Overwintering Improves Ranunculus Cut Flower Production in the US Intermountain West
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
The research title “Overwintering Improves Ranunculus Cut Flower Production in the US Intermountain West” was conducted in good manner and have worth to enhance the cut flower production in the US Intermountain West. I have some minor suggestions for authors:
1- I suggest authors to minimize the objective (in 1-2 lines) in abstract; because authors fully explained the objectives in introduction section (Line 112-117). Presently, in abstract objectives are too long (Line 15-20).
2- Figure 1 and 2 are temperature and snowfall data (not you result/ findings). Delete the figure 1 and figure 2 from the manuscript and move them to supplementary files.
3- Delete all the referenced statements from the result section such as Line: 229; 230; 232 and so on… Discuss you results in the discussion section.
4- Line 220-254; Move them to supplementary material and just write in material and method section such as “Environmental conditions are represented in supplementary figure/file….."
Author Response
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Author Response File: 
Author Response.docx
Reviewer 2 Report
Nicely done study...in fact, a massive study that looks into one of the more difficult and inconsistent bulbous crops. While a "cool" crop, Ranunculus is very difficult in cold climates and the move towards minimal protection can make this crop more profitable for growers.
I have no major comments. I finally found specifics on pre-sprouting...this would be a "great unknown" for the average reader unless they are steeped in ranunculus literature.
Author Response
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Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Reviewer 3 Report
Well written manuscript. Work is well documented and comprehensive. Fairly limited in application, but will be useful to publish. Introduction is long but informative. The following changes should be made:
Line 37 – change “…short vase lives and lose quality…” to “…short vase lives or lose quality…”. Many profitable species grown in the US have long vase lives or can be shipped.
Line 158 – create a new paragraph before “Throughout the season…”
Line 571 – insert period after Farm?
Throughout manuscript, the words bloom, blooms, blooming are used and are not always clear as to their specific meaning. I would replace most with flower, flowers, flowering where appropriate. For example, on line 443 “… the average onset of bloom for…” is not clear. I think you mean the time to the first flower (you should also clarify if this was the first flower or the first harvestable flower, if there was a difference between the two metrics).
Throughout manuscript check the format for p values. Some had spaces (i.e. line 295) and other did not (i.e. line 277) – please make it uniform.
Author Response
Please see the attachment.
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
