profitable production of quality winter greens in unheated high tunnels; gardening guidebook for...

8/9/2019 Profitable Production of Quality Winter Greens in Unheated High Tunnels; Gardening Guidebook for Washington County, New York

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Profitable Production of

Quality Winter Greens inUnheated High Tunnels

December 2013 Paul

& Sandy Arnold


2/96

y

Pleasant Valley Farm

Argyle, New York


3/96

INEXPENSIVE START-UP WITH SMART EXPENDITURES

GOOD BUSINESS MANAGEMENT & RECORD KEEPING

LABOR EFFICIENCIES TO MAXIMIZE PROFITS

EFFICIENT PRODUCTION SYSTEMS & SOIL MANAGEMENT

MULCHING AND WEED CONTROL

PEST AND DISEASE MANAGEMENT

SEASON EXTENSION-ROWCOVERS & FIELDHOUSES

YEAR-ROUND HIGH TUNNEL PRODUCTION

POST-HARVEST HANDLING AND CROP STORAGE

CREATIVE MARKETING

OUR 10 KEY FACTORS TO

REACHING OUR GOAL OF

PROFITABLE FARMING


4/96

5 Acres Mixed Diverse Vegetables

Acre Large Fruits

Acre Small Fruits

Perennials & Herbs From Seed

3-4 Acres Cover Crops

Sell at 3 local weekly farmers markets insummer & two Saturday winter markets

Hay fields used by local Beefalo farmer


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PLEASANT VALLEY FARM

1988-1998


6/96

GETTING OLD??

NEED LESS MAINTENANCE!


7/96

HIGH TUNNELS


8/963 RIMOL HIGH TUNNELS

2006 30X144

2008 34X1442012 34X144


9/96CONSTRUCTION DETAILS

Drain tile Polycarbonate

No wood Utilities Auto Roll-up Sides


10/96SUN DRIVEN SYSTEMNO HEAT


11/96

WINTER PRODUCTION

IN HIGH TUNNELS


12/96SOIL PREPARATION

Soil Tests A&L Labs

Compost


13/96

Organic

Fertilizer

Micros

CNG

FERTILITY


14/96ROTOTILLING

ChiselPlow

Rototill

Plant


15/96DECEMBER 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


16/96

DECEMBER TO MAY

VARIETIES Kale: Red Russian, White Russian, Winterbor

Swiss chard: Bright Lights

Spinach: TRIALS

Lettuce Mix: Disease resistant varieties;

Mustards

Arugula: Astro, Regular

Asian Greens: Tokyo Bekana,Yukina Savoy, Vitamin Green,Tatsoi, Red Choi, Black Summer,

Mei Qing Choi, J oi Choi


17/96

LETTUCE ALL WINTER DISEASE

RESISTANCE NOW SEED

SEPARATELY HAPPY CUSTOMERS


18/96

WE RATE OUR LETTUCE VARIETIES

EACH WINTER BY: COLOR-RED AND GREEN GROWTH DISEASE RESISTANCE

RATINGS OF LETTUCE FOR SALAD MIX

R=RED COLOR G=GREEN COLORGR=GROWTH D=DISEASE

1=BEST 7=WORST

Blade


19/96

Blade

Spock

Bolsachica

Refugio Gaviota

Sulu

Trials :

Bixby

Dane Aerostar

Gem

NEW TRIALS ALWAYS!


20/96SALANOVA LETTUCE

New 2012

Trialed Winter

2012-13 Seeded 9/30

Not ready untilMarch

Very coldtolerant

No disease issues



Fantasticefficiency forharvest

Cut 8 pounds

in 5 minutes



Makes a greatquality mix

Same lengthleaves

Can recut

Slower to grow


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SALANOVA

LETTUCE

Trials for 2013-2014

Weekly seedingsstarting Aug 15

8 Varieties

First seedingalmost ready

Record dates forcuts and recuts


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2011-12 VARIETYTRIAL WITH 24+VARIETIES

PRODUCTION BY

WEIGHT PER FOOT COLOR HARVEST TIME VT Veg & Berry

Website Results http://www.uvm.edu/vtve

gandberry/meetings/meetlist.html

SPINACH VARIETIES

AMERICA TYEE
http://www.uvm.edu/vtvegandberry/meetings/meetlist.htmlhttp://www.uvm.edu/vtvegandberry/meetings/meetlist.htmlhttp://www.uvm.edu/vtvegandberry/meetings/meetlist.htmlhttp://www.uvm.edu/vtvegandberry/meetings/meetlist.htmlhttp://www.uvm.edu/vtvegandberry/meetings/meetlist.htmlhttp://www.uvm.edu/vtvegandberry/meetings/meetlist.html


