part 2: season extension with high tunnels with paul & sandy arnold

Season Extension with

High Tunnels

November 2013 Paul & Sandy Arnold

GETTING OLD?? NEED LESS MAINTENANCE!

HIGH TUNNELS

PRECISION WITH A TRANSIT STONE & DRAINAGE TILE

TUNNEL ONE 30’ X 144’

HAVE SITE WORK DONE EARLY HIRE THE PROFESSIONALS!

POLYCARBONATE KNEE WALL

INSULATION BOARD

2” THICK

12” DEEP SET AT GROUND LEVEL

TUNNEL #2 34’X144’ NO WOOD!

RIMOL GREENHOUSES

BUILT FOR SNOW 2008

POLYCARBONATE & SLIDER DOORS

POWER & PROPANE & 2 WATER SOURCES

TRICKS TO PUTTING 150’ OF PLASTIC ON??

Single Layer No Motors

VENTING IMPORTANT!

TUNNEL #3 34’X144’ ROTATION

APRIL 2012 NRCS GRANT PAID LABOR

SUN DRIVEN SYSTEM—NO HEAT

SOIL PREPARATION

• Soil Tests

• A&L Labs

• Compost

• Organic

Fertilizer

• Micros

• CNG

FERTILITY

ROTOTILLING

• Chisel

Plow

• Rototill

• Plant

SPRING PRODUCTION

LETTUCE

• GH SEEDED FEB 15+

• SPEEDLING VS

WINSTRIP

• TRANSPLANT IN

MARCH into TUNNEL

LETTUCE

• FULL SIZE HEADS

New Red Fire, Green

Star, Carmona, Nancy

and Romaine

• MINI HEADS-Many

from Johnnys

• HARVEST IN MAY

• Mini Heads make the

salad mix or are $1

• SQUASH

• BEANS

• CUCUMBERS

• TOMATOES

• BASIL

• ONIONS

• BROCCOLI

CROPS FOR SUMMER

EARLY IS THE

KEY FOR

HIGHEST

RETURN

BE FIRST TO

MARKET

LOW

MAINTENANCE

COVER CROP -ROTATION

PLASTIC OFF

WINTER PRODUCTION

IN HIGH TUNNELS

DECEMBER TO MAY

• CROPS

• VARIETIES

• SEEDING DATES

• SPACING

• PERCENT USE

DECEMBER TO MAY

CROPS WE GROW • Kale

• Swiss chard

• Spinach

• Asian Greens

• Lettuce Mix

• Arugula

• Broccoli

DECEMBER TO MAY

VARIETIES • Kale: Red Russian, White Russian, Winterbor

• Swiss chard: Bright Lights

• Spinach: TRIALS

• Lettuce Mix: Five Star, Mustards

• Arugula: Astro, Regular

Asian Greens: Tokyo Bekana, Yukina Savoy, Vitamin Green,

Tatsoi, Red Choi, Black Summer, Mei Qing Choi, Joi Choi

GREENHOUSE SEEDING DATES

SEED STRIPS, SPEEDLING, WINSTRIPS

SEEDING TRAYS

Must be on special list to get imported Winstrips

from Korea-ask!

