Quonset Hoop Tunnel
A low tunnel of half-circle hoops covered with UV greenhouse plastic, giving row crops a few extra weeks on each end of the season. This is the smaller row-cover version, not the taller reach-in hoop house.
Estimated time
1 – 2 hours
Lifespan
3–5 years
Soil needed
None — covers existing bed
Weight empty
15–30 lbs
Weight full
25–45 lbs with plastic
Best for
Extending the season for salad greens, carrots, and spinach
Placement
Build it directly over a prepared bed. Either north-south or east-west works on a 3 ft tunnel; keeping the greens from overheating matters more than perfect light orientation.
Parts to Buy
| Part | Quantity | What You Use Them For |
|---|---|---|
| 1/2 inch PVC pipe, 10 ft | 4 | Hoops (cut in half to four 5 ft pieces) |
| UV greenhouse plastic, 10 ft × 15 ft | 1 | Cover |
| Conduit stakes or rebar, 2 ft | 8 | Anchor 4 hoops (2 per hoop) |
| Clamp clips or snap clamps | 10–15 | Hold plastic to hoops |
- ·Zip ties
- ·Optional: thermometer inside
Steps
- 1Cut each 10-foot PVC pipe in half so you have four 5-foot hoops.
- 2Mark hoop locations every 3–4 feet along the 12-foot bed: four hoops total.
- 3Drive a 2-foot stake at each end of every hoop location.
- 4Bend each 5-foot piece into a hoop and slide both ends over the stakes.
- 5Drape UV greenhouse plastic over the hoops.
- 6Clip plastic tightly along each hoop.
- 7Bury the long edges with soil or weigh them down so wind can't get under the skirt.
- 8Stake or clip both ends of the tunnel.
- 9Keep the plastic off the leaves; a 5 ft hoop over a 3 ft bed gives about 2.5 ft of clearance in the center.
- 10Open one or both ends on sunny days to vent heat.
Tools needed
- ·PVC cutter or hacksaw
- ·Tape measure
- ·Rubber mallet
Common mistakes to avoid
- ·Confusing this low tunnel with a taller walk-in EMT hoop house
- ·Hoop count that doesn't match the stakes — four 10 ft pipes make four hoops, not eight
- ·Plastic touching plants — frost burns leaves
- ·No vents — overheating on sunny days
- ·Hoops too flimsy — collapse under snow
- ·Not anchoring the ends or burying the skirt
- ·Using a drop cloth instead of UV greenhouse plastic
Maintenance tips
Open one or both ends on every sunny day, even in winter. Brush off heavy snow. Replace plastic when torn or cloudy. Store plastic out of sun when the tunnel is not in use.
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