Greenhouses

I wrapped the bottom of my hoop house with screen to mitigate some of the bug issues. I then wrapped the screen with chicken wire to protect the screen. Also screened both ends top to bottom.
Mine is 16 x 24 x10 and made with cellular core pvc. Being as we are both in illinois and do have to worry about snow load, if you go with pvc remember you will need to install posts down the center board. I don't bother installing them until after har

Radicle420 said:

What is this stone going to do for you and the plants? I have seen a lot of people doing this and it makes zero sense to me. I have spent plenty of time throwing rock out of fields, but never had the desire to put them back into the growing space. Mulch... maybe, but why not just use landscape fabric? Honestly curious?

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I started by digging drainage trenches, then landscape fabric, then about 6" of crushed stone. It's not at all necessary, but I used the stone for multiple reasons.

The primary reason is because my lot has a high water table... if I just left the soil in place with only landscape fabric it would be squishy in the paths during rainy periods. It also helps to keep everything dry when I hose down the interior or have run off from pots. It just disappears into the stone and finds it's way into the drainage. Otherwise it would be a mess in there. The heat retention was also a thought, and it certainly helps hold heat overnight.... lastly, it just looks so much better. For a few hundred dollars in stone it was worth it for me, but if I was on a budget I could've fairly easily found a different solution.

Radicle420 said:

I still believe that a thick commercial grade black landscape fabric will get the hoop and soil hotter (more thermal battery) than stones ever will, and you don't have rocks in your growing area. Just like @thumper60

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does it benefits the soil in any way ? deters the pest ? what about evaporation does it quickens? btw op made his soil? is it better solution to use potting soil that tilling the soil that is already there and mixing amendments , compost and nutes in it?
Op build beautiful structure I liked how he repurposed plastic windows and all that.

herbalsage said:

does it benefits the soil in any way ? deters the pest ? what about evaporation does it quickens? btw op made his soil? is it better solution to use potting soil that tilling the soil that is already there and mixing amendments , compost and nutes in it?
Op build beautiful structure I liked how he repurposed plastic windows and all that.

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No weeds and hotter soil is the main benefit of landscape fabric. I personally believe it makes no sense to put potting mix into soil. Pretty much a waste of money, if you ask me. Just till, add some dry amendments (5-4-5), and compost. If you have bad clay add some sulfur and extra compost. You can always side dress with more dry amendments and compost throughout the growing cycle if needed.

what if i were to pump pure oxygen to my root zone in super soil?

You would waste your time and money. Might as well have the oxygen for you, so you can work harder and longer with a faster recovery time. Maybe just try a fabric pot?

Radicle420 said:

No weeds and hotter soil is the main benefit of landscape fabric. I personally believe it makes no sense to put potting mix into soil. Pretty much a waste of money, if you ask me. Just till, add some dry amendments (5-4-5), and compost. If you have bad clay add some sulfur and extra compost. You can always side dress with more dry amendments and compost throughout the growing cycle if needed.

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what about basalt, barley malt and crustacean meal ? I do crustacean meal foliars + epsom foliars, yet never tried basalt or granite for ion exchange, only perlite for air.
thank you for help

Radicle420 said:

You would waste your time and money. Might as well have the oxygen for you, so you can work harder and longer with a faster recovery time. Maybe just try a fabric pot?

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i will be running smart pot but have extra O2tanks full that i will not be using.