SEEDED JULY 15TH

KALE & SWISS CHARD

• Asian Greens- Sept 1st

to Oct 15th

GREENHOUSE SEEDING DATES

• Spinach- Sept

20th to Oct 1st

HAVE READY TO PLANT IN TUNNEL

ABOUT OCTOBER 15TH

TRANSPLANT UP

• TRANSPLANTS ALLOW SUMMER PRODUCE TO CONTINUE PRODUCING IN TUNNELS

• CAN POT UP IF NECESSARY DEPENDING ON VALUE OF TUNNEL CROPS LIKE TOMATOES

ROCK DOWN BIOTELLO---ADD STRAW TO PATHS

PREPARE TUNNEL MID-LATE OCTOBER • 6 BEDS IN 30’ WIDE

TUNNEL

• 7 BEDS IN 34’ WIDE TUNNEL

• ROTOTILL AND FORM BEDS BY HAND WITH A SHOVEL…TAKES APPROX 5 HOURS

• BEDS ABOUT 3.5 FT WIDE

• LAY BIOTELLO BY HAND TO SAVE SPACE

MUST PLANT BY NOVEMBER 1ST

PLANT TRANSPLANTS • 5 Rows per bed

• 3 Rows of Kale or Swiss Chard with 2

rows of Asian Greens in-between

TEAGLE TOMAHAWK FOR MULCH

FRENCH INTENSIVE METHOD

Swiss Chard and Asian Greens

Asian Greens for Braising Mix • Tokyo

Bekana • Yukina

Savoy • Vitamin

Green

FRENCH INTENSIVE METHOD

Kale and Asian Greens

• Asian Greens also named “Large leaf mesclun mix”!

• Start harvesting December/January…love cold

• Kale & Swiss Chard dormant till late Feb unless warm!

SPACING

8 x 12 for

• Kale

• Swiss chard

• Asian Greens

• Happy Rich Broccoli

4 X14 for

• Broccoli Raab

SPACING

• Spinach- From Transplants with 3-4 seeds per cell: 5”x8”

• Spinach- Direct Seeded 8” between rows

DIRECT SEEDING DATES

WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY SEPTEMBER 20TH TO OCT 10TH

OCTOBER 1st

OPTIMUM FOR US

(some years!)

• FIVE STAR LETTUCE

• MUSTARDS-Reds,

Greens

• SPINACH

• ASIAN GREENS-

Mizuna, Tatsoi, etc

FIND YOUR DATE!

THE WINTER HARVEST HANDBOOK BY ELIOT

COLEMAN Time of seedings are

critical…Successive seedings gives consistency

Weather is a changing factor

SPACING

Lettuce, Asian Greens & Mustards for Salad Mix

Arugula

• 2 ½ inches

• Separate varieties

• Earthway Seeder or Jang

ARUGULA • Successive

seedings

• Oct 1st to

Nov 15th

• Astro &

Regular

JANUARY SEEDINGS • Broccoli Raab

• Happy Rich

• Beira Kale

• Asian Greens

• Salad Mix

Greens

IN THE GREENHOUSE

Seeded in January,

transplanted

into the tunnel in February, will

produce in

spring/summer

BROCCOLI RAAB

• GH Seeded

in early

January,

transplanted

to tunnel in

March

• Produces all

year till

October+

HAPPY RICH BROCCOLI

• GH Seeded

in early

January,

transplanted

to tunnel in

March

• Produces all

year till

October+

BEIRA KALE

GH Seeded

in early

January,

transplanted

to tunnel in

March

Produces for

April & May

ASIAN GREENS

GH Seeded in early

January,

transplanted to

tunnel in March

Produces for April &

May

Includes lettuce,

mustards & greens

SALAD MIX GREENS

GO PLAY TILL HARVEST! Well.. • Rowcovers left off

as much as possible to get sunlight

• Keep humidity down

• Scout often for diseases

• Monitor and set traps for rodents

• Sluggo for slugs

• Water

PERCENT USE & VALUE

Map for

efficiency

Value per square foot

high:

Usually about $4-$5

WINTER MAINTENANCE

Winter Weeding

WINTER MAINTENANCE

WEEDING Our Favorite: Dutch Push Hoe

Walking pace

Incorporate fertilizer

WINTER MAINTENANCE

WATERING OVERHEAD

• Good for seed starting

• Use nozzles that empty water out so don’t freeze

• Out of way

WINTER MAINTENANCE

DRIP TAPE WATERING

• Great for BioTelo beds

• Can use on all beds year-round

• Don’t get row covers wet

WINTER MAINTENANCE

HAND WATERING

• In winter—only about once per month

• Even watering

• Seed starting & Transplant watering in

• Row covers can be left in place

DISEASES

Fusarium &

Mildews

•Root Shield

•RSSI

•Actinovate

WINTER DISEASES

• Venting most important!

