DOCSLIB.ORG

High Tunnels

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
High Tunnels High Tunnels Using Low-Cost Technology to Increase Yields, Improve Quality and Extend the Season By Ted Blomgren and Tracy Frisch Produced by Regional Farm and Food Project and Cornell University with funding from the USDA Northeast Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program Distributed by the University of Vermont Center for Sustainable Agriculture High Tunnels Authors Ted Blomgren Extension Associate, Cornell University Tracy Frisch Founder, Regional Farm and Food Project Contributing Author Steve Moore Farmer, Spring Grove, Pennsylvania Illustrations Naomi Litwin Published by the University of Vermont Center for Sustainable Agriculture May 2007 This publication is available on-line at www.uvm.edu/sustainableagriculture. Farmers highlighted in this publication can be viewed on the accompanying DVD. It is available from the University of Vermont Center for Sustainable Agriculture, 63 Carrigan Drive, Burlington, VT 05405. The cost per DVD (which includes shipping and handling) is $15 if mailed within the continental U.S. For other areas, please contact the Center at (802) 656-5459 or [email protected] with ordering questions. The High Tunnels project was made possible by a grant from the USDA Northeast Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program (NE-SARE). Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture. University of Vermont Extension, Burlington, Vermont. University of Vermont Extension, and U.S. Department of Agriculture, cooperating, offer education and employment to everyone without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or familial status. Any reference to commercial products, trade names, or brand names is for information only, and no endorsement or approval is intended. Acknowledgements The generosity, patience and expertise of all the farmers involved in producing this manual and companion DVD was essential to our project. We’d like to thank Keith Cramer, Steve Groff, Seth Jacobs, Andy Jones, Ed Weaver, and David and Ty Zemelsky for their willingness to make their experiences and insights accessible to fellow growers and for remaining committed to our accuracy up until the very end, even when it meant responding to endless questions. We’d also like to thank Bryan O’Hara and Chris Lincoln for sharing their innovative farming experiences with us. In reviewing the first draft of this manual, the participating farmers were joined by John Biernbaum of Michigan State University, Judson Reid of Cornell Cooperative Extension, Chris Wien of Cornell University, and farmers Michael and Phillip Kilpatrick, each of whom contributed enthusiastically to help strengthen this manual. We are indebted to all of them. Responsibility for this publication’s inevitable errors, however, belongs solely to its authors. Contents Introduction................................................................................................................................................................ 1 Case Studies Cramer’s Posie Patch......................................................................................................................................... 2 Weaver’s Orchard.............................................................................................................................................. 7 Cedar Meadow Farm ....................................................................................................................................... 10 Intervale Community Farm.............................................................................................................................. 12 Star Light Gardens........................................................................................................................................... 16 Slack Hollow Farm .......................................................................................................................................... 20 High Tunnels and Marketing ................................................................................................................................... 23 Site Considerations .................................................................................................................................................. 26 Selecting Your Structure.......................................................................................................................................... 28 Selecting Materials.......................................................................................................................................... 29 Multi-Bay Tunnels........................................................................................................................................... 33 Walk-In Tunnels (Caterpillars)........................................................................................................................ 35 Low Tunnels: An Alternative to High Tunnels ............................................................................................... 38 Construction Tips..................................................................................................................................................... 40 Environmental Management.................................................................................................................................... 47 Venting and Cooling........................................................................................................................................ 47 Heating............................................................................................................................................................. 49 Interior Row Covers......................................................................................................................................... 50 Soil and Crop Management Soil Management............................................................................................................................................. 54 Interior Tunnel Layout..................................................................................................................................... 57 Crop Establishment.......................................................................................................................................... 58 Pest Management Weed Management .......................................................................................................................................... 