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AMERICABAHAMASCORVAIR

CROCODILEDONKEYEMILIA

EMUERSTE ERNTEGIANT WINTER

LAZIOLOMBARDIAMENORCA

24 VARIETIES FOR 2011-12 WINTER TRIALS

TYEEQUEENRACCOON

RED KITTENREFLECTREGIMENT

SAMISHSEVEN GRNSPACE

SPARGOST HELENSTARPY


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COLOR RATED JAN 1ST

1 TO 10 (10 BEST)

AMERICA 7BAHAMAS 5CORVAIR 9CROCODILE 9DONKEY 7-8EMILIA 7

EMU 5ERSTE ERNTE 2GIANT WINTER 3LAZIO 8

LOMBARDIA 5-7MENORCA 8

QUEEN 7RACCOON 6-8RED KITTEN 8REFLECT 4-5REGIMENT 7-8SAMISH 8

SEVEN GREEN 7SPACE 5-8SPARGO 8ST HELENS 7

TARPY 6TYEE 7

MAR8FEB16


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MAR 81 SPACE2 LOMBARDIA3 REGIMENT

4 LOMBARDIA5 ST HELENS6 SAMISH7 DONKEY7 EMU8 GIANT WINTER8 REFLECT9 SPACE10 BAHAMAS10 TARPY10 ST HELENS

10 7 GRN10 LOMBARDIA

YIELDS CAN VARY!! OPERATING FRM

MAR 811 EMILIA11 SAMISH11 LOMBARDIA11 LOMBARDIA11 RACCOON11 QUEEN11 SPARGO12 RED KITTEN12 TYEE

12 LOMBARDIA12 GIANT WINTER12 CORVAIR12 ERSTE ERNTE13 REGIMENT

13 ST HELENS13 GIANT WINTER13 CORVAIR14 SPACE15 CORVAIR16 EMU16 TYEE

FEB 161 SPACE2 LOMBARDIA3 LOMBARDIA4 REGIMENT

5 ST HELENS6 REFLECT6 LOMBARDIA6 GIANT WINTER7 SAMISH7 DONKEY

7 EMU7 ST HELENS8 GIANT WINTER9 LOMBARDIA9 EMILIA9 ERSTE ERNTE

9 REGIMENT9 CORVAIR10 7 GRN10 RACCOON10 GIANT WINTER10 TYEE


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NOT A SIMPLE

LIST!! SOME EARLY SOME LATE UPRIGHT FLAT SPACING DIRECT SEED

TRANSPLANT

SUMMARY

TOP 10


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TOP 10SPINACH?? SPACE

RACCOON LOMBARDIA REFLECT

GIANTWINTER

PIGEON

LOMBARDIA DONKEY SAMISH EMU ++NEW ONES

SPINACH VARIETIES

GREENHOUSE


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GREENHOUSE

SEEDING DATES


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SEED STRIPS, SPEEDLING, WINSTRIPS

SEEDING TRAYS

Must be on special list toget imported Winstripsfrom Korea-ask!


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SEEDED JULY 15TH

KALE & SWISS CHARD


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Asian Greens- Sept 1st

to Oct 15th

GREENHOUSE

SEEDING DATES

Spinach- Sept20thto Oct 1st


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HAVE READY TO PLANT IN TUNNEL

ABOUT OCTOBER 15TH

TRANSPLANT UP

TRANSPLANTS ALLO

SUMMER PRODUCETO CONTINUEPRODUCING INTUNNELS

CAN POT UP IFNECESSARYDEPENDING ONVALUE OF TUNNEL

CROPS LIKETOMATOES


35/96

ROCK DOWN BIOTELLO---ADD STRAW TO PATHS

PREPARE TUNNEL MID-LATE OCTOBER

6 BEDS IN 30 WIDETUNNEL

7 BEDS IN 34 WIDETUNNEL

ROTOTILL AND FORM

BEDS BY HAND WITH ASHOVELTAKESAPPROX 5 HOURS

BEDS ABOUT 3.5 FT

WIDE LAY BIOTELLO BY

HAND TO SAVE SPACE

PLANT TRANSPLANTS


36/96

MUSTPLANTBY NOVEMBER1ST

PLANT TRANSPLANTS

5 Rows per bed

3 Rows of Kale orSwiss Chard withrows of AsianGreens in-

between

TEAGLE TOMAHAWK FOR MULCH


37/96

FRENCH INTENSIVE METHOD

Swiss Chard and Asian Greens

Asian Greensfor Braising Mix

TokyoBekana

YukinaSavoy

VitaminGreen


38/96

FRENCH INTENSIVE METHOD

Kale and Asian Greens

Asian Greensalso namedLarge leafmesclun mix!