• Temperature fluctuations

• +/- 20 degrees

• HAF fans helpful-6 per tunnel

Cladosporium leaf spot

LETTUCE ALL WINTER

DISEASE

RESISTANCE

NOW SEED

SEPARATELY

HAPPY CUSTOMERS

GREW IN 2012

LEFT TO RIGHT:

• ANNAPOLIS

• DEFENDER

• BLACKHAWK

• SULU

• GARRISON

OTHERS:

• ANTAGO

• FIRECRACKER

• FIRECRACKER-1R-6GR-5D

• BLACKHAWK-2R-7GR-5D

• ANNAPOLIS-3R-5GR-4D

• ANTAGO-4R-3GR-3D

• GARRISON-5R-4GR-7D

• DEFENDER-1G-2GR-2D

• SULU-2G-1GR-1D

RATINGS OF LETTUCE FOR SALAD MIX

R=RED COLOR G=GREEN COLOR

GR=GROWTH D=DISEASE 1=BEST 7=WORST

• Blade

• Spock

• Bolsachica

• Refugio

• Gaviota

• Sulu

• Trials :

• Bixby

• Dane

• Aerostar

• Gem

NEW TRIALS ALWAYS!

SALANOVA LETTUCE

• New 2012

• Trialed Winter 2012-13

• Seeded 9/30

• Not ready until March

• Very cold tolerant

• No disease issues

SALANOVA LETTUCE

• Fantastic

efficiency for harvest

• Cut 8 pounds

in 5 minutes

SALANOVA LETTUCE

• Makes a great quality mix

• Same length

leaves

• Can recut

• Slower to grow

SALANOVA LETTUCE

• Trials for 2013-2014

• Weekly seedings starting Aug 15

• 8 Varieties

• First seeding almost ready

• Record dates for cuts and recuts

WINTER DISEASES

• Venting critical-no moisture!

• Fans help

• Keep row cover dry

• Actinovate

• Regalia

• Cease

• Double Nickel

• LOTS OF TRIALS!

Downy Mildew in

Lettuce and Greens

WINTER INSECTS

Aphids

Ladybugs:

• Buy Early

• Spread weekly

WINTER INSECTS

Aphids Aphidoletes

• Predaceous

midge

Safer Soap

WINTER INSECTS

Mites • Ragged edges on

leaves/ Irregular leaves

• Microscopic

• Predatory Mites-IPM Labs

• Aza-direct

Monitor to

catch early!

SPINACH CROWN MITE

VENTS OPEN 24/7 TO KEEP HUMIDITY DOWN

WEATHER STATION

SOLAR TEMP HUMIDITY WIND RAIN

WEATHER STATION

Wireless 3 Stations Computer

Davis Vantage Pro II

WEATHER STATION

Scientific Sales, Inc.– Repeater—Harvest time

DATA LOGGERS

44 temperature data loggers with multiple

parameters: Soil temp 1” down, outside temp, rafter temp, plant height, 1’ up, 6’ up

44 DATA LOGGERS JANUARY TO APRIL 2009 HOURLY TEMP RECORDINGS 3 DIFFERENT FARMS

•2 Unheated High Tunnels •2 Ground-Heated High Tunnels •1 Heated Low Tunnel & 1 Unheated Low Tunnel

LOTS OF DATA!! Rowcovers varied; Tent heights varied (0, 18”, 2’ to 3’)

-20

-10

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

2/1/2009 0:00 2/2/2009 0:00 2/3/2009 0:00 2/4/2009 0:00 2/5/2009 0:00 2/6/2009 0:00 2/7/2009 0:00 2/8/2009 0:00 2/9/2009 0:00

H1_no BP_18"hoop_ground (7) H1_BP_18"hoop_ground (20)Outside (13) 32ºF

Soil temps: Biotello plastic and No Biotello plastic under 18” hooped Swiss Chard; Outside temp Not much difference at night, but daytime advantage to warm the soil…more growth

