Hoop Houses Failed

We had an unusual winter storm here recently, three feet of snow fell in one weekend. And, my hoop houses failed. Heck, I can't even find the edges of my raised beds. Those lumps over there may be the peas. I have to admit, I am worried about my fava beans. The rest, of course, was an experiment. I spent a few hours shoveling snow off of some of the hoop houses....I uncovered perhaps a third. I harvested some carrots, bok choy, and turnips. The rest are still under snow. My broccoli was mostly okay, cabbage also fine...the corn salad and miner's lettuce I wouldn't worry about in any event...also fine.

So next year I would prefer metal hoops...or at least 3/4"plastic placed every foot. Agribon is too delicate for snow country, although it was fine for even heavy rain. The expensive new fabric, dio-betalon PV film, was well worth the money. The hoops collapsed, as this was a heavy snow; our legendary "Sierra Cement" weighted down with water which will feed the water needs for most of California when it melts in the spring. That dio-betalon film looks more like something woven by fairies than a good snow protectant. I am convinced now, though.

I love this new bok choy (pictured above), both for the color and the flavor.I would call it "purple bok choy", but Johnny's Seeds calls it "Red Pac Choi". Ah well, tomatah, tomatoe. I will add that this is a hybridized seed, not good for replicating by saving seed. That would usually make this on my "no-no" list, but this stuff is too good to miss. How about you, any too-good-to-miss hybrids that you can't resist planting?