Hoops for narrow beds?

Coelli 2/19/2013, 3:10 pm

Last year I had two 4x4 beds and used two pieces of 1/2" PVC as hoops for each bed. They were the perfect length.

This year my beds are 2x12 (with a trellis all along the back) and 3x12 and things don't fit quite as well. Smile

Would love to hear (and especially see pictures) how people made hoops for their long, narrow beds and what the results were. Thanks!

meatburner 2/19/2013, 8:05 pm

It will be the same as your 4 x 4 beds except higher in the middle if you use the same length pvc pipes. Cut the length shorter if you want a lower center. You will need more supports than on each end though. Anywhere from 2 to 4 feet apart to get the strength you want. Not sure if that was what you were asking.

Coelli 2/19/2013, 9:01 pm

Yes, pretty much Smile

I wasn't sure whether the PVC could make that bend (especially on the 2' bed) or whether I needed to move to something else. I'll use pipe clamps/brackets to secure the ends to the box and try removing a foot or two from the lengths of pipe without impacting their flexibility. Thanks!

meatburner 2/19/2013, 10:24 pm

Coelli, the 1/2 inch will bend just fine for the narrower beds. Keep us posted with what you do and post a pic or two if you can. You are good to go. Over a 2' bed, it would be pretty tall at the center so adjust the length of the pipe to get the heighth you want. It's all good!

johnsonjlj 2/20/2013, 6:01 am

Coelli, we built my mom raised garden beds at the beginning of this year and used the plastic electrical conduit and clamps to arch over her beds for frost protection. We've had a couple of freezing nights since then and they work great. We actually cut the pipes down- cut the bell end off, then cut them in half (so a little shorter than 5 feet). These work for now, but we may have to go to longer ones if she ever grows a winter garden, since I don't think they would cover broccoli.

CapeCoddess 2/24/2013, 11:57 am

My Dollar Store just got Hoola Hoops in. They have 2 sizes, big and small. I got both and will use the small ones for my narrower beds. I haven't tried yet but I'm pretty sure clothes pins will fit over them for holding on netting, burlap, plastic and such.

Btw, this is not my idea. There's a thread on here somewhere that has photos of hoola hooped beds but I couldn't find it. They are so colorful! What a Face

CC

quiltbea 2/24/2013, 1:18 pm

Hey, CC, I know, I saw that picture. Last year I tried to find hula hoops but they were 5 bucks each at Walmart. None at my dollar store then. If I can find some for a dollar, I'll buy a few, but haven't seen any here yet.

**camprn** 2/24/2013, 1:25 pm

I think the 10' x 1" grey electrical conduit is still cheaper, unless the hoops are a buck a piece.

CapeCoddess 2/24/2013, 1:33 pm

yup, a buck a hoop. And they actually gave me one for free coz I bought so many. Paid $9 for 10. cheers

Also picked up a lasagna pan with lid for a $1, so I can put seedling pots in both in order to water from the bottom. I was running out of trays.

CC

Coelli 2/24/2013, 7:46 pm

You guys were right - the PVC easily makes the 3' bend. I took a foot off of each end. It helps that the 4 pieces I already had were already bent from the 4' beds last year. I bought one more piece of PVC and you can see it wedged into the end of the box - I want to let it form a bit before I try getting it to hold with just clamps since it'll be on the outside of the bed.

I'm still unsure about the 2' bed, but we'll give it a shot! Overall the rebuild this spring is going really well. I'm getting the drip irrigation in now. Smile

btw, the black things on a couple of the hoops are pieces of rubber hose - I slice them up the long side and use them as clamps to hold plastic, netting, etc.

quiltbea 2/24/2013, 9:23 pm

coelli.....Thats a good way to hold on covers if you have an old leaky hose lying around.

TN_GARDENER 2/25/2013, 12:33 pm

If you are worried about the bend for the small beds, you can soften the pvc with a hair dryer or a pot of hot water.

There are different types of pvc pipes for sale. Some have thinner walls and bend easier.

Another idea is to use black irrigation tubing.

