Season ExtensionSeason ExtensionEarly and LateEarly and Late

Keith VanderVeldeKeith VanderVelde

Marquette Ag AgentMarquette Ag Agent

Kingston-Feb 27, 2008Kingston-Feb 27, 2008

Methods of Season ExtensionMethods of Season Extension

Low tech to high techLow tech to high tech PlasticulturePlasticulture

Cold frames – drip tape – high tunnels – Cold frames – drip tape – high tunnels – greenhousesgreenhouses

Low $ to High $$$$$Low $ to High $$$$$ Light, water, wind, colors, bugs, benefits, Light, water, wind, colors, bugs, benefits,

temperatures, fertilizers, plastic, wood, glass temperatures, fertilizers, plastic, wood, glass and varietiesand varieties

Variety Selection – Days to MaturityVariety Selection – Days to Maturity

Easiest way to get earlier Easiest way to get earlier cropcrop

May be limited on varietiesMay be limited on varieties May not be best flavor as May not be best flavor as

longer season cropslonger season crops Earlier to market, better Earlier to market, better

priceprice Consumer may be tolerant Consumer may be tolerant

of smaller size/ less flavor if of smaller size/ less flavor if they are the first availablethey are the first available

Variety Selection – Days to MaturityVariety Selection – Days to Maturity

Easiest way to get earlier Easiest way to get earlier cropcrop

May be limited on varietiesMay be limited on varieties May not be best flavor as May not be best flavor as

longer season cropslonger season crops Earlier to market, better Earlier to market, better

priceprice Consumer may be tolerant Consumer may be tolerant

of smaller size/ less flavor if of smaller size/ less flavor if they are the first availablethey are the first available

Time of HarvestTime of Harvest

Consider size of Consider size of vegetable at harvestvegetable at harvest

Early red potatoesEarly red potatoes Small pickling Small pickling

cucumberscucumbers Small summer squashSmall summer squash Baby carrotsBaby carrots Cherry tomatoesCherry tomatoes

Differences Amongst VegetablesDifferences Amongst Vegetables

New Vegetables New Vegetables Arugula 42 Days Swiss Chard 55 Days

Lettuce Blend 40-70 Days Spinach Mustard 35 Days

Considerations with New VeggiesConsiderations with New Veggies

Growing requirements for new cropGrowing requirements for new crop Samples??Samples?? Consider providing recipe cardsConsider providing recipe cards Suggestions for useSuggestions for use Information on nutrition Information on nutrition Engage the customer – “I bet you’ve never Engage the customer – “I bet you’ve never

seen this before”seen this before”

Starting Seeds Plants EarlierStarting Seeds Plants Earlier

Light very important – quality and durationLight very important – quality and duration Fan on young seedlings – helps prevent leggy Fan on young seedlings – helps prevent leggy

plantsplants Temperature – daytime 60 - 70Temperature – daytime 60 - 70°F – nights no °F – nights no

lower than 50°Flower than 50°F Size of container – prevent root bound plantsSize of container – prevent root bound plants Timing – getting plants in the ground in a Timing – getting plants in the ground in a

timely manner timely manner

Lighting ConsiderationsLighting Considerations

Incandescent – not good for plants needsIncandescent – not good for plants needs Good for heat, day length controlGood for heat, day length control

Fluorescent – supplement sunlight wellFluorescent – supplement sunlight well Combination of cool white with warm white will Combination of cool white with warm white will

provide full light spectrumprovide full light spectrum Cool white bulbs are more efficient than grow Cool white bulbs are more efficient than grow

lights in providing supplemental lightlights in providing supplemental light High Pressure sodium and metal halideHigh Pressure sodium and metal halide

1/3 more efficient than fluorescent - costly1/3 more efficient than fluorescent - costly

