November 16th Garden Pictures, SNOW!

14 years ago

On Sunday night/Monday morning, I was forced to end my season extension and end most of my gardening season. We were right on the line between getting heavy snow and getting none/very little. I swept off the building at 1:30 am and then again at 2:30 and the snow was falling fast! Not regular snow, 7-11 slushy snow. It was wet and heavy. Keep in mind the temperature was 35 degrees outside. It never got below freezing. Strange, this was a new one on me.

Well I decided instead of getting up every hour to sweep and knock off snow, I would just pull the plastic off. Very hard decision at 2:30 in the morning, during a snowstorm and by yourself. Well it was that or pay to replace everything that the snow would break. so, I got out the drill and took all the screws out of the furring strips and man-handled the plastic, snow and sweat over and tied it down to the other side. It actually was easier than I had planned, so that was nice. But it was very sad to have to bring everything to an end. If this was the spring, I would have done the opposite and fought hard, but it wasn't worth it. I had a great season.

Final thought, 5 miles or less south of my house, less than an inch of snow. 5 miles north of us, 5 plus inches of snow up to a 10-12 inches 30 miles north. We ended up with around 3-4 inches. It snowed all the next day too. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. Eager to start up again next year and do it all again!

hoop building with plastic on the side

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Open side of building

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Snowy Tomatoes

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Comments (5)

joe-il
14 years ago
Too bad your season ended like this but man what a good run. April 1 to Nov 16. Thats only 4 1/2 months off and 2 1/2 if you count starting seeds indoors. Ready to do it all again in a couple months? :)
jrslick (North Central Kansas, Zone 5B)
Original Author
14 years ago
Joe: Yes I am I have a new found energy level and if I could, I would rip all the old stuff out and plant today!

I am not truly finished, I still have radishes, broccoli, lettuce, spinach, cauliflower, turnips, and tiny amounts of chard and beets.

I just am out of the "warm-season" crops.
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bagardens (Ohio, Zone 5b)
14 years ago
No matter how the season ends it is always hard to see it happen. So sorry to hear about all that snow. I am very glad we have not had any snow yet. Although I know it will be here before I know it. It looks like you kept the plastic on your other high tunnel, did you have anything left in there, or did you end up pulling the plastic on that one too?
gardener1908
14 years ago
jrslick, Your pictures are scareing me! LOL. Still haven't gotten the plastic tightened on my hoop yet. I do have metal purlins. I just afraid that if I pull the plastic off, I won't get it back on in the spring as husband is back to work, but in a different country and his time home is sporadic at best. Any tips anyone has would be greatly appreciated. I see myself like you out there every couple of hours in a snowstorm trying to keep snow off.
jrslick (North Central Kansas, Zone 5B)
Original Author
14 years ago
If you have metal purlins, I wouldn't be afraid. If the snow gets heavy, then knock it off. My PVC purlins were just not strong enough for the snow and the wind. they did bow in but none were broke. Also, my big buildings the purlins are too flat. This means the snow didn't want to slide. In knew that when I built it. The PVC one that is in a hoop shape was just fine. I went in and knocked the snow off and didn't have a problem.

Bagardens: I did pull the plastic off the two big ones, but I did leave it on the small one and I am planning on leaving it on, the smallest one. I have some lettuce and spinach planted in there. I am just experimenting with how well it will overwinter and then next year I will probably try to have more.

Jay