-20

-10

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

2/1/2009 0:00 2/2/2009 0:00 2/3/2009 0:00 2/4/2009 0:00 2/5/2009 0:00 2/6/2009 0:00 2/7/2009 0:00 2/8/2009 0:00 2/9/2009 0:00

Down right cold night

H2_2rc__no hoop_plant height_spinach (18) H2_18" hoop_plant height (19)

H2_3' tent_plant height (16) 32ºF

45ºF Outside (13)

COLD NIGHT: Plant Height (2”): No hoops; 18” Hoops; 2-3’ Hooped area; Outside 5-10 degree increase in temp the closer rowcover is to the ground; laying right on crop best for night; Daytime peak temp all about the same

-20

-10

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

3/6/2009 0:00 3/7/2009 0:00 3/8/2009 0:00 3/9/2009 0:00 3/10/2009 0:00 3/11/2009 0:00 3/12/2009 0:00

Chilly nights

H2_2rc__no hoop_plant height_spinach (18) H2_18" hoop_plant height (19)

H2_3' tent_plant height (16) 32ºF

45ºF Outside (13)

-20

-10

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

2/1/2009 0:00 2/2/2009 0:00 2/3/2009 0:00 2/4/2009 0:00 2/5/2009 0:00 2/6/2009 0:00 2/7/2009 0:00 2/8/2009 0:00 2/9/2009 0:00

Down right cold night

HeatHa_plant height (33) H2_18" hoop_plant height (19) H2_3' tent_plant height (16) 32ºF 45ºF Outside (13)

Plant Height (2”) and outside temp Heated tunnel; 18” hoops; 2-3’ tent COLD NIGHT: 5 to 7 degree benefit from heat at night and 2 to 5 degrees in the daytime. WORTH THE COST OF PROPANE or OIL? Stockpile? Production yields????

WINTER HARVESTING

•Tools

•Specialty

Knives

WINTER HARVESTING

• Buckhorn

crates

• Window of

opportunity

for harvest

WINTER HARVESTING

• Keep area clean and neat—no debris

• Clean up bed after cutting

• Many re-cuts

WINTER HARVESTING

ONE OF OUR FAVORITE THINGS!

GOLF CARTS

• We now have 3

• Easy to drive

• Inexpensive

• Great for kids

PROTECTION ROWCOVER

• 1, 2, 3

• Height

• Hoops

•STAINLESS STEEL

•FLOOR MATS

•WARM WATER

Winter Washing

Station for Energy

Savings & Efficiency

YIELD DATA

DECEMBER

TO APRIL

•Kale

•Swiss chard

•Spinach

•Asian Greens

•Lettuce Mix

•Arugula

•Turnips

•Herbs

Increased weekly

sales by $450 in

08-09

FIRST WINTER 2007

Plastic on in January

11 Rows of Spinach

Gross over $10,000

Just one crop!

2009-10 Gross

$16,000 and

$150,000 per acre

2010-11 Winter

9 Variety Trial

SPINACH

ANOTHER

VARIETY TRIAL

WITH 24+

VARIETIES

• PRODUCTION

BY WEIGHT

PER FOOT

• COLOR

• HARVEST TIME

• VT Veg & Berry

Website Results

SPINACH 2011-12

AMERICA

BAHAMAS

CORVAIR CROCODILE

DONKEY

EMILIA EMU

ERSTE ERNTE

GIANT WINTER LAZIO

LOMBARDIA

MENORCA

24 VARIETIES FOR 2011-12 WINTER TRIALS

TYEE

QUEEN

RACCOON RED KITTEN

REFLECT

REGIMENT SAMISH

SEVEN GRN

SPACE SPARGO

ST HELENS

TARPY

NOT A SIMPLE

LIST!!

