This past fall we built a hoop house to try our hand at an earlier spring crop. We found some used hoops down on my husband’s parents farm and started the DIY process. As per any project, it took more time than originally planned, but we finished it just in time to tuck baby plants in around the end of September.
We planted around 2,000 ranunculus and 500 anemones and dedicated 2 out of the 3 rows for them in the hoop house. The third raised bed we planted some snapdragons, dusty miller, and phlox. Throughout the winter we watered a suprising amount, applied double layers of frost cloth during really cold periods, and did some light weeding. Our winter was a cold winter with prolonged exposure to some pretty cold temperatures. We ran a space heater at times although I’m not sure if this really helped anything. I loved watching everything grow and stay green during the winter and on really sunny days it was a nice reprieve to hang out in there.
Around the middle of March the anemones starting to bloom for us. We also installed some drip tape to help with watering. The raised beds were really great but also posed some challenges with how hard it was to keep them watered and to gage how much water was needed. We also had an unseasonably cold spring and it was crazy how much later flowers started this year than last.
The end of April the ranunculus started coming by the masses. It would take hours to harvest every day or so- it was crazy how time heavy the harvest load was. Towards the end of May the ranunculus and anemones fizzled out. Not sure exactly what is to blame as to why they abruptly stopped. We struggled with aphids but I don’t think that’s what entirely took them out. Watering them was also very difficult. In the beginning with the drip tape, I think they got too much water at first. The anemone stems were splitting up the sides and ranunculus stems were swelling. I was also having trouble not cutting the drip tape during harvesting so that was an issue also. I would have so many cuts in the plastic drip hose I ditched that pretty fast.
There were a lot of challenges and things learned from this season. One of the biggest weeks we have had here on our farm was Mother’s Day and you guys showed up! It was a record sales week and an insane amount of wholesale orders and bouquets went out- all of my own product- which was a big goal of mine. We were able to hit that week hard before most farms in the area could as our product seemed to bloom a tad earlier. Watering and bugs were a big challenge and towards the end the plants were not healthy despite my best efforts. It is so different growing in a tunnel vs field and I’m not going to lie I am really excited to primarily field grow throughout the rest of the summer, not having to worry about the temp inside there and manually rolling up the sides.
The hoop house was able to provide me with flowers for my first spring subscription and that was one great area of growth, as well as get product out there for wholesale and jumpstart the season for local florists and designers. Overall, learning a bunch and still having some great product, it was a win and corms are already ordered to start over again this fall!
Thanks for tuning in and supporting our farm. Cheers to summer!
Leep Petals Flower Farm 