Post by Alan on Dec 28, 2008 22:38:50 GMT -5
I thought I would mention a good friend and fellow market vendor recently made a nice hoop house out of cattle panel. The panels are 16 feet so he took and cut some of the panels into four feet sections and welded those four feet sections to the already 16 foot sections and made a base out of pipe stuck into the ground and framed with 2 x 8 untreated lumber and attatched the structure to that, threw some old wind doors on each end and then put that high grade polly weave plastic over the top of it and built shelving which is supported by fifty gallon barrels filled with water for heat sinks, it's a really nice setup and relatively cheap. I don't remember the finished size of his structure but it is more than large enough for his two acre operation and has room to spare for selling plants. It might be something to look into.
-Alan
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Post by grungy on Dec 29, 2008 3:48:46 GMT -5
Any chance at a couple pics of the set up, Alan?
-Val
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peapod
gardener
Zone 4, acidic soil, and sandy loam that I have worked on for 4 years. Fixing the bad stuff.
Posts: 175
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Post by peapod on Feb 13, 2009 1:01:50 GMT -5
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