60 Managing Diseases in High Tunnels ............................................................................................................... 61 Ecological Insect Management in High Tunnels ............................................................................................. 62 Glossary ................................................................................................................................................................... 64 Resources ................................................................................................................................................................. 65 Further Information and References ........................................................................................................................ 71 Introduction igh tunnels are inexpensive, assessment and taxation, since they lack While we want to demonstrate how passive solar structures a concrete foundation or footings. high tunnels may be a reasonable option H designed to extend the growing for farmers wanting to extend their season and intensify production. By Co-author and Pennsylvania farmer growing and marketing seasons, high protecting crops from potentially Steve Moore suggests several rules for tunnels are not for everyone. They are damaging weather conditions (frost, high tunnel design: tools, not ends in themselves. To be an temperature fluctuations, precipitation, • Capture as much natural solar energy appropriate investment, high tunnels wind, or excess moisture that delays as possible. must suit a farmer’s goals and resources. planting or cultivation), high tunnels • Conserve as much energy as possible. Each grower needs to critically examine also reduce risk and enhance the quality • Keep it simple, both mechanically the pros and cons of high tunnels in the of the harvest. They enable farmers to and managerially. context of their own situation. tap discerning markets hungry for local • Design and operate for minimal products and thus become more economic risk and a quick payback. Some farmers have no interest in profitable. extending the season. A couple farming Unlike greenhouse culture, where crops at Persephone Farm in Oregon High tunnels have other benefits. They may be grown hydroponically or in flats eloquently expressed this perspective can help farmers better utilize labor by or pots on benches, crops in high (see the September 2006 issue of providing work in bad weather and tunnels are almost always grown in the Growing for Market). They relish their potentially creating year-round positions. ground. High tunnels can be configured off-season downtime and look forward Due to the protected microclimate inside in a variety of shapes (i.e., Quonset or to selling out and shutting down for the the structure, high tunnel crops tend to be gothic)
Load more

Recommended publications
  • RES INTEGRATION CONCEPT PAPER D5.1 – Final Version
    GeoCom – FP7 CONCERTO – 239515 RES INTEGRATION CONCEPT PAPER D5.1 – Final version WP Leader: P9 – University of Szeged. Key Contributors: P1, P2, P8 2012 GEOCOM WP5 - Technological Research / WP5.1 Integration with other RES The main scope of this sub-WP has been to outline ways of integrating geothermal energy in energy systems in Central-Eastern Europe. In this WP available experience of integrating geothermal energy into a cascaded facility with a view to environmental improvements and extending the utilization time and spectrum of uses of such facilities has been be studied. Researchers at the University of Szeged looked at the economic and environmental factors of geothermal systems operating in the South Great Plain Region, outlined potential project sites and developed a number of project plans presented here in brief. We collected data from GeoCom project partners too regarding utilization in other CEE countries. This volume presents the first concise study of actual and potential geothermal projects in the South Great Plain of Hungary, with project concepts developed entirely by our researchers and contracted experts. Our work is complemented by data provided by our partners from Serbia, Slovakia, FYROM and Poland. As projects in renewable energy use differ greatly from one-another we did not intend to formulate general conclusions regarding economic or environmental factors of RES integration. Rather, we present the RE potential of the target region, showcase our development proposals, and provide a tool (GIS model) to assist future project development. As stated in Annex 1 the main scope of this sub-WP has been to outline ways of integrating geothermal sources in energy systems, including those with other RES.
    [Show full text]
  • Basic Concepts of Season Extension and Use
    Practical Profitable Prolific Perpetual Produce Extended Season, Four Season, Year-Round Farming Quick For the Health of It! Low Hoops Let’s Eat! Plant Tunnels Elevation Spacing High Vertical Cold Exposure Frames Tunnels Factors Space Heat Green- Soil Retention houses Factors Heating Frost & Placement Soil & Bed Freezing Preparation Cooling & Shading Process Transplants Protection Drainage Perpetual Succession Produce Pests & Irrigation Planting Pestilence Planning Harvest Scheduling Preservation Methods Cultivar Crop Participation Cold Profit Selection Selection (People) Storage Processing Fermentation Jobs Community Support Freezing John Biernbaum, MSU-SOF Canning September, 2011 Education Drying Page 2 Warm soybean Cool snap bean lettuce Season peas Season lima bean baby leaf salad mix popcorn spinach 12. Beans chard beet sweet corn And Peas 1. Salad mustard Greens 11. Corn tatsoi winter pac choi 2. Cooking pumpkin Vegetable Planning kale Greens collard summer 10. Squash What to grow? How much to grow? cabbage cucumber When to grow it? broccoli 3. Cole 9. Cucumbers Where to grow it? cauliflower melon Crops and Melons How to grow it? kohlrabi watermelon How to harvest it? Brussels sprouts How to store it? scallions tomato 8. Summer How to market it? 4. Onions onions Fruits and Flavor pepper garlic leek eggplant 5. Root okra 7. Perennials carrot celery Crops celeriac tomatillo 6. Potatoes beet bulb fennel asparagus turnip rhubarb sunchoke parsnip radish Leaves, Seeds and horseradish sweet potato potato rutabaga and Roots Fruits John Biernbaum, MSU, 2009 Perpetual Produce Simple season extension for year-round farming. Prepared by John Biernbaum MSU Horticulture and Student Organic Farm Whether we call it “fair food”, “good food” or “local food”, the message is the same.