Coelli 2/25/2013, 2:11 pm

Good idea on the hair dryer - the new piece of PVC seems more rigid than the others (it's glossy, the old ones are matte) so I think I may need to break out the heat to form it. Thanks! Smile

Lillyz 3/13/2013, 12:31 am

I looked at the book and it looked like the pvc was inside the box. On some of the photos on this site, it looks like the pvc is on the outside. Wondering if I put them on the inside it might help when its windy? And if its outside how do you attach/keep them from flying around? thinking

Coelli 3/13/2013, 1:00 am

When I had 4x4 boxes, I used 2 pieces of PVC (the whole, uncut length like you buy it) and just went from corner to corner, with the pipe inside the box and held in place with a pipe clamp.

With my new 3x12 box, I can't do the corner to corner thing, and the bend is much sharper if I use the whole length of pipe (not to mention taller). So I cut a foot off each end and put the pipes on the outside of the box, held there by 2 pipe clamps. You can see how that is in the picture below.

It's probably better to have them inside the box, as the pipes will be trying to straighten and the sides of the box are plenty sturdy and will hold them in shape. With the pipe on the outside you run the risk of your screws or nails popping out if you're not using something like rebar in the ground and putting the pipe over it.

Hope that makes sense!

HillbillyBob 3/13/2013, 11:19 am

They look good I like the 3x12 ideal I've been thinking about adding a 3 x 50 myself now you may need to put a pipe down the middle on top of the hoops for support, I'd just use a couple wire tye's to hold it Cool

please keep us posted on what you do to them. Very Happy

Good luck

CapeCoddess 3/13/2013, 11:37 am

Coelli wrote:You can see how that is in the picture below.

I can't see the photo...did you upload it?

CC

Coelli 3/13/2013, 11:48 am

I linked to it - it must have been removed. One sec. Wink

Here it is:
Hoops for narrow beds? 582305_10151342985488339_1211728091_n

Coelli 3/13/2013, 11:50 am

HillbillyBob wrote:They look good I like the 3x12 ideal I've been thinking about adding a 3 x 50 myself now you may need to put a pipe down the middle on top of the hoops for support, I'd just use a couple wire tye's to hold it please keep us posted on what you do to them.

Good luck

I did buy some extra pipe to use as a top support, but I have found the pipes are so rigid they are held just fine by two pipe clamps on each side. Smile

I think with larger hoops you might need the top support but so far, so good! They're not swaying at all!

My garden space is very small and at a weird angle because of the property line, so the 12' narrower boxes made more sense (and more trellis space). This was about all I could fit!

HillbillyBob 3/15/2013, 1:19 pm

nice job

is that a row cover or plastic?? :scratch:

Coelli 3/16/2013, 12:43 am

HillbillyBob wrote:nice job
is that a row cover or plastic?? :scratch:

It's neither - it's 108" tulle from Joann Fabrics. I got it for about $1.60 a yard with coupon. Wink

It's just to keep the bugs off.

HillbillyBob 3/16/2013, 10:10 am

So your using it as a roll cover for bugs or birds and such,looks great I'm still trying to talk myself into a another new bed Cool

trouble is I've already got the old Row-garden started,yep to much I'll learn again some day Rolling Eyes

Mel's rule #1 Hoops for narrow beds? 3170584802

Coelli 3/16/2013, 6:36 pm

HillbillyBob wrote:So your using it as a roll cover for bugs or birds and such,looks great I'm still trying to talk myself into a another new bed trouble is I've already got the old Row-garden started,yep to much I'll learn again some day Mel's rule #1

Go for another bed, it'll be quick! Very Happy

And yes, I am using the tulle as a row cover - I just meant I didn't buy a traditional row cover. I just made the supports for the other box now and it's also covered with tulle. Love the stuff, especially when I see bugs crawling on the OUTside. Wink

Gunny 3/16/2013, 11:22 pm

Get the fabric at wally world its less than a dollar a yard. Just put it on my beds with make shift shaders. 15 yards to cover four 2'x4' beds. It don't look pretty but it works for me.

**Turan** 3/17/2013, 1:05 am

If you get the fabric wet it will make a 'swamp cooler' for the beds.

When I lived inland SanDeigo I had an arbor covered with honeysuckle with sprinklers set up in the roof. In the hottest part of the day I would turn that onand get the roof wet. It was a cool place to sit, and grow plants that could not handle 110*.

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