With a massive snow and ice storm forecast for this weekend that will stretch from Texas to the Carolinas to Maine, it's important to prepare your cut flower farm for the storm. Here's a short checklist of tips and recommendations to help you along...
Make sure your propane tanks are full and your heaters are working.
Remember that it's better to listen to Lionel Ritchie and stay up "All Night Long" clearing snow and ice from your tunnels and greenhouses than to lose your crops and spend weeks and big bucks repairing collapsed structures. (You can find a great article from UMass with info on managing snow and ice on tunnels and greenhouses HERE.)
Another consideration is what to do with any low tunnels you may have over hardy annuals, cool flowers, or anemone and ranunculus. Unless your low tunnels are super-strong and sturdy enough to support the weight of snow and ice, it is usually best to remove the covers and let the snow bury the plants. This insulates them from the cold weather. If you leave the row cover on, it will likely collapse and crush the crops under the weight of the snow covered fabric.
Take care out there!
