On the farm: So this is winter?

With mild December temperatures, gardeners and farmers alike are enjoying an extended growing season and preparing plantings for spring.

Still the occasional cold days that strike the Cape Region have created new problems for growers. Many use hoophouses, plastic coverings set on stakes in the ground to keep plants warm. These coverings work unless cold snap hits, bringing temperatures so low even protected plants are harmed.

Hattie Allen of Hattie’s Garden outside Lewes said she hasn’t seen weather like this in years. She said the first frost seems to come in early November now, but then temperatures rise and fall without patterns.

“It can be very warm for several days or even a week or more, then very cold and the extremes are more pronounced,” said Allen. “When it is extremely warm for several days and then temperatures fall quickly, vegetables are shocked, even if they are hardy plants.”

Allen said, “It is a challenge to grow in the volatile climate we have had over the past few years.”

Even with the roller-coaster temperatures, Allen uses protective ground coverings and is still harvesting lettuce, kale, Swiss chard, arugula, cilantro, spinach and dill in December on the farm.

Allen is getting ready to move her high tunnel over some plants so she can grow more lettuce during the colder months. In the past, Allen has been able to grow spinach all winter long because it is able to withstand temperatures to 40 degrees.

Allen said she is having more success this year than last year.

“It got colder much earlier last year and stayed cold during all of December,” she said. “I believe the unpredictability of the weather is perhaps the more important factor of climate change.”

High tunnels increase season

Barbara and Bob Russell installed a large high tunnel a year ago and have enjoyed the longer growing season.

“The high tunnel was well worth the investment,” said Bob Russell.

The Russells sell their produce to area restaurants including Back Porch Café and Nage in Rehoboth Beach. They installed the high tunnel through an agricultural grant program, which covered part of the cost of the installation. The Russells’ high tunnel provides 2,100 square feet of protected growing area with a 12-foot-high roof, big enough for a tractor to drive in.

“Our season started four weeks earlier in the spring and lasted six weeks later in the fall,” Russell said.

He said, “Production increased 50 percent within the high tunnel,” meaning disease and insect pressure was reduced and crops were higher quality when grown under the cover.

“Plus when it was raining or cold outside, we had comfortable work conditions inside the tunnel,” Russell said.

The Russells are currently growing radicchio, Napa cabbage, Italian parsley, Mizuna mustard and arugula.

He said farmers in the area are working to plant cover crops such as rye to protect and rejuvenate fields for spring planting.

On his farm, Russell has mowed down residual crops and pulled up plastic mulch and irrigation tape. Then he does a soil test to see if he needs to add lime before tilling the fields under, dusting off his gloves and waiting for spring.

Allen said gardeners and farmers should clean up the planting areas but mostly the ground should be left alone.

“In about a month, people can start pruning fruit trees and tackle the blackberries, but this is the best time of year to do maintenance on machinery and plan for next year,” said Allen.

Bringing plants inside

With the holidays just around the corner, one way to get the most out of gardens is to use dried plants for gifts and decorations.

At Pepper’s Greenhouse outside Milton, Alyssa Pepper said they are working to provide poinsettias to many churches and residents to decorate for the holidays. She said residents can use what they have around their houses to decorate.

“Now is a great time to cut greens, branches and berries to stick in empty containers for a great winter look,” Pepper said.

Allen suggested harvesting greens to make wreaths for the holiday season.

Besides creating holiday decorations, Pepper said gardeners should clean up the vegetable gardens, by removing an leftover plants, sticks and weeds. She said is a good idea to sharpen, clean and store tools so winter weather doesn’t damage them.

“Most important of all, is take time to relax,” Pepper said. “Gardeners worked hard all spring, summer and fall, so they deserve a break.”

Ready for spring

Trying to keep busy during warmer December days? Pepper’s Greenhouse recommends these simple, winter activities:

• Keep bird feeders stocked.

• Keep up on weeding. Colder weather slows weed growth, but they can still pop up and set seeds, which means more weeds in the spring.

• If it snows, knock off evergreens to keep them from splitting.

• Stock up on seed catalogs and start planning for spring planting.

• Make a list of the annuals that did well all summer to know what to buy in the spring.

• Water pansies and planters, especially if rainfall is short this winter.

• Wrap any plants in burlap that could be harmed in colder temperatures.