High Tunnels Finished

15 years ago

I posted this on another forum and thought I would share them with this group. I completed by two new high tunnels this week. They are 18 by 42 ft and 18 by 45 ft. The design is all my own. I took pieces that I liked from many sources and put that together with the materials and budget I had available and this is what I came up with.

A quick description. They are make out of 1 inch PVC spaced 3 feet apart(I bought it at a greatly reduced price from a guy on craiglist)they are 20 feet long. They meet at the top of the four foot sidewall, connect with a 45 degree coupler and run into the pipe on the ground. The 4 by 4 posts are spaces 10ish feet apart and there is a 2 by 4 attached at the top and bottom. The pipes are attached to the 2 by 4 at the top. There is a ridge pole that is bolted to the ribs at three foot intervals. There are guide wires added to take out end to end movement. There are four of these in the building. I added a 2 by 4 ridge beam with two posts to strengthen the whole structure. The end walls are framed with 2 by 4's and have OSB removable panels and doors. The plastic is Klerks K-50. I added two light weight ropes over the top of the plastic to help control the "Ballooning" effect. They are loosely connected to the bottom of the posts. The sidewalls are secured using a zig-zag twine that is wrapped around screws. The plastic is secured with 1 by 2 furring strips. Wiggle wire was not in the budget. My wife told me I had a $1,000 to spend and I spent $990 with the deal on the pipe from craigslist.

Let me know if you have any questions or comments.

Tomatoes go out next week!

Jay

Here is a link that might be useful: Facebook photo album of finished high tunnels

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Comments (6)

greenhouser2
15 years ago
I didn't see any high tunnels but did see a GH. Is that the correct URL?
jrslick (North Central Kansas, Zone 5B)
Original Author
15 years ago
Yes that is the correct URL. They do look like greenhouses, but they are high tunnels. They are not heated and the do not have electricity.
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dbrya1
15 years ago
Jay where in Ks are you located,are your houses facing north and south?
What is the klerks 50 plastic,is it UV treated?
Don
mudhouse_gw
15 years ago
Wow, those are big structures for not much money!

I wasn't familiar with the term "high tunnel." From my reading a high tunnel is a greenhouse or hoophouse that's unheated, and the goal is just to extend the growing season...make a difference of a few degrees each day, and not to completely control the temps as in a heated greenhouse...if I'm understanding it right.

With that size your goal is to grow and sell for profit, surely...not just a fiddling hobbyist like me? (Money only goes IN to my greenhouse, and never comes out.) :-)
jrslick (North Central Kansas, Zone 5B)
Original Author
15 years ago
dbrya1- I live near Clay Center Kansas. The Klerks K-50 is a clear greenhouse film it is UV protected. I bought it from Stuppy Greenhouse Supply in Kansas City. There are other places, but they had a good price and I was 3 miles from their business in January.

The buildings run north and south.

Mudhouse- You are correct about your readings about a Hightunnel. You can get several degrees warmer in a tunnel at night. I am also using row cover to gain a couple more degrees. I have been told I could handle a few hours in the low 20's and still be ok without any heat. The other advantage is water control. The foliage stays dry, no disease problems. I also could heat it, but that would get expensive.

I know a grower who grows in these types of building year around in North Central Kansas. In the winter he grow spinach, but it is profitable for him.

With the size, I grow and sell at farmers markets. I also feed my family from my gardens.

Thanks for asking,

Jay
hanselmanfarms
15 years ago
Thanks for the tips regarding the row covers. i have put my tomatoes out into the cold frame, but am afraid of the cold temps coming in this next week for us. I'm going to round up my row covers.