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market-farming - Re: [Market-farming] Greenhouses and snow

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  • From: "MAsteveINE" <MAsteveINE AT 207me.com>
  • To: "Market Farming" <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Greenhouses and snow
  • Date: Sat, 19 Dec 2009 08:35:51 -0500

It;s mostly a matter of how well you can sleep with how many dollars on the line outside; some guys will keep every possible snowflake off their house while the neighbor goes to sleep for the night planning to order a replacement house in the morning if necessary. Most of us are somewhere in the middle of that!
 
"Not-designed-for-heavy-snow" houses are generally of the half round shape (rather than gothic shape)
and have a rather flat area at the top that holds snow  which can cause failure with moderate amounts of snow; so step one would be to have a snow rake and keep the top unloaded.
 
It is advisable between storms to keep the area beside the house free of snow build-up so that you can shovel/plow when a biggie comes along.
 
Many growers have 2 x 4 or 2 x 6 pieces enough so that they can be placed under the arch centers
and act as props, many turn the heat to max during snow storms to melt some of the load, lots spend their time out there shoveling. When all else seems to be not enough the poly gets slashed between
the arches allowing the snow to fall in but saving the frame.
 
In 10 years with a company that sold several hundred greenhouses, mostly north of PA, the largest
single snowfall I was aware of was at the Luray/Elkto VA area, so dont be thinking you are alone.
 
MAsteveINE
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
MAsteveINE



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