January has seen some record low temperatures across the region.

Here in the Carolinas most of us have already experienced winter storms, power outages and snow, and we hope nobody experienced severe damage, or lost a high tunnel during last week’s snow storm.

It is important to remember that snow and ice can cause damage to your high tunnels. You can minimize snow damage by knocking snow off high tunnels; starting before it accumulates too much and is unmanageable. This can be done with a long-handled shop broom or PVC pipe with a tennis ball at the end. Continue to knock snow off the high tunnel even as it begins to melt. This is because snow often melts unevenly on high tunnels, melting faster on one side, which may cause a weight imbalance that can ultimately lead to structural damage. If you have a greenhouse, turning on the heat, even though it might be empty, will help melt the snow, and in the long run, may be cheaper than fixing damaged structures.

Beyond that, many of us are perfecting production plans and gearing up for another productive season. The threat of freezing temperatures will hang around well into spring, dictating planting dates.

While high tunnels require active management amid snowy winters like this one, they can also catapult your early season production.

If you’re ready to think warm thoughts and dream of summer crops, then check out our expert tip this month on Early Spring High Tunnel Tomatoes below. Along with that theme, our NEW “Organic Seasonal High Tunnel Tomato Guide” is available and ready just in time for spring tomato preparations on your farm.

Karen McSwain, CFSA’s Director of Farm Services and Food Systems