High Tunnel Basics 2009

1. Basics of High Tunnel Production Terrance T. Nennich Extension Professor Vegetable and Small Fruit Production University of Minnesota Extension nenni001@umn.edu © 2009 Regents of the University of Minnesota

3. What are High Tunnels • High tunnels are not a poor persons greenhouse • High tunnels are a separate intense technology which allows crops to be grown up to three zones earlier and later and eliminate considerable risk. © 2009 Regents of the University of Minnesota

5. What are High Tunnels? • Structures that resemble some greenhouses - in appearances only • Use no artificial heat (except for emergencies) • Use no artificial ventilation such as fans, tubes or forced air • Plants are grown in the ground. • Many shapes and sizes © 2009 Regents of the University of Minnesota

7. What Can be Grown in High Tunnels in Zones 2 and 3. • Any crop that can normally be grown in the area • Most crops in zones 4 through 5. • Some in zone 6 and be on. © 2009 Regents of the University of Minnesota

26. Advantages of High Tunnels • 4-8 weeks earlier production in the spring • 2-5 weeks later possible production in the fall • Grow crops not usually grown in the area • Very high yield per plant • Crop mix • Very cost effective • Usually no pesticides needed • Organic production © 2009 Regents of the University of Minnesota

49. Time • All plants need time to advance in growth and mature • How much growth that occurs in a given length of time depends on how ideal the environmental growth factors are. • In northern climates heat is the one factor that we need to be concerned about. • Seed catalogs use maximum conditions in deciding growing days. © 2009 Regents of the University of Minnesota

50. Heat • Plants are classified by there ideal heat requirements. • Tomatoes , peppers, 80-90 degrees • Cucumber , melons , 85-95 degrees • Heat is measured in growing degree days • Duration of Temperature is Critical © 2009 Regents of the University of Minnesota

51. Growing Degree Units • Normal figure used for warm season crops is 50 low and 86 high • Growing degree Units = (high for day+ low for the day) – 50 Divided by 2 (86) (50) © 2009 Regents of the University of Minnesota

52. Growing Degree Days units for Tomatoes • Early to mid-season tomatoes will require 1400 to 1600 GDD to the first ripe fruit. • Late season varieties will require 2000 to 2200 GDD © 2009 Regents of the University of Minnesota

54. Growing Degree Comparison Inside and Outside Tunnel • Inside Tunnel • Outside Tunnel • March 281 GDU • March 5 GDU • April 435 GDU • April 99 GDU • May 502 GDU • May 183 GDU • June 570 GDU • June 366 GDU • July 624 GDU • July 505 GDU • Aug 544 GDU • Aug 374 GDU • Sept 570 GDU • Sept 396 GDU • Oct 303 GDU • Oct 101 GDU © 2009 Regents of the University of Minnesota

55. Growing Degree Days units for Tomatoes • Early to mid-season tomatoes will require 1400 to 1600 GDD to the first ripe fruit. • Late season varieties will require 2000 to 2200 GDD © 2009 Regents of the University of Minnesota

56. High Tunnel Planting Dates Northern Minnesota • Onions , radishes, lettuce Mar 25-Apr 7 • Cabbage, broccoli etc. Apr 7-15 • Tomatoes, peppers April 25 - May 10 © 2009 Regents of the University of Minnesota

69. Production Data • Tomatoes : first harvest in tunnel July 18 • First harvest outside Aug.11 • Yield 10-25+ per plant • Cucumbers: first harvest June 16 • Yield per plant 30-35 pounds © 2009 Regents of the University of Minnesota

70. Common Mistakes Beginning Growers Make • Tunnels get to hot >130+ • Don’t shut roll up sides early enough in the evening-loose growing degree units 5 GDU a day for a month = 5-8 day • Weed Control inside and out • Monitor the water uptake • Punning and trellising © 2009 Regents of the University of Minnesota

72. Tunnel Direction • Narrow end against prevailing high winds • The outside air direction has little to do with the cooling of the tunnel • Recommend tunnel construction for 100 MPH winds © 2009 Regents of the University of Minnesota

100. Yield Potential & Nutrient Needs • Yields in a high tunnel can be 3 to 4 times the yield obtained in the field • Higher yields will required more nutrients, but knowing how much to apply is a challenge – Lack of nutrients – deficiencies – Excessive nutrients – salt build up – Both situations affect yield and quality © 2009 Regents of the University of Minnesota

101. Cucumber Results Cucumbers All the fruit from all 26 cucumber plants were weighed and evaluated for quality. All data is in pounds per plant. Sweet Success First Harvest June 8 Total Yield/Plant 65.12 Culls 8.0 MKT/sq/ft 9,52 Total sq/ft 10.85 Total Yield Acre = 472,628 or 236 tons. © 2009 Regents of the University of Minnesota

104. Tomato Results Variety First harvest Total yield Culls Marketable sq/ft Total sq/ft Cobra June 28 37.0 4.0 3.89 4.63 Sunshine June 24 16.5 5.1 1.90 2.75 Mt. Spring July 11 18.5 4.2 2.38 3.08 © 2009 Regents of the University of Minnesota

132. Local High Tunnel List Serve • Be sure to sign up for the Minnesota/North Dakota List Serve. • Talk to local producers, be informed of upcoming events. © 2009 Regents of the University of Minnesota

137. Seminars on High Tunnels • Getting Started with High Tunnels • Crops and Yields • Marketing • Soil Fertility/Nutrient Use • Irrigation • High Tunnel design • Organic Production • Fruit Production © 2009 Regents of the University of Minnesota

High Tunnel Basics 2009

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High Tunnel Basics 2009