Cold Frames / Hot BedsCold Frames / Hot Beds

Mini greenhousesMini greenhouses Old windowsOld windows Plastic film on wood Plastic film on wood

frameframe Rigid plasticRigid plastic Hinged top needed to Hinged top needed to

regulate heatregulate heat

Cold Frames Cold Frames

Don’t have to be Don’t have to be coveredcovered

Used to harden off Used to harden off plants before going to plants before going to fieldfield

Can use lattice or snow Can use lattice or snow fence to shade plantsfence to shade plants

Other Cold Frame UseOther Cold Frame Use

Earlier plantings of leafy greensEarlier plantings of leafy greens Lettuce, spinach, swiss chard, parsleyLettuce, spinach, swiss chard, parsley

Better in cool weather and lower lightBetter in cool weather and lower light Wintering containers – Early forcing of tulips, Wintering containers – Early forcing of tulips,

hyacinths, daffodils and crocushyacinths, daffodils and crocus Force early springForce early spring New markets???New markets???

Other Cold Frame UseOther Cold Frame Use

Late Summer SeedingLate Summer Seeding Plant broccoli, pepper, spinach, lettucePlant broccoli, pepper, spinach, lettuce Early winter harvestEarly winter harvest Something to market other than root Something to market other than root

vegetables and winter squashvegetables and winter squash

Hot BedsHot Beds

Heating Cable Heating Cable Hole 6 inches deepHole 6 inches deep Lay cableLay cable Cover with sandCover with sand

ManureManure 10 inch deep hole10 inch deep hole Add horse or chicken Add horse or chicken

manuremanure Cover with window Cover with window

screenscreen Cover with soilCover with soil

Shade HousesShade Houses

Propagation of woody cuttings – some Propagation of woody cuttings – some perennials perennials

In containers or in ground bedIn containers or in ground bed Misting may be neededMisting may be needed

Finishing/conditioning plants – from Finishing/conditioning plants – from greenhouse before field plantinggreenhouse before field planting

Row CoversRow Covers

Flexible transparent materialFlexible transparent material Perforated plastic, spunbonded polyester – polypropylenePerforated plastic, spunbonded polyester – polypropylene

Floating or supported by hoopsFloating or supported by hoops Can cover one or more rowsCan cover one or more rows Trap heat of day – warm air and soilTrap heat of day – warm air and soil Wind protection, less moisture lossWind protection, less moisture loss May be insect barrier depending on typeMay be insect barrier depending on type Think of crop needs when deciding on type of row Think of crop needs when deciding on type of row

cover – temperature needs, pollination, growth habitcover – temperature needs, pollination, growth habit

Supported Row CoversSupported Row Covers

Also Called Low TunnelsAlso Called Low Tunnels Can use PVC pipe, heavy Can use PVC pipe, heavy

wirewire More labor neededMore labor needed Support needed for crops Support needed for crops

such as tomato, pepper and such as tomato, pepper and summer squashsummer squash

Weed control needed Weed control needed between rowsbetween rows

Low TunnelsLow Tunnels

Floating Row CoversFloating Row Covers

Spunbound polyester or polypropyleneSpunbound polyester or polypropylene 70 – 80% light, air and water transmission70 – 80% light, air and water transmission Placed directly on cropPlaced directly on crop 0.5 – 1.25oz. /sq yard0.5 – 1.25oz. /sq yard Covers under 0.5oz. – very little heat retentionCovers under 0.5oz. – very little heat retention Over 1.75oz. Significant light reductionOver 1.75oz. Significant light reduction 22° - 4° frost protection in spring, more ° - 4° frost protection in spring, more

protection in fallprotection in fall

Floating Row CoversFloating Row Covers

For large covers weigh down centers to For large covers weigh down centers to prevent damage with high windsprevent damage with high winds

Insect control may improveInsect control may improve Maggot controlMaggot control Squash bug controlSquash bug control Remember needs for pollinationRemember needs for pollination

