Overwintering Plants

Here in central Illinois, it is very important to protect your plants from the harshness of our winter weather. One method of protecting them is to put them in hoop houses and cover the structure with a white tarp. This particular hoop house is 16’ long, 4’ wide and roughly 2’ high. The tarp must be white to keep the plants from leafing out prior to winter setting in. The tarp also maintains humidity inside the hoop house which helps the plants survive. Illinois winter winds are very cold and dry which will kill potted plants if the are not protected.

Since the weather has reached 70 degrees today, it’s time to open up the hoop houses. Take a look at what’s inside...

Don't those plants look healthy? This simple process protects your inventory. My hoop houses are made out 10 gauge steel fencing that I cut in lengths of 6'. When I cut them, I cut them along the vertical wires which leaves about a 6" piece of steel that is pushed into the ground on both sides. I also put chicken wire over the fencing to keep the squirrels and the rabbits out. Without the chicken wire, the squirrels and rabbits see this as an "all you can eat buffet line"! They will devour every single plant in no time at all.

Typically, the hoop house is loaded up with plants in late November/ early December. If you have any questions, feel free to add a comment. I'll do my best to answer it.