university of minnesota swroc high tunnel update april, 2009

SWROC High Tunnel Update

Horticulture DayApril 24, 2009

Kelley BelinaResearch Fellow

University of Minnesota, Southwest Research and Outreach Centerbeli0019@umn.edu

What is a high tunnel?

• Enclosed, plastic cover

• Unheated

• Plant directly into ground

Benefits of high tunnels:

• Season extension – increased temperatures earlier and later in the growing season

• Control of irrigation

• Better weed control

• Possibly better pest control

SWROC high tunnel 2008

Start up year:

• Constructed in June, 2008

• 30’ x 48’ high tunnel

• Five raised beds

• Transplants put in mid-July

– Tomatoes, peppers, cucumber

• Organic production

10-08-08

07-31-0808-06-08

08-20-08

SWROC high tunnel 2008

• Tomato, pepper, cucumber harvested until last week of October

• Peak cucumber harvest in September of 2.62 lbs/plant/week, or 1.70 lbs/foot/wk

09-24-08

SWROC high tunnel 2008

• Mustard, spinach, swiss chard planted Sept. 17, with and without row covers

• Row covers extended production one week, harvesting until the last week of November

11-06-08

SWROC high tunnel 2008

Fertility tests

Water Bray-P NH4OAc-K Nitrate-N Ammonium-N Total N LOI-OM

pH (ppm) (ppm) (ppm) (ppm) (%) (%)

A 6.6 35 169 25.7 4.2 0.19 3.3

B - cucumbers 6.7 26 144 8.7 4.4 0.22 3.6

C - tomatoes 7.0 36 156 9.3 4.0 0.18 3.2

D - peppers 7.0 44 151 6.7 4.0 0.20 3.1

E 6.8 32 175 27.4 3.8 0.19 3.2

High tunnel beds

after 2008 season

SWROC high tunnel *2009*

• 2009 Comparisons and demonstrations:

i. Production in high tunnel vs. outdoors vs. outdoors with row covers

ii. Benefits and costs of fall

green manure plantings

SWROC high tunnel 2009• 2009 Comparisons and demonstrations:

iii. Variety trials: cucumbers, peppers, indeterminate and determinate tomatoes, spring lettuces, fall greens

iv. Fall greens succession

plantings with

and without row covers

University of MN High Tunnels

• Other high tunnel projects:– Raspberries in Morris

– Organic production in Crookston

– Fertility tests in Staples

– Student garden in St. Paul

http://hightunnels.cfans.umn.edu

Thank you

Organic Valley’s CROPP Cooperative’s Farmers Advocating for Organics

Southwest Research and Outreach Center