From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Oak Grove, Mn

In past years, I have never started in April. I leave for work at 4 am so opening a hoop house for heat was not an option. I have now purchased some auto openers, so I will be looking to build some quick cold frames. My question...what size should I make them.

Tell me what size you use, and do you wish it was bigger or smaller. I am thinking too small and the plant outgrows it before the weather will cooperate, too big and it becomes harder to maneuver and takes more area to store.

Thanks for your help.

4/10/2022 5:27:20 PM

Colorado

I use a 4' by 6' size. Bigger than that wind and venting heat gets more problematic.

4/10/2022 7:35:32 PM

Grittyville, WA

I wish mine were taller but as it is the wind almost destroyed them. So I will second what cojoe said about the wind.

4/10/2022 8:17:36 PM

Syracuse, NY

Mine are 8' X 8' from 1"x 2" X 8's covered in Floating Row Cover and I wish they were LONGER; My problem is that when they reach the other end of the GrHous and start to climb up it - by then it is do or die to either immediately raise that end of it or remove it entirely. A COMPLETELY-removable far end would be super, (the bottom board plus its 12.5-foot arch/'hoop' allowing the plant to grow a bit more before a weekend where's there's time to direct and stake from there-on.
Having bright ideas even right now, lol---eg

4/10/2022 8:49:10 PM

Syracuse, NY

just for fun, with the 'prop rod':
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=38818

4/10/2022 9:03:20 PM

South Dakota

Mine is 6x8 and seems to work great.

4/11/2022 6:25:52 AM

Plymouth, MN

I'm trying 12'X7' this year for two pumpkins back-to-back.

4/11/2022 8:18:39 AM

Benson, MN

Mine are 10'X12' I use one and half sticks of 3/4" electrical conduit to make 5 arch pieces slid over step-in fence posts. and 1 down the middle on top. they end up being about 5' tall when done. And a 20'X25' piece of 4mil plastic covers nice with about 2' on the ground all the way around to weight down with whatever is preferred.

4/11/2022 9:24:17 AM

Indiana

bnot what type of auto openers did you go with?

4/11/2022 5:33:07 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

I had some univent openers that I purchased years ago and never used. I did not have enough so I purchased these from amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08CKK7WD6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

4/11/2022 7:16:58 PM

Kutztown, PA

Mine are about 6'x 8'. I made hoops of 2"x 4" welded wire, staked down, with 3 foot metal fence posts at either end. All covered with 6 mil plastic. I would keep them down to at least 3' high. As Cojoe and Gridiot said, the wind is a killer this time of year, especially if your in the middle of a wheat field like me.

4/19/2022 11:58:14 AM