On a cut flower farm as the coldness begins to settle in , flower farmseverywhere are putting their field to rest and preparing for a slow winter . While many may bask this slow pace and are looking forward to enjoying a unruffled wintertime , others may be thinking , “ How can we keepthe harvestgoing?”Cut - flush farminghas quickly become a booming small - farm manufacture , with many hobby husbandman falling into very real and quickly growing businesses . As a result , some are eager to see the profits continue as long as possible into the winter time of year . That ’s where season reference plays such a critical role on a humble cut - flower agriculture operation — and on farm of all figure and sizes for that affair . So below we ’ve listed just a few ways you’re able to extend the harvest home and enjoy cut flowers longer .
Cut Flower Farm Row Covers
Imagine if you could wrap up your plants in a nice , cozy blanket and keep them strong . Well you do n’t have to suppose , as that is the primary job of “ frost cloth , ” also sometimes called course cover . dustup covers are probably the most economical way to begin extending your time of year . These are simple rolls of thin fabric that can be draped over crop . They are often used to keep pest pressure , but course covers can also trap heat , helping keep your plants from pall back with the frost . Depending on the case and weight unit , row covers can assist increase the temperature by two to eight degrees , which makes a substantial conflict going into the first few frosts of wintertime . These rowing cover can also be draped over biennial cut - flower crops and overwintered cut - bloom crops to encourage an earlier blooming the next spring . So just this simple addition could theoretically avail you easily gain several more tax income - generating weeks on your farm .
Caterpillar Tunnels & High Tunnel Cold Frames
Cold flesh orcaterpillar tunnelscan greatly poke out your growing season . you could easily prolong Dahlia pinnata and heirloom mama harvests , as well as so many other track flower varieties , with this type of time of year extension . Much like a dustup concealment , these will help keep the frost off of your plants and thus extend your originate time of year . Unlike the row covers , these typically stay a unspoiled spot warmer , although there are variable based on the size of the tunnel , the quality of the tunnel , and so on . These do in so many various shapes and sizes , but they are typically all more stinting than a full nursery setup , although well more expensive than float row covers . Unlike true greenhouses , these tunnel are neither heated nor climate - controlled . They do work very well , but the temperature inside the burrow is still straight off bear upon by atmospheric condition conditions outside . With that say , these structures often increase your sales period both in fall and early spring on a cut flower farm . Many cut - flush farmers and gardeners use them year - beat for season extension , getting a rattling startle on the undermentioned spring .
Greenhouses
Admittedly the terms greenhouses , stale anatomy and burrow are all used interchangeably by many people . For the saki of this article , though , we will be only calling it a nursery if it has an choice to stir up the airwave at bottom . Many lawful greenhouses not only wake the atmosphere but have buff to well circulate that zephyr . Some are Grant Wood - powered , others use piddle heating , or some are electric . But , regardless , this is the option if you truly would care the ability to grow cut flowers year - round .
This expanded growing capability is the major benefit to a greenhouse , of course of instruction , but what I considered to be potentially even more worthful is the ability to expend a space like a glasshouse to embark on all of your own deletion flower seeds . Perhaps the most decisive scratch line to any raiser ’s season is start their seedlings . Without strong sizeable seedlings , you could struggle to have a solid get time of year . Many small farm do not have this space , so they often buy a great portion of ‘ plugs ’ or plant begin in early outpouring . By pop out your plants in a nursery , you will greatly decrease your operation cost , while also getting a stiff scratch line to your turn time of year . Regardless of what method you select for season extension on your cut bloom farm , they all can greatly increase your business opportunity . But call up that it ’s fine to start out small and grow from there . Many excellent heyday sodbuster rise for years and years without any of these options , and they can still be very successful .
This article about season extenders for a weakened flower farm was written for Hobby Farms powder magazine . Click here to take .
