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Farming in the WINTER!

One Acre Farm

TLDR: It’s hard, your extremities get really cold, but the food you do grow is so precious! 


High tunnel #1 in November, pristine plants yet to be harvested.
High tunnel #1 in November, pristine plants yet to be harvested.

High tunnel #1 in January, after many harvests, with more to come!
High tunnel #1 in January, after many harvests, with more to come!













Let’s talk about winter farming. In our area of the world, and the country, this season of cold, short days is often a time of rest for farmers. And understandably so! When the sunrise is only at 7:30 in the morning and it’s dark by 5pm, growing vegetables seems like a pretty daunting task, to say the least. Not to mention the freezing temperatures and very solid soil.



Plus, after a full season of hard work, a few months of rest and hibernation sounds pretty great! The outside world is dormant; it too getting its beauty sleep.


However, part of our mission as sustainable farmers is to be part of creating a sustainable food system, and that doesn’t stop during the winter. Eating local is a year-round goal that, while challenging when the temperatures drop, is a worthwhile endeavor.


Part of making it possible is thinking ahead. We plant storage crops in the fall, like carrots, beets, winter radishes, and rutabagas, that we immediately put into the cooler for use in the winter. Other winter classics like potatoes, sweet potatoes, and squash we grow plenty extra of in order to eat some during the fall as well as throughout the winter.


Frosty broccoli in the high tunnel
Frosty broccoli in the high tunnel

Frosty kale!
Frosty kale!

We are lucky to grow fresh vegetables during the winter as well, something that is made possible by 3 high tunnel structures we have built over the years with the assistance of grant money. These greenhouse-like structures are insulated with double layers of plastic walls that keep the worst of the cold weather away from the plants inside. We have the capacity to heat them but try to keep that at a minimum in order to not waste too much fuel.



Our winter crops are carefully selected with regards to cold hardiness. Things like kale, collard greens, and chard are our big items, with some lettuce, Asian greens, herbs, and spinach filling in the gaps. Even when the temperatures are freezing or below outside, the plants inside will survive! They get wilty and look a little sad each morning when we check on them, but they do bounce back with warmth from some sunshine or a little burst of heat from the heaters. It’s amazing to see their resilience!



And, of course, every winter is different! Sometimes when we get very little snow, and the temperatures are relatively mild, we can still harvest the hardy field crops outside. We can also use fabric row covers to protect specific crops from snow and frost. But then we have a winter like this one and very quickly everything outside is finished. When there’s a significant snowfall that lasts, the plants just don’t have a chance to recover. And when the temperature rarely gets above freezing, there’s not much we can do!


However, there is a big upside to these prolonged cold temperatures! Any guesses? Long stretches of below freezing temps mean that the invasive bugs that try to overwinter are killed off. Certain insects that are from further south, or from another country entirely, can survive milder winters and then wreak havoc on our spring crops.


Unfortunately, with climate change, this is becoming more and more common. Without a break in the life cycle of these bugs, like harlequin beetles for example, our tender new baby plants in the spring are at risk of getting eaten alive! Harlequin bugs love brassicas, so all the kales, collards, cabbage, broccoli, etc, and that’s a big portion of our spring crops.


So, when it’s feeling especially chilly outside and winter farming feels daunting, I try to remember that these seasonal shifts have unseen benefits. We all need rest in order to thrive again come spring!  

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Farm Location:18608 Wasche Rd, Dickerson, MD 20842

Mailing Address: 14607 Carrolton Rd, Rockville, MD 20853

Phone Number: 301-503-3724 - Please DO NOT CALL. Number is here for legal purposes only. The best way to reach is to email us at support@oneacrefarm.com

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