Market Farming

["Ploughshare" <gjbrever AT midwestinfo.net>]

This afternoon I went out to our hoop house to find the whole inner lining of the plastic slashed up and falling down.  It really looks like someone (Freddy Krueger?) went in there with a knife and took swipes at the entire inner lining.  It was a real kick in the stomach because the week before when I went in there to push the  snow off there was only one small rip in the entire inner lining. For the past week in MN we have been experiencing night time temps in the -20 to -35 degrees, and I assume that this is the cause of the shredding and not some horror movie ghoul.  In addition to this, the day I went out there to push snow off the roof, I turned on the heater so it would melt and slide easier.  When I did this there was a lot of moisture that froze in between the layers which might have had an effect.

    I was planning on replacing the plastic this next year anyway, so that is not the big deal (It's getting close to 8years old).  However, this is where I start my starts the first week of March.  I feel quite vulnerable with only one layer, feeling like much heat is being lost.  Besides this, I 'm concerned of course, that the top layer is going to give way.

    I wonder whether or not I should attempt to change plastic still this winter. Or should I just buy the rolls, keep them handy and try to make it until this summer with just one layer?  Does anyone have experience putting on plastic in the winter?  How did it turn out?  Also, how much heat will I be losing?

--Gary