    [Show full text]
  • Indiana High Tunnel Handbook
    Horticulture & Landscape Architecture ag.purdue.edu/hla HO-296 Indiana High Tunnel Handbook Analena Bruce, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Indiana University Elizabeth Maynard, Clinical Engagement Assistant Professor of Horticulture, Purdue University James Farmer, Associate Professor and Co-Director of IU Campus Farm, Indiana University Jonas Carpenter, Bread and Roses Nursery, LLC HO-296-W Photo Credits Photos provided by Erin Bluhm, Analena Bruce, William Horan, Richard Kremer, Jon Leuck, Jonas Carpenter, and Elizabeth Maynard Acknowledgements This publication was supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service Specialty Crop Block Grant #15-002. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the USDA. The patience and expertise of the farmers who participated in the high tunnel study was essential to the production of this book. We’d like to thank all participating farmers for their generosity and willingness to share their experiences and advice with others. We also thank the reviewers: Wenjing Guan and Petrus Langenhoven from the Purdue Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture; Adam Heichelbech from the Indiana Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS); and farmers Linda Chapman, Genesis McKiernan-Allen, and Richard Ritter, who contributed to and strengthened this book. The authors assume responsibility for any errors or flaws. 2 HO-296-W Why High Tunnels? the cooler months and planting earlier in the spring High tunnel crop production has grown immensely (crops such as lettuce, spinach, and kale). Another half in the past decade, particularly among specialty crop only use the structures in summer to improve the growth growers who sell directly to consumers.
    [Show full text]
  • Future Growers Module 10: Protected Cropping Briefing Paper
    Future Growers Module 10: Protected cropping Briefing paper With thanks to Gareth Davies and Margi Lennartsson: Organic Vegetable Production – A Complete Guide. 2 OVERVIEW 1. Introduction and principles 2. Standards 3. Types of protected cropping crop covers cloches / low tunnels polytunnels Spanish tunnels Greenhouse cropping 4. Cropping crop choice soil fertility and management irrigation climate control pests and diseases weed control 5. Other considerations planning permission tunnel covers recycling of plastics 3 Introduction and principles Protected cropping is an important part of UK organic production - in 2003-04 it accounted for about 26% of the wholesale value of all UK-produced organic vegetables. The facility to extend the season at either end is vital for most organic growers. It can improve cash flow, maintain continuity, command higher prices for crops, increase the range of crops that can be grown and help minimise the quantities of bought in or imported produce. These factors are especially important for growers selling directly to the public through box schemes, farmers markets and farm shops. In addition the workload can be spread over a longer period and work can be found inside when inclement weather does not permit activity in the field. Greenhouses and polytunnels can also be useful for plant raising, drying crops e.g. onions and garlic, chitting potatoes and on mixed holdings for lambing sheep and raising ducks and turkeys. There are some critics of polytunnels and their visual impact on the countryside, though this is normally more of a problem for larger growers with acres of tunnels. 1. Standards Following a process of consultation and development with growers, the Soil Association has published a new set of specific standards for protected cropping, which will be applied from 1 April 2012.
    [Show full text]
  • Rock Garden Quarterly
    ROCK GARDEN QUARTERLY VOLUME 55 NUMBER 2 SPRING 1997 COVER: Tulipa vvedevenskyi by Dick Van Reyper All Material Copyright © 1997 North American Rock Garden Society Printed by AgPress, 1531 Yuma Street, Manhattan, Kansas 66502 ROCK GARDEN QUARTERLY BULLETIN OF THE NORTH AMERICAN ROCK GARDEN SOCIETY VOLUME 55 NUMBER 2 SPRING 1997 FEATURES Life with Bulbs in an Oregon Garden, by Molly Grothaus 83 Nuts about Bulbs in a Minor Way, by Andrew Osyany 87 Some Spring Crocuses, by John Grimshaw 93 Arisaema bockii: An Attenuata Mystery, by Guy Gusman 101 Arisaemas in the 1990s: An Update on a Modern Fashion, by Jim McClements 105 Spider Lilies, Hardy Native Amaryllids, by Don Hackenberry 109 Specialty Bulbs in the Holland Industry, by Brent and Becky Heath 117 From California to a Holland Bulb Grower, by W.H. de Goede 120 Kniphofia Notes, by Panayoti Kelaidis 123 The Useful Bulb Frame, by Jane McGary 131 Trillium Tricks: How to Germinate a Recalcitrant Seed, by John F. Gyer 137 DEPARTMENTS Seed Exchange 146 Book Reviews 148 82 ROCK GARDEN QUARTERLY VOL. 55(2) LIFE WITH BULBS IN AN OREGON GARDEN by Molly Grothaus Our garden is on the slope of an and a recording thermometer, I began extinct volcano, with an unobstructed, to discover how large the variation in full frontal view of Mt. Hood. We see warmth and light can be in an acre the side of Mt. Hood facing Portland, and a half of garden. with its top-to-bottom 'H' of south tilt• These investigations led to an inter• ed ridges.
