Salvaging Your Greenhouse After a Heavy Snow Storm
A quick checklist covering potential hazards and steps to take to salvage your greenhouse after a heavy snow storm.
Be aware of potential hazards:
• Sliding snow or ice
• Falling glassAgri:
• Broken frame members
• Severed electrical wires
• Leaking fuel oil or gas
Shut off utilities:
• Disconnect power supply
• Shut of gas supply
• Turn of main water supply
Minimum structural damage:
• Take photos
• Prop up greenhouse frame to prevent further collapse
• Add additional bracing (diagonal at corners)
• Check and tighten frame connections
• Repair glazing
• Close doors and vents
• Open drain pipes
• Provide temporary heat to keep plants from freezing
• Check and repair heating/electrical/water systems
Major structural damage:
• Take photos
• Support frame members for safe entry
• Cut poly if necessary to reduce load on structure
• Clear aisles
• Remove plants to temporary structures or alternate location
• Drain water system
• Cover heating/cooling and materials handling equipment with tarps
Snow removal:
It can be very expensive to remove the snow. You also have to have space for it. If the snow is light, there is not much danger of further collapse. If it is heavy, some growers found that as it settled, melted and refroze, it formed a cocoon next to the greenhouse and didn’t add a lot of pressure. Removing it may cause more damage. If you need the light for the plants, then the snow will have to be removed.
Contact the insurance company.
Rent equipment to remove snow if necessary. Also rent to replace damaged heating/cooling equipment.
CHECKLIST: Salvaging Your Greenhouse After a Heavy Snow Storm (pdf; 73KB)
Asparagus
Beets
Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts
Cabbage
Carrots
Cauliflower
Cucumbers
Dry Beans
Eggplant
Ethnic Vegetables
Garlic
Horseradish
Kohlrabi
Leeks
Lettuce / Leafy Greens
Melons
Onions
Parsnips
Peas
Peppers
Potatoes
Pumpkins / Gourds
Radishes
Rhubarb
Rutabaga
Snap Beans
Squash - Summer
Squash- Winter
Sweet Corn
Sweet Potatoes
Tomatoes
Turnips
Upcoming Events
Western S. Tier Produce Meeting
January 28, 2020
Jamestown, NY
A jam-packed schedule of educational topics for regional growers, this meeting features dynamic sessions and peer-to-peer learning opportunities. Topics will be relevant for vegetable, berry, field crops, and greenhouse/flower, and organic growers. Focus areas in 2020 include disease management and enhancing local markets. Pesticide credits available in many NY and PA categories, CEUs requested.
2020 Upper Genesee Valley Produce Growers Meeting
February 14, 2020
Freedom, NY
A bit of something for everyone! This meeting will feature experts from Cornell Cooperative Extension discussing food safety in auction lots and quality control, how to successfully lengthen the growing season, making the most of a small grain rotational crop, and common disease and pest info. Summer squash, cabbage and pepper production tips will be presented by Mark Zittel, an experienced produce and greenhouse grower for 20+ years. Participants will have the opportunity to join group discussion in breakout sessions of their choosing. And don't forget to stop by the Demo Table to see weeds and soil health exhibits. FREE but registration is requested by February 12.
Precision Agriculture Series - Erie
February 19, 2020
March 4, 2020
March 25, 2020
: Erie County
East Aurora, NY
Join Cornell Cooperative Extension to learn what precision agriculture entails, the economics of using precision ag, and the preferred methodology and benefits. This free, 3-day event series is being organized by CCE Erie County with assistance from Dr. Ali Nafchi, Precision Ag Specialist of the CCE Cornell Vegetable Program and CCE NWNY Dairy, Livestock, and Field Crops team. Topics for each day will be determined by the audience interests and questions.