🥶 Five Freezing Nights in a Row: Let the Frost Tell You When to Dig the Dahlias, Take a Calm Look at the Sale Barn and Start a Farmer of the Year Application

Or: Dunlap’s Forecast Now Shows Lows of 27 to 31 From Friday Night Through Next Tuesday Night, UT’s Old Bulb Guide Says Dahlias Come Up and Cannas Can Usually Stay Put, Tennessee Calf Prices Slipped Again Last Week, the 2027 Farmer of the Year Search Opens and the Farm Dates Worth a Fridge Magnet

By Thomas Seest, Dunlap.Today · Wednesday, November 11, 2026

Good morning, and happy Veterans Day. Thank you to every farmer, gardener and neighbor who served. Tuesday was a warm one at the Chattanooga airport, with a high of 76, a low of 40 and no rain. Today stays sunny and pleasant, near 69. Then the cold arrives. The National Weather Service forecast for Dunlap, updated at 5:06 a.m. CST, now shows five nights in a row at or below freezing, from Friday night through next Tuesday night.

Yesterday’s report covered beehives, the soil report and a native cactus. Today brings new things to know. First, the updated five-night freeze forecast. Next, what UT Extension’s bulb guide says about dahlias and cannas once the frost hits. Then last week’s Tennessee sale-barn numbers, which came out Monday. After that, a new application season for the Tennessee Farmer of the Year. Last, the farm dates coming up, starting with tomorrow’s new drought map. A short checklist is at the end.

⏱️ What this means for you in 30 seconds

• Weather (local): Sunny and near 69 today. A 30% chance of a shower between 8 and 11 p.m. tonight. Cooler Thursday, near 57.
• The freeze (local): Lows near 28 Friday night, 27 Saturday night, 30 Sunday night and 31 Monday and Tuesday nights. No freeze warning is out yet.
• Flower beds (statewide UT advice): Let the frost blacken the dahlia leaves, then dig the dahlias. Cannas can usually stay in the ground with heavy mulch here.
• Cattle (statewide): 500- to 550-pound steers averaged $386.88 last week, down about $8 from the week before and close to a year ago.
• Farmer of the Year (statewide): Applications are open now and due March 1, 2027.
• Remember: USDA offices are closed today for Veterans Day. A new drought map comes out Thursday.

🥶 The Long Cold Stretch: Five Nights at or Below Freezing

This is local for the Dunlap forecast from the National Weather Service.

Here’s the Dunlap forecast, as of its 5:06 a.m. CST update:

• Today (Veterans Day): Mostly sunny, high near 69. Tonight: A chance of showers between 8 and 11 p.m., 30%. Low around 45.
• Thursday: Mostly sunny, high near 57, northwest gusts as high as 20 mph. Thursday night: Low around 33.
• Friday: Mostly sunny, high near 48. Friday night: Low around 28.
• Saturday: Sunny, high near 50. Saturday night: Mostly clear, low around 27. That’s the coldest night in the forecast.
• Sunday: Sunny, high near 55. Sunday night: Low around 30.
• Monday: Mostly sunny, high near 53. Monday night: Low around 31.
• Tuesday: Sunny, high near 58. Tuesday night: Low around 31.

Yesterday’s forecast showed two nights near 28. Today’s adds three more at 30 to 31 behind them. There are no weather alerts for Dunlap this morning. Monday and Tuesday nights are six and seven days out, so those numbers could still move a few degrees.

What it means for you: Last week’s chill was a quick visit. This one is company staying through the weekend and into next week. A sheet over the tomatoes for one night won’t cut it, so finish picking what’s left before Friday evening and let the rest go. Hoses that were drained last week should stay put away, and the animals’ water will need a look on more than one morning. The good news: every afternoon stays sunny and in the upper 40s to upper 50s, so outdoor chores stay pleasant in the daylight.

👉 Read more (NWS Dunlap forecast) · Hazardous Weather Outlook

🌺 Dahlias Come Up, Cannas Can Usually Stay: Let the Frost Ring the Bell

This is statewide garden advice from UT Extension’s guide Flowering Bulbs for Tennessee Gardens (PB 1610). It’s an older UT publication, from 1998, kept in UT’s online archive, so it’s a good basic guide rather than brand-new research. UT Gardens says much the same about dahlias.