    [Show full text]
  • Hotbeds and Cold Frames for Montana Gardeners
    Hotbeds and Cold Frames for Montana Gardeners by Ron Carlstrom, Gallatin County Extension Agent, Robert Gough, Professor of Horticulture, MSU, and Cheryl Moore-Gough, MSU Extension Horticulture Specialist, retired Growing vegetables and flowers from seeds can be challenging in Montana's short growing season, but a full-size greenhouse isn't necessary to extend your MontGuide season. MT199803AG Reviewed 3/11 THE USE OF COLD FRAMES AND hotbeds is an excellent way to 3' sash extend the Montana growing season, 3' providing a substitute for greenhouses. The gardener with limited space inside the home can use cold frames 2" x 4" stake 12" or hotbeds to start transplants from 2" x 4" cross tie seed. These simple structures also allow Montana gardeners to plant small vegetable crops earlier in the spring 8" soil and enjoy fresh vegetables later into 6" the fall. Cold frames are heated entirely manure 18" by the sun’s rays; hotbeds use the 6' sun’s rays and other sources of heat to maintain adequate temperatures. Consider the temperature and other climatic conditions of your location. When choosing between a cold frame FIGURE 1. A typical structure design and hotbed, consider the plants to be grown. Hardy plants such as cabbage need only simple, inexpensive facilities, but heat-loving plants such as peppers and eggplants qualities. The heartwoods from cedar and redwood provide should have more elaborate facilities for successful excellent rot resistance as does pressure-treated lumber. production in some of the colder areas of Montana. Pine, fir and spruce need to be treated to increase rot resistance.
    [Show full text]
  • GREENHOUSE MANUAL an Introductory Guide for Educators
    GREENHOUSE MANUAL An Introductory Guide for Educators UNITED STATES BOTANIC GARDEN cityblossoms GREENHOUSE MANUAL An Introductory Guide for Educators A publication of the National Center for Appropriate Technology in collaboration with the United States Botanic Garden and City Blossoms UNITED STATES BOTANIC GARDEN United States Botanic Garden (USBG) 100 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20001 202.225.8333 | www.usbg.gov Mailing Address: 245 First Street, SW Washington, DC 20515 The U.S. Botanic Garden (USBG) is dedicated to demonstrating the aesthetic, cultural, economic, therapeutic, and ecological importance of plants to the well-being of humankind. The USBG fosters the exchange of ideas and information relevant to national and international partnerships. National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) 3040 Continental Drive, Butte, MT 59702 800.275.6228 | www.ncat.org The National Center for Appropriate Technology’s (NCAT) mission is to help people by championing small-scale, local, and sustainable solutions to reduce poverty, promote healthy communities, and protect natural resources. NCAT’s ATTRA Program is committed to providing high-value information and technical assistance to farmers, ranchers, Extension agents, educators, and others involved in sustainable agriculture in the United States. For more information on ATTRA and to access its publications, including this Greenhouse Manual: An Introductory Guide for Educators, visit www.attra.ncat.org or call the ATTRA toll-free hotline at 800.346.9140. cityblossoms City Blossoms is a nonprofit dedicated to fostering healthy communities by developing creative, kid-driven green spaces. Applying their unique brand of gardens, science, art, healthy living, and community building, they “blossom” in neighborhoods where kids, their families, and neighbors may not otherwise have access to green spaces.