Don’t trap insect pests – CPBDon’t trap insect pests – CPB 2-6 weeks earlier depending on local 2-6 weeks earlier depending on local

conditionsconditions

Floating Row CoverFloating Row Cover

Zip HousesZip Houses

Mini greenhouseMini greenhouse Ability to easier Ability to easier

regulate temperature, regulate temperature, light and ventilationlight and ventilation

Frost protection down to Frost protection down to 2626°°

Open and close easily Open and close easily from end of rowfrom end of row

Reusable for 2-3 Reusable for 2-3 seasonsseasons

Zip HousesZip Houses

Protects from heavy Protects from heavy rains, heavy winds and rains, heavy winds and small hailsmall hail

20-30” wide and 21-25” 20-30” wide and 21-25” talltall

Cut to any length – Cut to any length – strings stay ready to pullstrings stay ready to pull

500’ roll $158 + S&H500’ roll $158 + S&H

Zip HousesZip Houses

Zip House OpenedZip House Opened Several hundred feet Several hundred feet

opened with one string opened with one string pullpull

No dirt moved when No dirt moved when openingopening

Opens in secondsOpens in seconds Allows pollinationAllows pollination Can be sprayed thru Can be sprayed thru

open topopen top

Zip House ClosedZip House Closed Release strings at end of Release strings at end of

rowrow Closed in secondsClosed in seconds Double layer walls Double layer walls Protects from wind, rains Protects from wind, rains

and blowing soiland blowing soil Much earlier growthMuch earlier growth

Colored Plastic MulchesColored Plastic Mulches

Plastic MulchesPlastic Mulches

Used for years in vary colorsUsed for years in vary colors Advantages – increased yields, earlier crops, Advantages – increased yields, earlier crops,

higher quality, weed control and enhanced higher quality, weed control and enhanced insect managementinsect management

Work well with drip irrigationWork well with drip irrigation High value crops – melons, tomatoes, peppers High value crops – melons, tomatoes, peppers

cucumbers, squash, eggplant ……………….cucumbers, squash, eggplant ………………. Many considerations for color Many considerations for color

Plastic Mulches 2Plastic Mulches 2

Colors – black, white, clear, white on black, Colors – black, white, clear, white on black, red, green, silver reflecting, blue-green, brown, red, green, silver reflecting, blue-green, brown, yellow, ect.yellow, ect.

Red and black raise soil temps comparablyRed and black raise soil temps comparably Blue-green and brown warm soil like clear Blue-green and brown warm soil like clear

without weed problemwithout weed problem Red, blue, yellow, gray and orange have Red, blue, yellow, gray and orange have

distinct optical characteristics and reflect distinct optical characteristics and reflect different radiation pattern into the cropdifferent radiation pattern into the crop

Plastic Mulches 3Plastic Mulches 3

Blue and green plastic increased root:shoot Blue and green plastic increased root:shoot ratios in turnipsratios in turnips

Yellow, red and blue increased green peach Yellow, red and blue increased green peach aphidsaphids

Yellow attracted cucumber beetlesYellow attracted cucumber beetles Silver repels certain aphid species and reduces Silver repels certain aphid species and reduces

or delays virus in summer squashor delays virus in summer squash White or grey may require herbicide for weed White or grey may require herbicide for weed

controlcontrol

Mulch Color and TomatoesMulch Color and Tomatoes

Penn State Study – ‘Sunbeam’ ‘Mountain Penn State Study – ‘Sunbeam’ ‘Mountain Supreme’Supreme’

Best yields on black – worst on green infra-red Best yields on black – worst on green infra-red thermalthermal

Blue, silver and brown reduced fruit sizesBlue, silver and brown reduced fruit sizes Varieties differ in response to same colorsVarieties differ in response to same colors Colors affect microclimate in variety of waysColors affect microclimate in variety of ways

Reflected wavelengh, temperature, moisture, Reflected wavelengh, temperature, moisture, humidity, insects and diseaseshumidity, insects and diseases

