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