• Dahlias: UT’s guide says plainly that dahlias cannot survive freezing winters. Dig them after the first light frost, once there’s some damage to the leaves.
• How to store dahlias: Clean the roots, throw away any that look diseased, scarred or bug-eaten, and keep a piece of the old stem on each clump. Store them in moist peat moss, sawdust, vermiculite or perlite at about 35 to 40 degrees. Check them now and then over the winter, because shriveled roots don’t sprout well.
• Cannas: UT says cannas are marginally winter hardy and, in most parts of Tennessee, are often left in the ground over winter. Heavy mulch helps keep them snug.
• Up on the mountain: In colder spots, such as higher elevations, UT says to dig cannas after the first frost blackens the leaves. Cut the stalks to 6 to 8 inches, lift them, let them dry a bit and store them in moist peat moss in a dark, airy spot at 45 to 50 degrees.
• Not sure which zone you’re in? UT Gardens notes that in milder areas, dahlia tubers can sometimes stay in the ground under a thick layer of mulch, but digging is the safer bet.

What it means for you: Think of the frost as the school bell. When it rings Friday or Saturday night, the dahlia leaves will turn dark, and that’s your signal, not something to fret over. Give them a day or two, then dig on a sunny afternoon early next week. A cardboard box of peat moss in a cool garage corner (one that won’t freeze) does the job. Write the colors on the clumps with a marker. Come spring, you’ll be glad you did.

👉 Read more (UT Extension: Flowering Bulbs for Tennessee Gardens, PB 1610) · UT Gardens: Dahlia · UT Extension Sequatchie County

🐂 Sale-Barn Update: Calf Prices Slipped Again, but Still Close to Last Year

This is statewide market information from USDA’s Weekly Tennessee Cattle and Grain Summary, released Monday, Nov. 9, for the week ending Sunday, Nov. 8. It’s an average of Tennessee auctions, not one local sale barn.

• Head sold: 7,856 at Tennessee auctions, about the same as the week before (7,926) and below a year ago (8,802).
• Steers: Medium and large No. 1 steers weighing 500 to 550 pounds averaged $386.88 per hundredweight, down from $395.11 the week before. A year ago it was $389.20, so prices are close to last year.
• Heifers: 500- to 550-pound heifers averaged $333.51, down from $343.50 the week before and near the $336.58 of a year ago.
• The overall picture: USDA says steers under 600 pounds sold steady to $10 lower, and heavier steers $10 to $15 lower. Slaughter cows were $6 to $8 lower. Demand was moderate on a moderate supply.
• Grain bids: Corn bids ran $4.12 to $4.79 a bushel and soybeans $11.57 to $12.50, both up from a year ago.

What it means for you: Two softer weeks in a row is like two cloudy days after a long sunny spell. It’s still a good season, just not quite as bright. If you’re selling, the same steady habits apply: know your calves’ weights, check more than one barn and sell on your own schedule. If you’re keeping cattle through this cold stretch, good hay and open water matter more to your bottom line this week than the price sheet.

👉 Read more (USDA: Weekly Tennessee Cattle and Grain Summary, PDF) · UT: Livestock Comments

🏆 Know a Hard-Working Farmer? The 2027 Farmer of the Year Search Is Open

This is statewide news from the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture and Tennessee Farm Bureau, announced Tuesday, Nov. 10.

• What it is: A program that honors outstanding Tennessee farmers. Farmers are considered by region, East, Middle and West Tennessee, and one is named Tennessee Farmer of the Year.
• Deadline: Applications are due March 1, 2027. Forms are at tnfarmbureau.org.
• Who can apply: Farmers at least 21 years old whose full-time farm operation, in crops, livestock or another production enterprise, is their main source of income.
• The prizes: Three regional finalists are picked. Two regional winners each get the use of a Case IH Farmall utility tractor for 150 hours or one year. The state winner gets $50,000 toward a Ford truck, sponsored by Ford, plus a trip for two to the American Farm Bureau Convention in January 2028.
• The big day: Finalists will be recognized at an awards ceremony on June 12, 2027, in Franklin.

What it means for you: Every valley has a farmer everyone points to when they say, “Now that’s how it’s done.” Maybe that’s you, or maybe it’s the neighbor down the road. A long winter is a good time to gather the farm’s story while the hay feeding runs like clockwork. The deadline is in March, so there’s no rush. Just put it on the calendar.