Mistakes in PlasticultureMistakes in Plasticulture

Lack of firm uniform bed – hot air funnelingLack of firm uniform bed – hot air funneling Loose plastic – can cover transplants, windLoose plastic – can cover transplants, wind Poorly placed irrigation tape – plant health, cut tape Poorly placed irrigation tape – plant health, cut tape

when plantingwhen planting Failure to operate drip system immediately after Failure to operate drip system immediately after

plantingplanting Not monitoring temperaturesNot monitoring temperatures Not calibrating fertilizer injectors/ratesNot calibrating fertilizer injectors/rates Not removing row cover from cucurbit crops during Not removing row cover from cucurbit crops during

pollinationpollination

Hoop HousesHoop Houses

High tunnelHigh tunnel Many manufacturersMany manufacturers Build your ownBuild your own Anchored in groundAnchored in ground Many heights/lengthsMany heights/lengths Some large enough for Some large enough for

tractorstractors Sides and ends for Sides and ends for

ventilationventilation

CropsCrops

Anything high value Anything high value Anything with early season premiumAnything with early season premium Fruits and vegetables, cut flowers, etcFruits and vegetables, cut flowers, etc Keep a crop later in the season – extend Keep a crop later in the season – extend

harvestharvest Starting plants earlierStarting plants earlier Wind protection / temp modification over Wind protection / temp modification over

winter – nursery plants, perennials and herbswinter – nursery plants, perennials and herbs

Penn State Research Facility Dan Mielke – tomatoes, peppers and cukes

Hoop HousesHoop Houses

Selling fresh local tomatoes in JuneSelling fresh local tomatoes in June Give you months of extra hours in a growing Give you months of extra hours in a growing

seasonseason Cultivating spinach and leafy greens year Cultivating spinach and leafy greens year

roundround

High Tunnel HousesHigh Tunnel Houses

High Tunnel HousesHigh Tunnel Houses

High Tunnel HousesHigh Tunnel Houses

BenefitsBenefits

Extending cropping seasonExtending cropping season August/September seeding – spinach, broccoli, August/September seeding – spinach, broccoli,

other greensother greens Harvest until DecemberHarvest until December Limited by sunlight w/out supplemental lightLimited by sunlight w/out supplemental light

Mulch with straw and harvest root crops Mulch with straw and harvest root crops throughout winterthroughout winter

One Growers ExperienceOne Growers Experience

20 x 96 foot tunnel20 x 96 foot tunnel 4 rows tomatoes4 rows tomatoes 2 rows of peppers2 rows of peppers 1 row of cucumbers1 row of cucumbers

YieldsYields 4,500 lbs of tomatoes4,500 lbs of tomatoes 13 bu of peppers13 bu of peppers 300 lbs of cucumber300 lbs of cucumber

Cost of tunnel - $2000Cost of tunnel - $2000 Sales > $5000Sales > $5000

Outside Tunnel Inside Tunnel

Strawberry CropStrawberry Crop

Started on 4/15/03 by lowering sidesStarted on 4/15/03 by lowering sides Temperature monitoring criticalTemperature monitoring critical Use floating row cover on cold nightsUse floating row cover on cold nights

Picking started on 6/1/03 – tunnelPicking started on 6/1/03 – tunnel 6/11/03 – plastic mulch with row cover6/11/03 – plastic mulch with row cover 6/26/03 – berries without mulch or row cover6/26/03 – berries without mulch or row cover

Berries were sweeter, cleaner, less distorted, largerBerries were sweeter, cleaner, less distorted, larger Tunnel vs no-tunnel from 200 – 380 % increase in Tunnel vs no-tunnel from 200 – 380 % increase in

yieldyield

Strawberry VarietiesStrawberry Varieties

Early Glow – 200% increase in tunnelEarly Glow – 200% increase in tunnel Honeoye – 380% increase in tunnelHoneoye – 380% increase in tunnel Jewel – 330% increase in tunnelJewel – 330% increase in tunnel

