LowCat® is Neversink Tools’ reusable low-tunnel system for farms and gardens. Support frost-protection row cover, insect netting, shade cloth or poly over your crops, and change coverings as the season changes.
Choose 30- or 40-inch LowCat low tunnel hoop kits, extended-height setups, bulk farm kits or DIY EMT conversion hardware. Compare LowCat coverings for your crop-protection needs. Coverings are sold separately unless specifically included with a kit.
Low tunnel questions
What is a low tunnel?
A low tunnel is a series of hoops supporting an agricultural covering over a crop bed. The covering determines its purpose: frost fabric for cold protection, insect netting for physical pest exclusion, shade cloth for shade, or poly for weather protection and heat retention. LowCat combines reusable hoops with shock-cord covering retention.
Which LowCat kit and how many hoops do I need?
Start with your bed width, bed length and hoop spacing. The standard 11- and 22-hoop kits offer 30- and 40-inch bed-width options. Recommended spacing is generally 5–10 feet: about 5 feet for greater wind and snow resistance, or about 10 feet in protected indoor installations with limited wind and snow loads. An 11-hoop kit makes approximately 50–100 feet of low tunnel, depending on spacing. Count each separate bed’s end hoops when planning multiple beds.
Which covering should I use for frost, insects or summer shade?
Choose by your crop-protection goal, then match the covering width to the hoop width and regular or extended height. Our LowCat covering guide compares frost fabric, insect netting, shade cloth, perforated poly and heavy-duty poly. Each serves a different purpose; insect netting and shade cloth are not substitutes for a frost covering.
How do I ventilate a LowCat low tunnel and reach my crops?
The LowCat covering system allows the sides to be raised for ventilation and crop access. Monitor conditions under the cover and ventilate as needed. See the Neversink Tools LowCat setup and use videos for demonstrations matched to your setup.
Do I need ground anchors?
LowCat Ground Anchors help retain the hoops in softer, sandy or windy locations. They are different from the U-stakes that secure the covering. Review both hoop retention and covering attachment when planning your tunnel.
Can I build LowCat low tunnels with EMT conduit?
Yes. The LowCat EMT conversion system provides hardware for compatible hoops made from 1/2-inch EMT conduit. The hoop bender, conversion hardware, conduit and covering have separate roles; check each product’s included parts before ordering.
Growing guides: Fall harvest and season extension · Overwintering crops for an early spring harvest.
