EMT Conduit Hoop House (Season Extender)
A lightweight, removable tunnel made from electrical conduit that turns any raised bed into a mini greenhouse for season extension.
Estimated cost
$90 – $150
Estimated time
2 – 3 hours
Lifespan
5–8 years (plastic lasts 3–5 seasons)
Soil needed
None — covers an existing bed
Weight empty
25–35 lbs
Weight full
Adds only plastic weight; secure well against wind
Best for
Overwintering greens, starting warm-season crops 3–4 weeks early
Placement
Build it over an existing raised bed. Face the ends east and west, or leave one end open for ventilation.
Boards to Buy
| Boards to Buy | Quantity | What You Use Them For |
|---|---|---|
| 3/4-inch EMT conduit, 10 ft lengths | 6 | Cut and bent into hoops |
| EMT conduit connectors / couplers | 6 | Join the two halves of each hoop |
| 1/2-inch rebar, 2 ft lengths | 12 | Stakes that hoops slide over |
| 6-mil greenhouse plastic, 14 ft × 20 ft | 1 | Covering |
| UV-resistant zip ties or conduit clamps | 24 | Attach plastic to hoops |
- ·Optional: spring-wire lock channel and wiggle wire for tighter plastic hold
- ·Optional: shade cloth for summer use
Steps
- 1Cut each 10 ft conduit into two 5 ft pieces. Join them with a coupler to make a 10 ft hoop blank.
- 2Bend each joined conduit into a half-circle hoop. A conduit bender or a simple wooden jig keeps them uniform.
- 3Drive a 2 ft rebar stake halfway into the ground on each side of the bed, spaced every 3 ft along the length.
- 4Slide one hoop onto each pair of rebar stakes.
- 5Run a ridge pole (another conduit) along the top of the hoops and secure with zip ties for extra rigidity.
- 6Drape the greenhouse plastic over the hoops. Leave at least 1 ft of overhang on each end and side.
- 7Clamp or zip-tie the plastic to each hoop every 18 inches.
- 8Bury the side flaps with soil, sandbags, or boards to seal out wind.
- 9Leave one end loose or install a rollup door for ventilation.
Tools needed
- ·Conduit bender or a sturdy jig for consistent hoop shape
- ·Hacksaw or pipe cutter
- ·Sledgehammer or rebar driver
- ·Scissors or utility knife
- ·Tape measure
Common mistakes to avoid
- ·Using too-thin plastic that rips in the first windstorm
- ·Not anchoring the base — hoop houses become sails
- ·Sealing both ends on sunny days and cooking the plants
- ·Skipping the anti-condensation film — dripping water spreads disease
Maintenance tips
Roll up the sides on warm days. Replace the plastic when it becomes cloudy or brittle. Store hoops indoors in summer if possible.
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