High Tunnels Basics of Structure Selection and Crop Production Ted Carey K-State Research and Extension www.hightunnels.org An unabashed promotion of high tunnels With some words of caution Profitable production Practice makes perfect (with luck) High Tunnels for the Central Great Plains: Profitable, season-extending horticultural production systems (2001-2005) Olathe, KS Multiple cooperators Kansas State University University of Missouri, Columbia University of Nebraska, Lincoln Kansas Rural Center Additional project activities On-farm research Extension programming Web-based educational materials development Columbia, MO Lincoln, NE Wichita, KS K-State Horticulture Research and Extension Center, Olathe Plots established 2002 on Kennebec clay loam soil c o c o c o o c o c o c What is a high tunnel? No Yes? Yes? California desert Harborside, ME Leavenworth, KS 1
Netherlands Yes Multi-bay poly No Glass greenhouse Yes? PVC bamboo Yes? Screen/poly High Tunnel (hoophouse) A poly-covered greenhouse with relatively low input for environmental control (relatively low cost) 30 x 96 Gothic Zimmerman s, Versailles, MO El Salvador Nicaragua 30 X 96 Quonset with stove FarmTek Versailles, MO Haygrove high tunnel 3 season Moveable Tunnels Intensive Cropping/ Rotation Tunnel on Angle Iron Moveable on wheels Heritage Prairie Elburn, IL Homemade tunnels are less expensive And less permanent Why use high tunnels? Portable field tunnel St. Isidore Farm, MO PVC hoophouse K-State Season Extension Earlier and later warm and cool season crops Tomatoes by June; Spinach in January and August Crop protection from wind, rain, cold, heat (with shade cloth) Increased yields, crop quality and reduced need for pesticides 2
Soil almost never freezes under row cover in tunnels December 2003 Summer spinach production 39% shade Sprinkler irrigation Outside Inside Less disease in tunnels than in the field Tomato Melons and peppers Olathe, 2005 Problems inside: powdery mildew whiteflies Septoria and Early Blight Problems outside: Bacterial wilt Phyophthora High Tunnels A Risk Management Tool and a Farm Management Tool A part of the farm s production cycle, complemented by open field complemented by open field Crop protection Row cover Low tunnels High tunnels (all sorts) High tunnels + (greenhouses) 3
Thinking About the Economic Benefits of High Tunnels Capturing early markets and holding them into to the main field production season Returns/square foot/time Crops vary in value and returns Using high cost specialty items to sell other things like fall storage vegetables Marketing Site selection: Drainage and orientation (light and wind) Multiple options produce auctions, restaurants, farmers markets, farm stand,,grocery store, CSA, etc. Selling your story: fresh, local, family farm, health, environment. Site prep with good drainage (note moveable tunnel) Multi-bay oriented north-south in line with prevailing winds Sides Most roll up for ventilation Holding on the poly Used drip tape 2 x 4 frame Wiggle wire Furring strips 4
Some roll down Solar powered roll-down side. Bryan Boeckmann, Rocky Top Farm, MO Heat Retention with Row Cover, etc. black plastic mulch, row cover, water bags Winter Greens - MSU Extra Protection with Double- Layer poly Endwall options Jamb Latch Swinging endwall great ventilation Electric Blower Wind Powered Gable Vent Square Steel Tubing Simple implements for the hoophouse gardener Simple implements for the hoophouse 4-row pinpoint seeder Tilther run by electric drill Wheel hoe Earth fork Greens harvester 5
