Episode 36: Hoop House Growing: What Works for Us

Welcome back, flower friends! 🌸

This week’s episode of The Flower Files is as cozy and chaotic as ever. Liza and Lizzy, your hosts with the most (and by “most,” we mean a delightful mix of knowledge and morning silliness), dive headfirst into one of their farm’s MVPs: hoop houses. These unassuming structures aren’t just for extending growing seasons—they’re the secret sauce to some of their most stunning blooms. Plus, the stories they share? Pure gold.

Here’s the dirt (pun intended) from this week’s chat:

What’s a Hoop House, Anyway?

Lizzy breaks it down: hoop houses are like greenhouses’ laid-back cousins. Made of sturdy ribs and durable plastic, they’re simpler, less expensive, and don’t require all the bells and whistles (think heating systems and fancy air circulation). But don’t let their simplicity fool you—these bad boys work overtime to stretch growing seasons and protect precious crops.

The charm? They’re flexible! You can grow in-ground or experiment with crates to rotate crops like tulips, iris, and ranunculus. Oh, and they’re a lifesaver for those unpredictable frost nights.

Why Hoop Houses Steal the Show

1. Temperature Magic

There’s nothing like stepping into a hoop house on a cold winter morning, where it’s 10–20 degrees warmer. Lizzy loves watering the plants and soaking in the peace as the birds chirp outside—a quintessential farm moment.

2. Season Stretchers

When frost wipes out the field crops, hoop houses keep the blooms coming. Ranunculus, for example, thrive here long after their outdoor counterparts have called it quits.

3. Pest Hotspots (and Solutions!)

The warmth of hoop houses attracts more than flowers—pests like aphids and whiteflies love to move in. The team has tried everything from sticky traps to fake hornet nests to keep the critters at bay. Their secret weapon? Monitoring carefully and staying proactive.

The MVP Crops of the Hoop House

While the farm experiments with tons of flowers, these are the tried-and-true winners:

• Ranunculus: Tall, vibrant, and absolutely swoon-worthy—especially when planted on the east side for optimal growth.
• Lisianthus: A reliable cut-and-come-again bloom that thrives as a perennial in the hoop house.
• Iris: Growing them in crates inside hoop houses has been a game-changer for quality and early blooms.
• Dahlias: Kept cool under shade cloth, they provide a controlled environment for evaluating new varieties.

Hilarious Hoop House Adventures

It’s not all sunshine and flowers in hoop house land. Lizzy and Liza share their laugh-out-loud moments, like crawling through plastic to retrieve irises in year one (pro tip: build a door) and battling hornets that seemed intent on terrorizing the team.

And who could forget the surprise dahlias that cross-pollinated to create new, quirky varieties? Picture petals that look like pitcher plants—complete with tree frogs hiding inside!

The Future is Big (Literally)

The farm is leveling up with a new-to-them 28×90-foot hoop house. This massive structure promises even more growing space and possibilities, from expanding dahlia production to experimenting with houseplants. Of course, dismantling and rebuilding it will be an adventure. Stay tuned to their Instagram for behind-the-scenes updates (and probably a few bloopers).

A Quick Thank You (and a Discount!)

Lizzy took a moment to rave about Hungry Root, her go-to source for gluten-free groceries. If you’re curious, you can snag 40% off your first box with the code FLOWER40!

Whether you’re sipping coffee, tackling errands, or dreaming up your own garden plans, this episode is the perfect companion. For more floral fun, be sure to follow The Flower Files on Instagram for daily snippets of farm life, wedding prep, and plenty of laughs.

Until next time, keep growing and glowing! 🌱✨

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