Start harvesting

December/Januarylovecold

Kale & Swiss

Chard dormanttill late Febunless warm!


39/96

SPACING

8 x 12 for

Kale

Swiss chard Asian Greens

Happy Rich

Broccoli

4 X14 for

BroccoliRaab


40/96

SPACING

Spinach-From

Transplantswith 3-4 seedsper cell: 5x8

Spinach-DirectSeeded 8between

rows


41/96

DIRECT SEEDING DATES

WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY

SEPTEMBER 20THTO OCT 10TH

OCTOBER 1stOPTIMUM FOR US

(some years!)

LETTUCE for Salad Mix

MUSTARDS-Reds,Greens

SPINACH ASIAN GREENS-

Mizuna, Tatsoi, etc

FIND YOUR


42/96

FIND YOUR

DATE!THE WINTER HARVESTHANDBOOK BY ELIOTCOLEMAN

Time of seedings arecriticalSuccessiveseedings gives

consistency

Weather is achanging factor


43/96

SPACINGLettuce, Asian

Greens & Mustardsfor Salad Mix

Arugula

2 inches

Separate varieties

Earthway Seeder

or Jang

G


44/96

ARUGULA

Successiveseedings

Oct 1sttoNov 15th

Astro &

Regular

JANUARY SEEDINGS


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JANUARY SEEDINGS Asian Greens

Salad MixGreens

IN THEGREENHOUSE


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GH Seededin earlyJanuary,transplanted

to tunnel inMarch

Produces for

April & May

ASIAN GREENS


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GH Seeded in earlyJanuary,transplanted totunnel in March

Produces for April &May

Includes lettuce,

mustards & greens

SALAD MIX GREENS ll


48/96

GO PLAY TILL HARVEST! Well.. Rowcovers left off

as much aspossible to getsunlight

Keep humidity

down

Scout often fordiseases

Monitor and settraps for rodents

Sluggo for slugs

Water


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PERCENT USE & VALUE

Map forefficiency

Value persquare foothigh:

Usually about$4-$5

Winter Weeding


50/96

WINTER MAINTENANCE

Winter Weeding

WEEDING


51/96

WINTER MAINTENANCE

WEEDINGOur Favorite: DutchPush Hoe

Walking paceIncorporate fertilizer

WATERING OVERHEAD


52/96

WINTER MAINTENANCE

WATERING OVERHEAD

Good for seed starting

Use nozzles that empty water out sodont freeze

Out of way

DRIPTAPE


53/96

WINTER MAINTENANCE

DRIP TAPEWATERING

Great for BioTelobeds

Can use on allbeds year-round

Dont get rowcovers wet

HAND WATERING


54/96

WINTER MAINTENANCE

HAND WATERING In winteronly about once per month

Even watering

Seed starting & Transplant watering in

Row covers can be left in place

Fusarium &


55/96

DISEASES

Fusarium &Mildews

Root Shield

Root Shield Plus

Actinovate

Greenhousedrench andTunnel Drench

Re-drench every6 to 8 weeks ifdisease


56/96

WINTER DISEASES

Venting mostimportant!

Temperaturefluctuations

+/- 20

degrees HAF fans

helpful-6 pertunnel

Cladosporium leaf spot

Venting critical


57/96

WINTER DISEASES

Venting critical-no moisture!

Fans help

Keep row coverdry

Actinovate

Regalia

Cease

Double Nickel

LOTS OF TRIALS!

Downy Mildew inLettuce and Greens

Aphids


58/96

WINTER INSECTS

Aphids

Ladybugs:

Buy Early

Spread weekly

Aphids


59/96

WINTER INSECTS

AphidsAphidoletes

Predaceousmidge

Safer Soap

Mites


60/96

WINTER INSECTS

Mites Microscopic

Predatory

Mites-IPM Labs

Aza-direct


61/96

Ragged edges

on leaves/Irregularleaves

Monitor tocatch early!

