Hoop Tunnel Buyer's Guide

A hoop tunnel can protect plants and seedlings from seasonal temperature extremes in early spring and late fall, heat in summer, animals, and flying pests. Hoops can be covered with lightweight, translucent, spun-bonded polyester, plastic sheeting of varying weights, shade cloth, or bird netting.

A hoop tunnel is often used as a sort of cold frame. It is an inexpensive, portable structure for extending the growing season. A hoop tunnel can cover an inground bed or a raised bed. There are also hoop tunnels large enough to walk. A large hoop tunnel can be used as a greenhouse.

Plants growing in a hoop tunnel — Cucumbers and lettuce growing inside a plastic-covered hoop tunnel

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Benefits of using a hoop tunnel

Hoops made of plastic, fiberglass, aluminum, metal, or wire can be bent into tunnel-like sections or hoops and anchored in the soil. The hoops can be placed in series and then draped or covered with spun polyester row covers or plastic sheeting. Such a hoop tunnel can offer a number of benefits:

By trapping heat from both sun and soil, the tunnel can protect plants from frost. A row cover hoop tunnel will elevate temperatures by 2° to 7°F. A plastic cover will elevate temperatures by 7° to 15°F or greater.
The tunnel will warm the soil and the air in spring, getting plants off to q quicker start–earlier and faster germination, better root growth, and earlier-maturing crops.
The tunnel can trap solar heat and maintain soil and air warmth in autumn, allowing plants to grow and mature while outside temperatures cool. A row cover or plastic hoop tunnel can extend the growing season by four or more weeks in autumn.
Hoopes covered by row covers or plastic sheeting serve as a barrier for flying insect pests. Plants will not be eaten by bugs and diseases spread by insects will be excluded. Cabbage moths, root maggot flies, flea beetles, leaf miners, cucumber beetles, European corn borers, Colorado potato beetles, and potato leafhoppers can be kept away from plants.
By placing 50 percent shade cloth over the hoops in hot weather, you can protect crops from heat and sunburn. A green shade cloth can lower temperatures by 3° to 6°F.
By placing bird or deer netting over the hoops, you can protect seedlings and plants from birds and animal pests as well as cats and dogs.

Hoops tunnels are portable and easily moved

Hoop tunnel frequently asked questions

Q: What is a hoop tunnel?

A: A hoop tunnel is a row of half-circle hoops over which various types of coverings can be draped. Coverings can be spun poly-row covers, plastic sheeting, shade cloth, or bird netting.

Q: Is a cloche the same as a hoop tunnel?

A: The word “cloche” is French for bell. In Europe, gardeners have long-covered plants with glass cloches. A cloche can also be made from plastic or fiberglass. Some gardeners refer to hoop tunnels as cloches. Winter hoop tunnels are often called plastic tunnels because the hoops are covered with plastic sheeting.

Q: How big should a hoop tunnel be?

A: A hoop tunnel should be large enough to protect the plants growing beneath it. A hoop tunnel can be a few feet tall to protect greens such as lettuce and spinach or root crops. A hoop tunnel to protect peppers and bush tomatoes would need to be 3 to 4 feet tall. A hoop tunnel can be tall enough to walk in.

Q: Is a hoop tunnel and a cold frame the same thing?

A: A hoop tunnel can be used as a cold frame. Hoop tunnels are usually quite portable. The covering can be folded up for transport or storage. The hoops can be lifted and moved easily. Cold frames are commonly made from wood, glass, or plastic and are less portable.

Q: Can I make my own hoop tunnel or do I need a kit?

A: Hoop tunnel kits can be purchased in different sizes and are easily assembled. The covering and hoops are often sold together. You can make a hoop tunnel using sections of hog-wire fencing curved to fit the planting bed and covered with a row cover or plastic. You can make hoops out of old coat hangers or heavy gauge wire. Lengths of 9-gauge wire are easy to work with and sturdy.

Q: What kind of covers are best for winter hoop tunnels?

A: Choose a heavy-weight spun poly row cover for the greatest protection from cold or use plastic sheeting of various thicknesses. The thicker the plastic sheeting the more protection it will offer crops from cold. Use 2 to 6-mil polyethylene or copolymer sheeting for the best protection (6-mil will last several seasons and provide the most warmth).

Q: Can I use my hoop tunnel all year round?

A: Yes. Different coverings can be used throughout the year. Use row covers in spring and autumn cool weather; use plastic sheeting in winter; use shade cloth during hot summers; use bird netting or animal netting to exclude birds and four-legged pests.

Hoop tunnel and greenhouse — A hoop tunnel covered with fabric and a greenhouse covered with plastic sheeting

Hoop tunnel buying tips

Choose hoops that are large enough to allow for plants to grow to maturity.
You can purchase hoops and covers separately or you can purchase a kit with all of the necessary parts.
Hoops must be anchored in the soil. Decide how your hoops will be anchored.
Coverings must be fastened to the hoops otherwise they may blow away in windy weather. Purchase a kit with fasteners or purchase fasteners separately.
Decide what kind of cover you will need — spun poly fabric (row covers), plastic sheeting, shade cloth, or bird netting. To use your hoop tunnel throughout the year, you may need each kind of cover.