Hoop House Gardening

For the last few years I have been trying to successfully extend my gardening season beyond the normal summertime garden.

I still don’t know that “successfully” would be one of the words I would use to describe my results, but I have enjoyed myself and learned a lot.

The main method I’ve been working with is a hoop house. Since I only have one hoop house I practice my own version of compact planting, based on the spacing requirements of the Square Foot Garden method.

When we installed the plants it wasn’t cold enough to need the cover yet–I was trying to plant earlier than previous years for better success.

But the warmer weather meant I definitely had to keep it fenced, to keep out the domesticated chickens, as well as the wild bunnies and squirrels.

Work is good for children.  (But don’t be fooled into thinking this work wasn’t accompanied by pouting and grumbles.)

A month later the cover is on and the plants are growing happily.  At the bottom are little beet greens that I need to thin out.  Then going clockwise are two chard plants, little brussel sprouts cabbages, some purple kale, and the rest of the carrots we planted in the spring.  Those carrots did hardly a thing all summer but have loved the fall weather.

I planted some lettuce from seed and so far have 2 little sprouts of four leaves up–I’m not quite sure what the failure was there, but oh well.  Each year I learn a little more, and (hopefully) produce a little more food.