• SOME EARLY

• SOME LATE

• UPRIGHT

• FLAT

• SPACING

• DIRECT SEED

• TRANSPLANT

SUMMARY

COLOR RATED JAN 1ST 1 TO 10 (10 BEST)

AMERICA 7

BAHAMAS 5 CORVAIR 9 CROCODILE 9

DONKEY 7-8 EMILIA 7 EMU 5

ERSTE ERNTE 2 GIANT WINTER 3 LAZIO 8

LOMBARDIA 5-7 MENORCA 8

QUEEN 7

RACCOON 6-8 RED KITTEN 8 REFLECT 4-5

REGIMENT 7-8 SAMISH 8 SEVEN GREEN 7

SPACE 5-8 SPARGO 8 ST HELENS 7

TARPY 6 TYEE 7

MAR 8 1 SPACE 2 LOMBARDIA 3 REGIMENT 4 LOMBARDIA 5 ST HELENS 6 SAMISH 7 DONKEY 7 EMU

8 GIANT WINTER 8 REFLECT 9 SPACE

10 BAHAMAS 10 TARPY 10 ST HELENS 10 7 GRN 10 LOMBARDIA

YIELDS CAN VARY!! OPERATING FRM

MAR 8 11 EMILIA 11 SAMISH 11 LOMBARDIA 11 LOMBARDIA

11 RACCOON 11 QUEEN 11 SPARGO

12 RED KITTEN 12 TYEE 12 LOMBARDIA 12 GIANT WINTER

12 CORVAIR 12 ERSTE ERNTE 13 REGIMENT

13 ST HELENS 13 GIANT WINTER 13 CORVAIR

14 SPACE 15 CORVAIR 16 EMU

16 TYEE

FEB 16

1 SPACE

2 LOMBARDIA

3 LOMBARDIA

4 REGIMENT

5 ST HELENS

6 REFLECT

6 LOMBARDIA

6 GIANT WINTER

7 SAMISH

7 DONKEY

7 EMU

7 ST HELENS

8 GIANT WINTER

9 LOMBARDIA

9 EMILIA

9 ERSTE ERNTE

9 REGIMENT

9 CORVAIR

10 7 GRN

10 RACCOON

10 GIANT WINTER

10 TYEE

W

Winter Tunnels

increased Sales

$1200 per week

‘09-10

SWISS CHARD: 800 square feet yielded

$4998 for one winter season

2010-11

•Perfecting the

systems

•More per

square foot

•Yielded $1630

per week

•Markets

building every

year

2011-12

•Every year different

•Weather variables

•Diversity Important

TOTALS 2011-12

•Asian Greens 11/12 to 5/19 $4,116

•Arugula 11/19 to 4/28 $4,039

•Spinach 11/25 to 4/3 $12,858

•Swiss Chard 12/17 to 6/20 $7,440

•Salad Mix 1/1 to 6/1 $18,484

•Kale 1/28 to 5/12 $3,291

TOTAL: $50,228 Gross

2 Tunnels-6 Crops!

TOTALS 2012-13

Averaged approximately 120 pounds of

greens weekly out of the three tunnels

ALWAYS NEW THINGS TO TRIAL!

TURNIPS ONIONS-FORUM & BRIDGER

SEASON EXTENSION INCREASES PROFITS IN

THE SPRING…..

AS WELL AS IN THE WINTER!!

SUMMARY • LARGE INVESTMENT

• FAST PAYBACK

• COST $20,000 to $30,000

• LESS THAN TWO YEAR PAYBACK

FOR EACH

• PRODUCTION HIGH—LABOR LOW

• MUST BE GOOD MARKETER

• IMPROVING EVERY YEAR

SOLAR, SOLAR & MORE

SOLAR!

2007-10kW

2012-19kW

NETMETERED

HOW WE GET OUR

ELECTRICITY….

EXCITING FAMILY ADVENTURES ARE IMPORTANT TO US! TAKE TIME TO ENJOY LIFE, FAMILY & FRIENDS!

WE LOVE FARMING FOR THE

LIFESTYLE IT GIVES & THE

GREAT QUALITY OF LIFE!

Bryce Canyon National Park

Zion National Park

THANKS AND HAVE A GREAT 2014 SEASON!

Alaska, Glacier 2011 Hawaii 2006