Screened Hoop Houses Keep Pests Out

Screened Hoop Houses Keep Pests Out CROPS Miscellaneous The portable hoop houses at Beech Grove Farm Vol 41 No 5 are working better than ever these days Eric and Anne Nordell have modified their original design to allow more ventilation while protecting plants from pests The modifications have also extended the life of the plastic covering the hoop houses     “Originally the plastic covering was secured to the sill plate with wood lathes ” says Eric Nordell “The only ventilation was end to end We have since gone to caterpillar-style sides with rope pulls to raise and lower the plastic allowing cross ventilation ”     The problem with open sides is that insects and wildlife have easy access The Nordells’ solution is to first layer the hoops with screening and secure it to the sill plates Then they overlay the screening with plastic     “A positive side effect of adding the screening is reduced stress on plants and plastic ” adds Nordell “The screening acts like a windbreak reducing wind pressure on the plants Plus since adding the screening we are getting 9 to 10 years life from the plastic versus 5 to 6 years previously ”     One thing that hasn’t changed with the Nordells is the portability of their hoop houses As originally described multiple hoop houses are set up with 18-ft strips of cover crops in between Every 2 years hoop house coverings are removed and 4 by 4-in sill plate beams and hoops are transferred to refreshed and renewed soil The 2-year-old beds are then seeded down with cover crops     Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Eric and Anne Nordell 3410 Rt 184 Trout Run Penn 17771 ph 570 634-3197; aenordell@gmail com

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