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
Mushrooms
Onions
Parsnips
Peas
Peppers
Potatoes
Pumpkins / Gourds
Radishes
Rhubarb
Rutabaga
Snap Beans
Squash - Summer
Squash- Winter
Sweet Corn
Sweet Potatoes
Tomatoes
Turnips
Upcoming Events
Vegetable Pest and Cultural Management Field Meeting for Auction Growers -- Ontario Produce Auction
July 15, 2025
Stanley, NY
This evening meeting will demonstrate pest management in fresh market vegetables in both field and greenhouse (high tunnel) vegetables, primarily for those growing for wholesale auction. A hands-on demonstration of weed, insect and disease identification in vegetables including management options. Details on each topic will focus on field observations at the farm.
Orleans Summer Vegetable Meeting, 2025
July 16, 2025
Waterport, NY
Meeting themes are pest management in a wide array of produce and best practices for pesticide use. Professor Brian Nault will cover allium leaf miner and thrips in onions, garlic, and leeks, and discuss insect challenges in other crops. Bring your questions! We'll also have a field walk that includes high tunnel tomato and cucumber.
DEC credits available: 0.5 in CORE plus either 1.25 in 1a and 23, or 0.75 in 24.
Vegetable Pest and Cultural Management Field Meeting for Auction Growers -- Finger Lakes Produce Auction
July 18, 2025
Penn Yan, NY
This evening meeting will demonstrate pest management in fresh market vegetables in both field and greenhouse (high tunnel) vegetables, primarily for those growing for wholesale auction. A hands-on demonstration of weed, insect and disease identification in vegetables including management options. Details on each topic will focus on field observations at the farm.