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Webster, NY

Just a quick question. When beginning your plants in a hoop house for a quicker start, how careful do you have to be when removing the plastic. If removed too quickly, will the leaves burn? Should the plastic be removed in portions over a week to allow a little more light come in at a time?

Thanks for whatever info you can give me
Dave

4/3/2009 7:04:39 AM

Rhode Island

dave

our mini houses have a canopy roof which depending on weather is either opened or closed.
plants are well conditioned to weather so once its out grown the greenhouse? we remove with no worries of shock

we have an excellent greenhouse diagram in our spring newsletter which mailed yesterday

pap

pap

4/3/2009 7:42:03 AM

[email protected]

Dave,

My hoops were made with those plastic binder clips, and left the ends open enough so that I could go out in the morning and open them if necessary to let air circulate thru during the day but still protected the plant enough if it was rainy or even colder than expected. The only thing I would recommend is some kind of fencing on each end to keep critters out as it is wide open and any woody can get in there and cause some damage as well as bunny rabbits. At night I would go out close them up and put the lights on over night. What a sight! Worked like a charm tho if your not home all day to monitor. The only thing I might do differently this year is use 6 mil instead of 4 mil plastic.

When the temps really start to shoot up, I would roll the plastic off the top and leave the back side on for some wind protection if necessary. If it was going to be a nice warm day, I would take it off completley, as pap said those plants should be well hardened off by that time, and should be able to handle temperature swings. Hope that helps.

4/3/2009 8:05:45 AM

Webster, NY

I have no problem with ventilation. I am also using the clips on the ends and will be able to open them when needed. I will have a thermostat set to about 50 that will activate a space heater and fan if it gets cold in the evening. I do not have the capabilities to open the top and condition the plant to the extra sunlight, so my assumption is that it will have to be done a little slowly to acclimate it.

It sound like I shouldn't have a lot of trouble and the plant should be hardened OK.

Thanks all
Dave

4/3/2009 8:55:28 AM

Pocatello ([email protected])

I've been doing it for about 7 years and have never had a problem. Just take them down on a nice sunny day in June, the plants are good to go by that time.

Perhaps the more important thing to think about is protecting them from wind when the HH comes down. I erect a temporary fence made from pallets directly around each plant.

4/3/2009 10:26:51 AM

Little-TON - Colorado

We leave ours up to act has hail protection...just rolling them up to let the vines out, and we leave the frame in place since removing would require digging up the vines.......One must pull them mid July or in our climate will tend to start the PM....earlier than normal....It really depends on how much UV is present in your neck of the woods....Slow and sure....WinZ the race....huh BiZ...!

4/3/2009 3:52:17 PM

Webster, NY

Thanks all, when the rain stops (I think Sunday) I'm going to try to put the plastic up. When I do I'll post a link to some pictures and try to show you what I'm trying to do.

Dave

4/3/2009 7:49:29 PM

Webster, NY

If you get a chance, check out this picture and let me know what you think.

Thanks
Dave

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=102188

4/12/2009 1:27:54 PM