DIY Hoop House Greenhouse Building Plans

Grow food all winter. No greenhouse, no foundation, no building skills.

In New England we get about five good months of growing, and then everything goes brown or disappears under a foot of snow. I got tired of losing my garden every November, so I built a cold hoop house out of three cattle panels, eight pieces of rebar and some greenhouse plastic. It stays about 10 to 15 degrees warmer than outside, which is enough to keep the ground from freezing. It isn't a tropical vacation, but spinach doesn't need one.

This guide shows you how to build the one I use, step by step, with illustrated instructions that read more like flat-pack furniture than a construction manual.

What's inside

• Illustrated build steps: eight of them, from bare grass to a zippered door, each with its own diagram
• A complete parts list: every material and quantity, drawn out so you know exactly what you're buying
• Site selection: which way to face it, how winter shade sneaks up on you, and what to do if your yard slopes
• Sizing: why 7 feet wide is the sweet spot for cattle panels, and what you give up if you go bigger
• 16 cold hardy crops: days to maturity, size and flavor notes, including greens you can harvest in the snow
• FAQs: cost, watering, wind, snow load, and what plastic you need

Why this design

• No digging, no post setting, no screws. The whole structure holds together with tension, rebar and zip ties.
• No permit, no electricity, no foundation. It's fully off grid and comes down easily when you're done.
• Built for about $300 in essentials. My build came to around $500 once I counted compost, seeds and extras.
• No watering all winter. The plastic traps the moisture, and there isn't enough heat for it to evaporate.

Who it's for
Gardeners in cold climates who aren't ready to give up the garden for half the year. It also fits anyone who has wanted a greenhouse but can't justify the cost. If you can swing a mallet and have one friend willing to help bend a panel, you can build this.

Who it's not for
Anyone looking for a heated greenhouse to grow tomatoes in January. This is a cold hoop house for cold-hardy crops. It extends your season. It won't change your climate.

The garden doesn't have to stop when the weather turns. Neither do you.