_The cattle panel hoop house exceeded our expectations for a low cost season extender. There wasn't much involved in the construction, cost or labor and it returned salad greens through February. If I hadn't left the inside bed cover off on a particularly bitter night, who knows how long it would have produced.

On mid-winter sunny days, it was warm enough inside the hoop to work in shirtsleeves. We had positioned the hoop a little to close to the hay barn and held our breath when we saw the snow sliding off the barn roof straight for the hoop. The snow load missed it but not by much. This is something to consider if you plan a similar project.

_Dimensions of this hoop are 10' wide by 5 cattle panels long (21'8"). I'm short, 5' 1" and had a hard time standing erect close to the sides. It would seem to make more sense to have just one aisle down the middle where standing up isn't a problem. The middle of the hoop is the warmest and it is coldest at the sides, so we planted the middle. The most important thing is to keep the ground from freezing where the plants are growing. Bed covers add additional insulation.

Bracing along the inside at the top is necessary where there will be a snow load and we pull the snow down off the hoop with a push broom. There is no frame at the bottom, just rebar stakes holding the bottom in place. Nylon ropes are tied and stretched along the outside to keep the plastic snug to the panels.

For instructions on building a similar hoop click here.