Description
**Description**
One of the biggest limitations facing petaled flower growers is the narrow window of natural bloom time, and this training recording teaches you proven infrastructure and management strategies to dramatically extend that window on both ends of the season. The training opens with a climate analysis exercise that helps you map your average last and first frost dates against your target bloom periods, creating a personalized season extension calendar you will fill in during the session. You will receive a detailed comparison of three season extension structures — low tunnels with wire hoops, semi-permanent caterpillar tunnels, and permanent high tunnels — covering material costs, construction time, expected temperature gain, and ideal crop matches for each. A hands-on demonstration module walks you through installing a 50-foot low tunnel from ground stakes to clip attachment, including common setup mistakes and how to avoid them. Ventilation management is covered comprehensively, teaching you how to monitor interior temperatures, when to side-vent versus end-vent, and how to prevent the heat stress and disease pressure that comes from improper airflow. You will learn how to use black plastic mulch and landscape fabric in combination with tunnel structures to suppress weeds and boost soil temperature simultaneously. The training includes a side-by-side comparison of tunnel-grown versus open-field lisianthus, anemone, and sweet pea crops, with data on days to bloom, stem quality, and yield per bed foot. You will receive a materials shopping list and cost-per-bed calculation worksheet for each structure type so you can budget your infrastructure investment accurately. A Q&A session recording addresses the most common grower questions on tunnel humidity, condensation management, and crop scheduling under cover. The training concludes with a 12-month tunnel crop planning calendar that maps which petaled flower varieties to grow under cover each month of the year.
**Format**
Recorded live training with Q&A session, downloadable worksheets, a materials shopping list, and a 12-month tunnel crop calendar.
**Duration**
2.5 hours of recorded training content including Q&A, with supplementary planning documents.
**What You’ll Learn**
Season extension structure comparison; low tunnel installation; ventilation and temperature management; crop selection for tunnel growing; 12-month tunnel planning.
**Target Audience**
Flower farmers and market growers who want to increase their annual bloom production and offer petaled flowers earlier in spring and later into autumn.