👉 Read more (UTIA: Applications Now Open for 2027 Tennessee Farmer of the Year) · Tennessee Farm Bureau: Farmer of the Year

🗂️ Farm Paperwork and Dates: A Drought Map Tomorrow and a Few Last Calls

This is federal and statewide information that applies here.

• Today, Wednesday, Nov. 11 — closed: Veterans Day is a federal holiday, so USDA Service Centers are closed.
• Thursday, Nov. 12: A new U.S. Drought Monitor map comes out. On the Nov. 3 map, all of Sequatchie County was in at least moderate drought, with about 17% in severe drought. Statewide, about 73% of Tennessee was in moderate drought or worse. Tomorrow’s map is the first that can count the Nov. 4 rain. Since Sept. 1, Chattanooga is still about 4.15 inches behind on rain.
• Sunday, Nov. 15 (statewide): The last day of the Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s white oak acorn collection for reforestation.
• Tuesday, Nov. 17: Online bidding on about 55 registered bred Angus heifers from the UT Plateau AgResearch center in Crossville closes, with pens starting to close at 10 a.m. CST. The in-person preview is Monday, Nov. 16, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST.
• Friday, Nov. 20: The NRCS Tennessee date to apply for fiscal 2027 conservation funding, including EQIP and the Conservation Stewardship Program.
• Tuesday, Dec. 1 (statewide): Deadline for TDA’s water quality grant proposals for projects that reduce runoff pollution.
• Monday, Dec. 7: Last day to return FSA county committee election ballots.
• Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2027: Deadline for FSA emergency loans under this year’s drought designation. Sequatchie and Marion are primary counties, and Bledsoe, Grundy, Hamilton and Van Buren are eligible as neighboring counties.

What it means for you: Think of these like birthdays on the kitchen calendar. None of them sneaks up on you if they’re written down. The Jasper USDA Service Center (3709 Main St., 423-942-2244) serves Sequatchie County. It’s closed today, so if you need it, call Thursday.

👉 Read more (U.S. Drought Monitor: Tennessee) · FSA: Tennessee drought designation · NRCS Tennessee: Nov. 20 date · TDA newsroom (acorns and water quality grants) · UTIA: Plateau heifer sale

📌 Sticky Notes for the Fridge

• Today, Wednesday, Nov. 11: Veterans Day. USDA offices closed. Sunny, near 69. Shower chance 8 to 11 p.m. (30%).
• Thursday, Nov. 12: New drought map. Breezy and cooler, near 57.
• Friday, Nov. 13: Pick the last tender vegetables before evening. Low near 28 that night.
• Saturday night, Nov. 14: Coldest night of the stretch, near 27.
• Sunday, Nov. 15: White oak acorn collection ends.
• Early next week: Dig the frost-blackened dahlias on a sunny afternoon.
• Monday, Nov. 16: Plateau heifer preview in Crossville. Bidding closes Tuesday, Nov. 17.
• Tuesday night, Nov. 17: Fifth freezing night in a row, near 31.
• Friday, Nov. 20: NRCS conservation application date.
• Tuesday, Dec. 1: TDA water quality grant proposals due.
• Monday, Dec. 7: FSA county committee ballots due.
• Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2027: FSA drought emergency loan deadline.
• Monday, March 1, 2027: Farmer of the Year applications due.

👉 USDA Service Center locator · Dunlap.Today

✅ Your Farm & Garden Checklist for This Week

• ✅ Enjoy today’s sunshine. It’s the warmest day for a while.
• ✅ Pick the last peppers, tomatoes and other tender crops by Friday evening.
• ✅ Bring potted tender plants inside or into the garage by Friday.
• ✅ After the frost darkens the dahlia leaves, dig them and store them in a box of peat moss somewhere cool that won’t freeze.
• ✅ Pile heavy mulch over the canna bed. Up on the mountain, dig them instead.
• ✅ Check the animals’ water each cold morning, Saturday through next Wednesday.
• ✅ Selling calves? Check last week’s numbers and a couple of barns before you load up.
• ✅ Write March 1 on the calendar if a Farmer of the Year application is in your future.

Practical rule: Pick before Friday, dig after the frost and check the water every cold morning.