Implements for high tunnels Nolt s compact raised bed mulch layer on Toro Dingo Hanging sprinklers are ideal for greens, but not for tomatoes Irrigation Sprinkler vs. drip irrigation Drip saves water but gets in the way for some crops. Fertilization Vegetables need plenty of available N - Can split application through side dressing or fertigation Compost is excellent, but beware of possible salt build-up with animal manures and composts. Costs of high tunnels Per structure or per square foot $5500/(30 x 96 ) = $1.90/sq.ft. Including extras, labor and freight $5500 + $1500 = $7000 ($2.43/sq.ft.) Spread out over time (10 years) $700/year Operating costs/management Costs of high tunnels (roughly) FarmTek, Atlas, Stuppy $1200/(18 x 24 ) = $2.77 sq.ft. $5500/(30 x 96 ) = $1.76 Haygrove $22,000/(96 x 200 ) = $1.15 Homemade $1000/(14 x 100) = $0.71 $500/(18 x 30) = $0.93 Yield per plant of warm season vegetables within a high tunnel lbs/plant 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 Tomatoes Peppers Melons Summer Sq. Tomatoes Peppers Melons Summer Sq. 6
For winter harvest, time of planting is critical Planted 10/5 January 5, 2006 Planted 11/9 Baby Summer Squash - Count Out 37 per plot In 67 per plot Baby Summer Squash - Count Some Cut Flowers Won t Grow Outside Lisianthus 110a 73b 65bc 65bc 7
High Tunnel Tomatoes MSOffice1 MSOffice2 Botrytis Gray Mold Tomato Fruit Worm (corn earworm) Ghost spots 8
Slide 45 MSOffice1 There are many techniques for producing tomatoes within high tunnels. Organic and synthetic mulches are used depending on date of planting. For early production, most growers use a black or IRT mulch on raised beds., 7/2/2007 Slide 46 MSOffice2 High tunnels are very suitable to intercropping. For example, lettuce and tomatoes are an excellent intercropping choice., 7/2/2007
Sunscald/Yellow Shoulder MSOffice3 Internal White Tissue: Temperature/Light Intensity High tunnel tomato budgets Costs (fixed and variable) and sales price Penn State 17 x 96 $2000 @ $0.80/lb (16 lb/plant) Breakeven $0.36/lb University of Missouri 20 x 96 $2720 @ $1.00/lb (8 lb/plant) K-State tomato trial summer 2005 K-State tomato trial summer 2005 No 1 tomato (FL91) yield in high tunnel or field Florida 91 tomato harvest 7/28 to 10/10/05 nt lb/pla 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 Tunnel Field Organic Conventional yield (lb) No 1 y 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Harvest FC FO HC HO Haygrove stories K-State (0.5 acre) cane fruit, blueberries, melon, tomato, asparagus, rhubarb Ed Weaver, Morgantown PA. (0.5 to 4 acres) cherries, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, tomatoes John Cooper, Simcoe Ontario. Haygrove rep. (1 to >10 acres) raspberries, tomatoes, strawberries Steve Groff, Cedar Meadow Farm Holtwood, PA. Learning curve! Alex + Betsy Hitt, Peregrine Farm Graham, NC. Management! 9
Slide 49 MSOffice3 Yellow shoulder disorder is a problem observed with high tunnel tomato production. Adequate potassium and fruit shading will reduce this disorder., 7/2/2007
Haygrove Tunnel Tomato, Raspberry, Etc. Fahrmeier Farms, Lexington, MO Successful Growers Paul and Sandy Arnold, Argyle, NY Sell at farmers market Field houses (14 x 100 ) Over winter and spring Lettuce - $3100/house @ 1.75/ head Spinach (leaf) - $3500/house @ 6.75/lb (1/3 lb bags) http://www.newfarm.org/features/0503/arnoldsbuild.shtml Resources: Structure suppliers Resources : Publications 10
MSOffice4 MSOffice5 High Tunnels Using Low-Cost Technology to Increase Yields, Improve Quality and Extend the Season By Ted Blomgren and Tracy Frisch High Tunnels Listserv A Community of Producers, Researchers and Industry Partners DVD + 74 page book, 2007 Come and visit any time Ted Carey, 35125 W 135 th St., Olathe, KS 66061 913-856-2335 ext 120; tcarey@ksu.edu 11
Slide 61 MSOffice4 University of Missouri Extension Guide G6402: Watering and Fertilizing Tomatoes within a High Tunnel, 7/2/2007 Slide 62 MSOffice5 University of Missouri Extension Publication M170 High Tunnel Tomato Production Guide., 7/2/2007