How to Build an EASY Low Tunnel | Grow Ranunculus | Small Scale Flower Farming

You don't need a large hoop house and drip irrigation to grow ranunculus and other early spring annuals. We've discovered a cheap low tunnel hack that anyone can build and use to extend their growing season! Our tunnel has withstood February freezes and March winds.

After posting a few instagram stories that showed our low tunnel, we got a lot of questions about how we built it and how it works. We made this video as a result.

The first low tunnel we built blew away and landed unceremoniously in the rose bushes, so we've engineered a way to make sure that doesn't happen again. We wanted to be able to completely remove our plastic on warm, windy days.

Well, "engineered" might be a strong word. All it takes is some rusty rebar, bent metal hoops, greenhouse plastic, and weights for the plastic (we use bricks), and voila, a cozy micro-climate for your flowers and veggies.

The most important part of construction that we didn't mention is to weight the ends with cinder blocks or very heavy stones, as those are the anchors.

We planted our pre-sprouted ranunculus February 1st in order to have blooms by Mother's Day. It snowed the day we planted them. They have since survived single digit temperatures with the help of an additional layer of frost cloth and as of March 23rd are doing beautifully. We expect to see buds developing in a few weeks.

Links to our sources below:

3/4" ELECTRICAL CONDUIT: your local hardware store

You can likely get most of this at your local hardware, with the exception of the hoop bender.
We may make a teeny tiny commission if you purchase anything through these links.

We are also on instagram as rootdesigncompany.

[rheannonsmith]

I really appreciate your words in the end.
I am preparing to purchase a property where I plan to begin my flower farming journey.
I am learning from so many of y'all and am so inspired, but sometimes I worry I may not have enough money to do all the things I need to do when the time comes, especially after buying a home and moving across the country.
Now I have a different perspective, in that I don't have to dive into the deep end to be successful.
Thanks for encouraging us who don't have much to start with. 🖤💐

[karie]

Social media platforms....love it and hate it! 🤣 I like it because I am able to learn so much from other flower farmers & gardeners. I hate it because alot of the big time gardeners/flower farmers make it look all pretty and perfect and tend to make gardening seem so complicated and you have to have all these fancy expensive equipment and gadgets. They don't tend to show how hard gardening truly can be. It's definitely not for everyone. You must have the love of gardening and flowers to get you through the rough days.

[meganlance]

Hi! So happy to find this video as I'm back and forth on whether to invest in a hoop house. I'm on my 3rd year flower farming (first year at market) and am in 5b also! I saw your IG and see that you're in the Ohio Valley, me too. Happy to run into your channel and thank you for the helpful tips.

[riverunner]

Thanks for that ladies, I’ll be cutting my hoops down to size. Happy growing! 🌱☀️🐝

[jaimemorgan]

You ladies have a very down-to-earth, humourous approach - very refreshing!! Thanks for the tips - and good luck with the 2020 growing season.

[carmeleash]

I just found y'all on here and I love what you have to offer. I am feeling encouraged, enabled and excited again to grow flowers on a small scale. Thank you for being authentic, for showing real life examples of what you are doing and for making it look fun. I have laughed and cried watching your videos. Thank you!

[anpsteph]

Thank you ladies! 💚👏 This low tunnel is brilliant and much more cost effective for someone just starting out as opposed to the large hoop house.

[speedroo]

I am also in zone 5b (MI) and have been looking for this exact info on growing small scale ranunculus. Thank you so much!!!

[brankenflowery]

Thank you so much ladies, I bought ranunculus roots thinking I would be moved into my new home and started growing already. So with all my Anemone and Ranunculus I will be starting with a shoe string budget. Ive been looking for information on how and when to start in the spring for my area. My growing zone is pretty much the same as yours.

[christiensgarden]

Like I said I really enjoy you’re down to earth type of video because you’re right and I hope to strive to be a flower farmer small scale to start. Thanks for your guidance.

[ellieholden]

Thank you so much for sharing! This is EXACTLY the information I've been looking for! 🌷

[ikillprettythingz]

Love how your videos are straight to the point and you show us clear details. I'm learning so MUCH and am excited to try this next season 😀

[cierrahawkins]

Amazing! I’m also in Ohio (Eastern Knox County) so not far from you! When do you put your ranunculus in the ground? I plan to soak and start presprouting tomorrow but I am so nervous for them to not be warm enough. I’m going to be utilizing Christmas lights for extra warmth too :)

[karie]

I have been watching all your videos and truly enjoy them. Now I am so curious as to how you two started your flower farming journey, how it begin? Are you sisters or good friends?

[anastasiahicks]

Ladies, I am really enjoying your blog and channel! Would you all be up for doing a garden tour, I watched the planning a flower garden and would love to see how you all have layer out your small scale flower farm.

[GengaKim]

Love your video's. This is especially helpful. I have a question about the plastic you add to keep the hope from going into the ground around the 3:50 mark. Could you explain that and what you use a little more. Thanks!!

[gardeningjunkie]

The ranunculus are beautiful. Can I ask where you get your corms from?

[sharonrichardson]

Love you two and your information on flower

[milaedwin-kent]

What a lovely video! Thank you for sharing! Do you use the 4' or the 3' bender (the width) from johnnyseeds? Sorry, I think in metric system and it's hard for me to gage how wide your tunnel hoops are.

[aparnapriyanath]

Hi I really love your videos. Do you presprout your ranunculus bulbs and then plant the in your low tunnel? If so, when do you plant them ? Thank you for your advice for all of us novice home gardeners!