This fall has been an unusual season in an already unusual year for many gardeners across the southeast. We were fortunate enough to be outside the path of hurricane Helene, but other seed growers and farmers were not so lucky. Aside from that major catastrophe, average annual temperatures have increased across the region and there’s been significant drought, storms, or flooding in certain areas. Many growers are now hoping season extension can provide some relief during this season and allow for production during the fall, winter, or early spring.

Season Extension Guides & Resources

Season extension can be a great way to overwinter biennial seed crops, produce more crops for market, or just grow a bit more food for your family. Here are a few of our favorite resources to help you make it happen:

University of Maryland Extension High Tunnel Best Management Practices by Neith Little

UMD has put together some great basic information for managing a greenhouse or hoop houses of any size. Learn more about pest management, soil care, crop selection, temperature management and more.

Read High Tunnel Best Management Practices here.

Caterpillar Tunnel: An Inexpensive Variation on the Hoophouse Theme by Growing for Market.

A quick guide to setting up an inexpensive caterpillar tunnel, which is a great option where purchasing a hoop house isn’t possible.

Read the Caterpillar Tunnel guide here.

Fine Gardening Easy-to-Build Cold Frame by Rob Wotzak

Working with a small space? This article offers comprehensive, easy to follow instructions to build your own cold frame. “This plan doesn’t require a lot of tools, a contractor’s license, or 500 trips to the hardware store.”

Read Easy-to-Build Cold Frame here.

How to Grow Winter Hoop House Crops – Mother Earth News Magazine Article by Pam Dawling

Our neighbor over at Twin Oaks Community, Pam Dawling, wrote this helpful guide. She was their garden manager for several years, is the author of Sustainable Market Farming, and runs a blog under the same name (Sustainable Market Farming) full of helpful, well-researched articles.

Read How to Grow Winter Hoop House Crops here.

Year-Round Hoophouse, The: Polytunnels for All Seasons and All Climates by Pam Dawling

Dive deeper with Pam Dawling’s book on hoop houses. This is a thorough, clear and easy-to-follow guide for designing and building a hoophouse and making a success of growing abundant, delicious fresh produce all year round, in any climate, for market or just your family.

Purchase Year-Round Hoophouse here.

Michigan State University Extension Common Diseases in Organic Hoophouse Greens by Colin Thompson

Plant diseases can occur throughout the year, not just in summer. Sensitive greens can be especially challenging and prone to fungal diseases in low-airflow winter hoop houses. This article offers helpful tips for mitigating that risk.

Read Common Diseases in Organic Hoophouse Greens here.

Four Season Harvest by Eliot Coleman

Eliot Coleman’s Four Season Harvest is renowned in the Northeast. This helpful guide has information needed to grow year-round even through the cold winters he experiences in Maine. This is a great guide for those growers in mountainous areas that deal with severe winters.

Purchase Four Season Harvest here.

SESE Blog 10 Season Extension Techniques by Jordan Charbonneau

New to season extension? Try one of these simple techniques to keep growing through all conditions from the SESE blog.

Read 10 Season Extension Techniques here.

University of Kentucky Extension Season Extension Tools & Techniques

Get the basics on season extension from floating row cover to high tunnels plus tips on economic considerations, irrigation, cultivar selection and more.

Read Season Extension Tools & Techniques here.

NCAT ATTRA Crop Selection and Planting Schedules for Winter High Tunnel Production by Chris Lent

Find crops and a planting schedule that works for your area with this helpful guide from NCAT. It also includes links to other resources on hoophouse production.

Read Crop Selection and Planting Schedules for Winter High Tunnel Production here.

Beginner Tips for Using Season Extension

• Be sure to account for dwindling daylight in your days to harvest, not just cold temperatures.

• Watch for signs of fungal diseases and remove affected material immediately.

• Select varieties and crops bred for cold hardiness and disease resistance.

• Vent your season extension whenever it’s warm enough to do so.

• Double up on temperature protection by using frost cover or low tunnels within a hoop house.

• Use your season extension to help harden off seedlings in the spring.