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Year Round Mixed Vegetable Production in High Tunnels
ZACHARY GRANT LOCAL FOOD SYSTEMS AND SMALL FARMS EDUCATOR COOK COUNTY [email protected] https://www.facebook.com/UofILocalFoodsCookCounty
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Overview of year round possibilities with high tunnels in hardiness zones 5b and 6a • Technologies and Types of Structures • Uses of High Tunnels During the Year • Planting Schedules and Planning • Tips for High Tunnel Production
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Technologies and Types of Structures • Terminology
• Hoophouse • Polyethylene (greenhouse plastic) covered structure used to extend the
growing season
• High Tunnel • Same as hoop house. Term used to differentiate structure from a low
tunnel when used in combination (winter production)
• Greenhouse • More permanent structure, used with additional heat for temperature
control
• Low tunnel • Smaller hoops <36” tall offering both pest and frost protection in fields
and high tunnels
• Caterpillar • Larger than a low tunnel (can walk in), simpler than high tunnels,
typically a 3 season structure, and usually kits are made by grower
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Quonset $2.50+/ft² Low Tunnel $0.136/ft²
Gothic/Gable Kit $3.00+/ft²
Caterpillar DIY $1.75+/ft²
Heated Greenhouse $15.00+/ft²
Maywood Tunnel (Frame=free +$0.90/ft² to finish)
extension.illinois.edu
Overview of year round possibilities with high tunnels in hardiness zones 5b and 6a • Technologies and Types of Structures • Uses of High Tunnels During the Year • Planting Schedules and Planning • Tips for High Tunnel Production
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Year Round In Ground Production
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Dec 10th FRC temp HT temp Amb temp
Temp F 25.6 7.9 -‐1.6
FRC-‐HT HT-‐Amb FRC-‐Amb
Temp diff F 17.7 9.5 27.2
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extension.illinois.edu
May 25th June 4th
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June 20th
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Overview of year round possibilities with high tunnels in hardiness zones 5b and 6a • Technologies and Types of Structures • Uses of High Tunnels During the Year • Planting Schedules and Planning • Tips for High Tunnel Production
extension.illinois.edu
extension.illinois.edu
Overview of year round possibilities with high tunnels in hardiness zones 5b and 6a • Technologies and Types of Structures • Uses of High Tunnels During the Year • Planting Schedules and Planning • Tips for High Tunnel Production
extension.illinois.edu
Low Tunnels and Supplemental Heat • Warm season crops need to get off to an
accelerated start • For tomatoes ensure extra low tunnel
protection in case of cooler temperatures in late March-early April or supplemental heat to push ripening fruit in early June
• Closer the low tunnel to crop the better (<18” high) • Some growers even rest row covers right
on crop • Not for fragile crops like tomatoes
(still need hoop support) • With added heat, average heat is what counts
• Turn heat on during day to increase average temperature • e.g. 50-65F during day raise
average more efficiently • Regrowth faster in heated tunnels, but
heating costs vary so it may or may not pay off
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Venting
• Diseases can still be an issue during all seasons in a high tunnel
• In addition to choosing disease resistant varieties: • Over venting rather than
not venting enough • Consider thermostatically
controlled vents • Keep a slightly “leaky
greenhouse” • Vent inner low tunnels at
least 2-3 times a week regardless of cloud cover or temperature
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extension.illinois.edu
Pruning • Indeterminates
• If two leaders, use “Strong Y”. • Remove leaves and suckers up to
first flower, and continue removing suckers weekly especially during first 6 weeks
• Spending time on this when they are suckers are small will pay off
• After cluster is harvested, remove leaves below.
• Determinates • Strong Y and remove suckers/
leaves up to first flower • Then focus on basket weaving • Only pruning out selected large
runners during season
Photo: Amy Ivy
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Training and Trellising Tomatoes Single Leader (Double for Heirlooms) for Indeterminates Basket Weave for Determinates
Photo: Amy Ivy
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Training and Trellising Aides
Photo: Amy Ivy Photo: Amy Ivy
Photo: Amy Ivy
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“Lower and Lean”
Photo: Amy Ivy
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Thank-You!
Questions? [email protected] Supplemental Handout: “Growing Under High Tunnels in Illinois and the Midwest”