Raspberry CropRaspberry Crop

Fall berriesFall berries First ripe berries inside or out September 26First ripe berries inside or out September 26 October 1October 1stst outside crop froze outside crop froze Tunnel berries produced until November 2Tunnel berries produced until November 2

Let berries freeze because of extended cold Let berries freeze because of extended cold weatherweather

Too costly to heat for amount of salesToo costly to heat for amount of sales

Other ConsiderationsOther Considerations

Diseases and rotationDiseases and rotation Moving hoop housesMoving hoop houses Drainage around tunnelsDrainage around tunnels

Simple HoophouseSimple Hoophouse

Simple to BuildSimple to Build Frame of plastic or Frame of plastic or

metal pipemetal pipe Anchored by ground Anchored by ground

postsposts Open ends Open ends Ventilation importantVentilation important

Doors, sidewalls other Doors, sidewalls other ventsvents

Classic A-FrameClassic A-Frame

Very easy constructionVery easy construction Steep roof sheds snowSteep roof sheds snow Limited space (no room Limited space (no room

for benches)for benches) Growing space for tall Growing space for tall

plantsplants Ventilation importantVentilation important Can have second layer Can have second layer

of plastic on insideof plastic on inside

Gothic ArchGothic Arch

Can be portable or Can be portable or anchored to foundationanchored to foundation

Curved walls shed snowCurved walls shed snow InexpensiveInexpensive Lets in lots of lightLets in lots of light

Modified A-FrameModified A-Frame

Steep roof for shedding Steep roof for shedding snowsnow

Sits on frame of 4x4 posts + Sits on frame of 4x4 posts + insulationinsulation

More headroomMore headroom Room for benches – storage Room for benches – storage

underneathunderneath Roof VentsRoof Vents Can use triple wall plastic Can use triple wall plastic

panels for more insulationpanels for more insulation

Sun - PitSun - Pit

Foundation sunk below Foundation sunk below ground with concrete ground with concrete block wallsblock walls

More expensive initiallyMore expensive initially Recoup costs from Recoup costs from

heating savingsheating savings Need good drainageNeed good drainage Accessibility concernsAccessibility concerns Higher initial costsHigher initial costs

Barn StyleBarn Style

Lots of light – good Lots of light – good headroomheadroom

Solid sidewallsSolid sidewalls Use plastic panels or Use plastic panels or

two layers of plastictwo layers of plastic With foundation, greater With foundation, greater

wind resistancewind resistance Attractive designAttractive design

Slant-Sided Barn StyleSlant-Sided Barn Style

Sheds heavy snowSheds heavy snow Wind resistanceWind resistance Simple constructionSimple construction Allows room for Allows room for

benchesbenches Can use double plastic Can use double plastic

with squirrel cage fanwith squirrel cage fan

Attached Lean-ToAttached Lean-To

Strong, easy to Strong, easy to constructconstruct

Energy savingsEnergy savings Can attach to house wall Can attach to house wall

with existing doorwith existing door Need good ventilationNeed good ventilation

Attached Angled-WallAttached Angled-Wall

Effective with cold Effective with cold sunny winters and hot sunny winters and hot summerssummers

Wall angled to face low Wall angled to face low winter sunwinter sun

Roof is covered and Roof is covered and insulated against insulated against summer heatsummer heat

Attached SolarAttached Solar

Connected to house Connected to house with sliding glass doorswith sliding glass doors

Helps heating house in Helps heating house in winterwinter

Summer Cooling from Summer Cooling from HouseHouse

Rigid acrylic or Rigid acrylic or polyethylene panelspolyethylene panels

Kit GreenhousesKit Greenhouses

Easy to constructEasy to construct Easily built in 1-2 daysEasily built in 1-2 days Limited in sizeLimited in size Can be costlyCan be costly

ResourcesResources

www.mielkesfarm.net/hightunnels.htmwww.mielkesfarm.net/hightunnels.htm http://plasticulture.cas.psu.edu/http://plasticulture.cas.psu.edu/