— Dunlap.Today

📚 Plain-English Farm & Garden Glossary

• Freeze: When the air drops to 32 degrees or colder. A “hard freeze” generally means 28 degrees or colder.
• Tuberous root: The thick, carrot-like root a dahlia grows from. It stores the plant’s food over the winter.
• Rhizome: A thick underground stem that grows sideways, like a canna’s.
• Marginally winter hardy: A plant that can often survive our winters, but not always. A good mulch tilts the odds your way.
• Vermiculite and perlite: Light, fluffy materials sold at garden centers. They hold a little moisture and are handy for storing bulbs.
• Hundredweight (cwt): 100 pounds. Calf prices are quoted per hundredweight, so $386.88 per cwt is about $3.87 a pound.
• Medium and large No. 1: USDA’s grade for well-muscled feeder cattle of medium or large frame. It’s the standard used for comparing prices.
• Drought Monitor: A weekly national map that shows where drought is, from D0 (abnormally dry) to D4 (exceptional). D1 is moderate and D2 is severe.
• NRCS, EQIP: USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service and its Environmental Quality Incentives Program, which shares the cost of conservation work on farms.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How many freezing nights are coming?

The Dunlap forecast shows five in a row: about 28 Friday night, 27 Saturday night, 30 Sunday night and 31 Monday and Tuesday nights. Thursday night is close, near 33. The later nights are almost a week out and could change a little.

Is there a freeze warning?

Not this morning. There are no weather alerts for Dunlap right now. The Weather Service usually issues freeze alerts a day or two ahead, so check again Thursday or Friday.

Do I have to dig my dahlias?

UT Extension’s bulb guide says dahlias cannot survive freezing winters, so digging after the first frost is the safe choice. UT Gardens notes that in milder spots, some gardeners leave them under a thick mulch, but that’s a gamble.

When exactly should I dig them?

UT’s guide says after the first light frost, once there’s some damage to the leaves. With freezing nights starting Friday, a sunny afternoon early next week should be about right.

Can I leave my cannas in the ground?

In most parts of Tennessee, yes. UT says cannas are often left in the ground over winter, and heavy mulch helps protect them. In colder spots, like higher elevations, UT suggests digging them after frost blackens the leaves.

Are calf prices crashing?

No. They dipped for a second week, but the state average for 500- to 550-pound steers, $386.88, is close to the $389.20 of a year ago. Prices go up and down, and one week isn’t the whole story.

Who can apply for Tennessee Farmer of the Year?

Farmers who are at least 21 and whose full-time farm operation is their main source of income. Applications are due March 1, 2027, and forms are at tnfarmbureau.org.

When does the new drought map come out?

Thursday, Nov. 12. It will be the first map that can count the Nov. 4 rain. On the Nov. 3 map, all of Sequatchie County was in moderate drought or worse.

🔗 Other Resources

• National Weather Service: Dunlap forecast
• National Weather Service Morristown: Hazardous Weather Outlook
• National Weather Service: Chattanooga daily climate report
• UT Extension: Flowering Bulbs for Tennessee Gardens, PB 1610 (archive)
• UT Gardens: Dahlia, Plant of the Month
• USDA: Weekly Tennessee Cattle and Grain Summary (PDF)
• UT Extension: Livestock Comments
• UTIA: Applications Now Open for 2027 Tennessee Farmer of the Year
• Tennessee Farm Bureau: Tennessee Farmer of the Year
• U.S. Drought Monitor: Tennessee
• USDA FSA: Tennessee drought designation (Jan. 6, 2027 deadline)
• NRCS Tennessee: Accepting applications for conservation programs
• USDA FSA: County committee elections
• Tennessee Department of Agriculture: Newsroom
• TDA: Water Quality Grant Proposals Now Accepted
• UTIA: UT Plateau AgResearch and Education Center Fall Heifer Sale
• OPM: Federal holidays
• USDA: Service Center locator (Jasper Service Center, 3709 Main St. · 423-942-2244)
• UT Extension Sequatchie County (170 Church Street, Dunlap · 423-949-2611)
• Dunlap.Today

🏡 Keep Learning, Stay Calm and Come Back to the Porch

Five cold nights sounds like a lot, but each one comes with a sunny afternoon behind it. The garden is mostly put to bed, the dahlias just need a box and a cool corner, and the cattle need what they always need: good hay and open water. Pick what’s left, mulch what stays and let the frost do the telling.

When you want the next calm, practical update for Sequatchie Valley readers, pull up a chair at Dunlap.Today.