20×24 – How best to utilize this area?

[Guest]

My son and I are looking to build a hoop house/greenhouse. We have an area of 20'x24' available. How best to utilize this area? I am thinking of 20'x20' or 20'x24', but a 20' wide hoop house has a higher center height (10.75') than I think that I want to deal with. A 12' wide hoop house has an 8' center height. Dunno. Thoughts? Ideas?

I have watched several videos on YouTube and am amazed at the various builds. Some look as if they could withstand a direct hit from an Abrahms tank while others would blow away in a high gust of wind, yet they have withstood 80 mph winds with no problems. I am seeing all sorts of anchoring methods. What is recommended in a hurricane zone 2 area? I am not seeing anything on this, or at least I haven't found it.

As far as building materials go, I have looked at several used hoop houses and noticed that the electrical conduit appears to rust faster than the 1-3/8/" fence tubing. So it looks as if we will go that route. PVC pipe is an option, but I don't feel comfortable using it here in the Galveston Co., Texas, area as it does not have the longevity of the fence tubing. Thoughts? Thanks.

[Ron]

Run chain link fence rail. Stay away from pvc. I have a 20 foot wide tunnel with a 12 foot ridge. Love the height. Would not go any lower as it gives the heat somewhere to go. Mines 80 foot long and I’ve had crazy winds. Close to 100 mph gusts.

I use 8 foot chain link ground poles for my uprights that are driven in 4 foot so I have a 4 foot sidewall. Then I used a tuning bender from bootstrap farmer to bend my bows. I used 3-10’ rail sections for each bow and they are spaced at 4 foot.

I get crazy snow loads and wind here in east central Wyoming. Love the tunnel. Tunnel of love.

[John]

Impossible without knowing your purpose. Are you growing exclusively in the greenhouse all summer or is this just to keep seedlings in the spring to extend the season.

[Consuelo]

They have grey electrical conduit that is like pvc but it’s better.

[Bub]

U can put rebar inside the pvc 3/4 inch pvc with 5/8 rear will fit I belive.

[Ron]

I have a 20x24 and it's 10'6" high. My primary concern is ground planting area. 20' wide gives two 30" beds 24 ft long on outside walls as well as two 4'x19' grow areas w 3 walkways.