Comparing Four Ultra-Low-Cost Season Extension Structures on a Missouri Farm

Wintergreen Farm is a family operation on 5 acres, with about 2 acres in vegetable production. The Grabners use unheated hoophouses, large coldframes and small high tunnels to grow cool-season greens and vegetables throughout the fall, winter and spring. They have grown more than 30 cool-season crops, including greens, root crops, herbs and others. A goal of this project was to compare winter production using four structures: EZ Build-n-Gro Cold Frames (Farmtek); cattle panel greenhouses; modified low tunnels; and standard small cold frames.

The Grabners live in plant hardiness zone 6a.

Want more information? See the related SARE grant(s) FNC07-668, Growing and Marketing for a Winter CSA in Central Missouri.