SPINACH CROWN MITE


62/96

VENTS OPEN 24/7 TO KEEP HUMIDITY DOWN

LESS THAN 85%HUMIDITY

WEATHER STATION


63/96

WEATHER STATION

SOLAR TEMP HUMIDITY WIND RAIN


64/96

WEATHER STATION

Wireless 3 Stations Computer

Davis Vanta e Pro II

WEATHER STATION


65/96

WEATHER STATION

Scientific Sales, Inc. RepeaterHarvest time

DATA LOGGERS


66/96

DATA LOGGERS

44 temperature data loggers with multipleparameters: Soil temp 1 down, outside temp,rafter temp, plant height, 1 up, 6 up


67/96

44 DATA

LOGGERSJANUARY TO

APRIL 2009

HOURLY TEMPRECORDINGS

3 DIFFERENT

FARMS

2 Unheated High Tunnels


68/96

2 Ground-Heated HighTunnels

1 Heated Low Tunnel & 1Unheated Low Tunnel


69/96

LOTS OF DATA!!

Rowcovers varied; Tent heights varied (0, 18, 2 to 3)

80


70/96

-20

-10

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

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) 32F

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 soilmore growth

Down right cold night


71/96

-20

-10

0

10

20

3040

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

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

H2_3' tent_plant height (16) 32F

45F 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

Chilly nights


72/96

-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

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

H2_3' tent_plant height (16) 32F

45F Outside (13)

Down right cold night


73/96

-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

HeatHa_plant height (33) H2_18" hoop_plant height (19) H2_3' tent_plant height (16) 32F 45F 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????


74/96

WINTER HARVESTING

Tools

SpecialtyKnives


75/96

WINTER HARVESTING

Buckhorn

crates

Window of

opportunityfor harvest

Keep areal d


76/96

WINTER HARVESTING

clean andneatno

debris

Clean upbed aftercutting

Many re-cuts


77/96

WINTER HARVESTING ONE OF OUR FAVORITE THINGS!


78/96

GOLF CARTS

We now have 3 Easy to drive

Inexpensive

Great for kids

PROTECTION


79/96

PROTECTIONROWCOVER 1, 2, 3 Height

Hoops

Winter WashingStation for Energy


80/96

STAINLESS STEEL

FLOOR MATS

WARM WATER

Station for EnergySavings & Efficiency


81/96

YIELD DATA DECEMBERTO APRIL


82/96

TO APRIL

Kale

Swiss chardSpinach

Asian Greens

Lettuce MixArugula

Turnips

Herbs

Increased weeklysales by $450 in08-09

SPINACH


83/96

FIRST WINTER 2007Plastic on in January11 Rows of SpinachGross over $10,000

Just one crop!

2009-10 Gross$16,000 and$150,000 per acre2010-11 Winter

9 Variety Trial

Winter Tunnels


84/96

Wincreased Sales$1200 per week

09-10


85/96

SWISS CHARD: 800 square feet yielded

$4998 for one winter season


86/96

2010 11

Perfecting thesystems

More persquare footYielded $1630

per weekMarketsbuilding every

year

Every year differentW th i bl


87/96

2011-12

Weather variablesDiversity Important

Asian Greens 11/12 to 5/19 $4,116Arugula 11/19 to 4/28 $4 039


88/96

TOTALS 2011 12

Arugula 11/19 to 4/28 $4,039Spinach 11/25 to 4/3 $12,858

Swiss Chard 12/17 to 6/20 $7,440Salad Mix 1/1 to 6/1 $18,484Kale 1/28 to 5/12 $3,291

TOTAL: $50,228 Gross2 Tunnels-6 Crops!

Averaged approximately 120 pounds ofkl t f th th t l


89/96

TOTALS 2012 13

greens weekly out of the three tunnels

ALWAYS NEW THINGS TO TRIAL!


90/96

TURNIPS ONIONS-FORUM & BRIDGER


91/96

WINTER TUNNELS INCREASE PROFITS IN THE

SPRING..


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AS WELL AS

IN THEWINTER!!


93/96

DIVERSITY AND BIG DISPLAYS!

TAKEN IN MID - JANUARY!

SUMMARY


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SUMMARY LARGE INVESTMENT

FAST PAYBACK

COST $20,000 to $30,000

LESS THAN TWO YEAR PAYBACKFOR EACH

PRODUCTION HIGHLABOR LOW

MUST BE GOOD MARKETER

IMPROVING EVERY YEAR

HOWWEGETOUR


95/96

SOLAR, SOLAR & MORESOLAR!

2007-10kW

2012-19kW

NETMETERED

HOW WE GET OURELECTRICITY.

THANKS AND HAVE A GREAT


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2014 SEASON!

Alaska, Glacier 2011Hawaii 2006

profitable production of quality winter greens in unheated high tunnels; gardening guidebook for...

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