What Is a Hoop House and How Is It Different From a Greenhouse?

• Heavenly Hoop Houses
• Feb 04, 2026

What Is a Hoop House and How Is It Different From a Greenhouse?

A hoop house is basically what it sounds like. Metal hoops covered in plastic sheeting. Simple design, affordable price, effective results. Think of it as a greenhouse’s practical cousin who gets the job done without all the fancy extras.

If you’re considering pre built hoop houses for home garden in Prescott, understanding what you’re getting matters. The frame uses galvanized steel or aluminum bent into arches. Heavy-duty plastic film stretches over the top. Ground posts anchor everything in place. That’s it. No concrete foundation. No permanent utilities. Just a semi-permanent structure that extends your growing season without breaking the bank.

How Are Greenhouses Different?

Traditional greenhouses are permanent structures. Concrete foundations. Rigid frames made from galvanized steel, aluminum, or wood. Glass or polycarbonate panels instead of plastic film. Built-in climate control with heating, cooling, and ventilation systems.

Greenhouses let you control temperature, humidity, and airflow precisely. Automated systems maintain perfect conditions year-round. You’re growing tropical plants in January if you want. Hoop houses can’t match that level of environmental control.

The permanence matters too. Greenhouses stay put. Hoop houses can be moved if needed, though nobody actually does that often once they’re installed.

When to Choose a Hoop House?

Want to extend your growing season without spending a fortune? Hoop houses make sense. They add weeks or months to spring and fall planting. Start cool-season crops earlier. Keep harvesting later into autumn. Perfect for lettuce, spinach, radishes, and other vegetables that handle temperature swings.

Pre built hoop houses for home garden in Prescott work great for local conditions. They shed snow during winter storms thanks to that curved roof. Natural ventilation through roll-up sides keeps things from overheating during sunny days. You open vents in the morning when temperatures climb, close them at night when it cools down.

Cost is the biggest reason people pick hoop houses. They protect plants from wind, frost, and harsh weather at a fraction of greenhouse prices. For home gardeners focused on vegetables rather than exotic tropicals, they deliver everything needed.

What Works in Prescott?

Prescott’s climate sits at 5,000 feet with cold winters and intense summer sun. Most home gardeners here benefit more from hoop houses than full greenhouses. Season extension matters more than year-round tropical production for typical vegetable growers.

Hoop house delivery and setup Prescott Valley services make installation easy. Professional crews position structures for optimal sun, anchor them properly for wind, and get you growing fast. No struggling with DIY assembly or weekend construction projects.

The curved design sheds occasional snow. High UV doesn’t destroy quality agricultural plastic the way it kills cheap hardware store versions. Ventilation prevents overheating during sunny days. These structures handle mountain conditions well.

Making Your Choice!

Budget and goals determine which works best. Limited funds and focused on vegetables? Hoop house wins. Bigger budget and want year-round exotic plants? Greenhouse makes sense.

Most Prescott gardeners choose pre built hoop houses for home garden in Prescott because they solve the actual problem: extending the growing season for vegetables. They protect plants when frost hits. They let you start earlier and finish later. They cost less.

Either way, both beat outdoor-only gardening in high desert climates where frost threatens half the year.