    [Show full text]
  • The Tennessee Vegetable Garden: Season Extension Methods
    THE BACKYARD SERIES W 346-F BACKYARD VEGETABLES THE TENNESSEE VEGETABLE GARDEN SEASON EXTENSION METHODS Natalie Bumgarner, Assistant Professor and UT Extension Residential and Consumer Horticulture Specialist Department of Plant Sciences Vegetable production is increasingly of conditions — thus extending the popular for Tennessee residents. THE WHY AND growing season. Growing vegetables at home WHAT OF SEASON This practice of season extension allows provides financial and nutritional EXTENSION gardeners to have some control over benefits through the bounty of the environment around their crops a fresh harvest, and the activity (roots and/or shoots) to enhance One of the basic facts of gardening enhances personal health and productivity or maintain survival until is that crops will grow, develop and well-being. However, a basic conditions are more appropriate for produce when temperatures are growth. Certainly there are limits, but understanding of soils, site selection appropriate. Gardeners carefully plant adding an extra few days to weeks and crop maintenance is required cool- and warm-season crops to grow to the growing season can be quite before backyard growers can take during the time of year that targets useful in vegetable gardens. Methods full advantage of the benefits of their ideal temperature range. Managing are divided into two main groups: home food production. To meet crops according to surrounding management practices that can extend conditions can work very well and fit these needs, this series of fact growing periods and structures or the needs of many gardeners. However, sheets has been prepared by UT materials that can be used to alter gardeners have the option of altering Extension to inform home gardeners temperatures and extend seasons.
    [Show full text]
  • A GUIDE to SEASON EXTENSION for Illinois Specialty Crop Growers
    A GUIDE to SEASON EXTENSION for Illinois Specialty Crop Growers Terra Brockman, Cara Cummings, Jeff Hake Cover photo of Henry’s Farm, Congerville, IL by Terra Brockman Henry Brockman of Henry’s Farm got creative with season extension, using every bucket and basket he could find to create warmer microclimates around each tender transplant. Because if you’ve invested in great cultivars, and a hoophouse to start them in, and then transplanted them all to the fields in mid-May, you need to make sure they won’t all die when a late frost is predicted. And yes, they survived! ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Land Connection thanks the following people for their valuable contributions of time and expertise as we developed this guide: Lorien Carsey of Blue Moon Farm, Urbana, Illinois Alisa DeMarco of Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery, Champaign, Illinois Marty Gray of Gray Farms, Watseka, Illinois Marnie Record of the Illinois Organic Growers Association Clay Yapp of Sola Gratia Farm, Champaign, Illinois We also thank Kira Santiago for her designing of this guide, and Tim Meyers for his excellent recording and editing of our three case-study videos. Federal funds for this project were provided by the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program of the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service, through the Illinois Department of Agriculture. TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgements .......................................................2 Introduction .............................................................4 What is Season Extension? .................................................5
    [Show full text]
  • Tiffany Sues As LVMH Scraps $16.2 Billion
    P2JW254000-5-A00100-17FFFF5178F ***** THURSDAY,SEPTEMBER 10,2020~VOL. CCLXXVI NO.60 WSJ.com HHHH $4.00 DJIA 27940.47 À 439.58 1.6% NASDAQ 11141.56 À 2.7% STOXX 600 369.65 À 1.6% 10-YR. TREAS. g 6/32 , yield 0.702% OIL $38.05 À $1.29 GOLD $1,944.70 À $11.70 EURO $1.1804 YEN 106.18 Midday, SaN Francisco: Wildfires Cast Eerie Hue Over West TikTok What’s News Parent Is In Talks Business&Finance To Avoid ikTok’sChinese parent, TByteDance, is discuss- ing with the U.S. government U.S. Sale possible arrangementsthat would allowthe video- sharing app to avoid afull ByteDance, Trump sale of itsU.S.operations. A1 administration discuss LVMH said it wasbacking options as deadline for out of its$16.2 billion take- over of Tiffany. TheU.S.jew- unloading assets looms eler said it filed alawsuit in Delaware ChanceryCourt to TikTok’sChinese parent, enforce the agreement. A1, A8 ByteDanceLtd., is discussing An EU privacyregulator with the U.S. government pos- sent Facebook apreliminary sible arrangementsthat would order to suspend datatrans- allow the popular video-shar- fers to the U.S. about itsEU S ing app to avoid a full sale of users in a potentially prec- PRES its U.S. operations, people fa- edent-setting challenge. A1 miliar with the matter said. TED U.S. stocks rebounded CIA SO By Miriam Gottfried, afterathree-session selloff AS in shares of big tech firms, G/ Georgia Wells with the Nasdaq,S&P 500 and Kate Davidson and Dowgaining 2.7%, 2% RISBER ERIC Discussions around such an and 1.6%, respectively.
    [Show full text]
  • Town of Cohasset
    , *'W'--jV »;r' vi'54-':>' res 4 COHASSET TOWN REPORT 1940 EDWARD L. STEVENS BORN OCTOBER 26, 1863 DIED SEPTEMBER 30, 1940 Town Accountant 1910 - 1940 Sealer Weights and Measures 1910, 1911, 1912 Auditor 1911 ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN OF THE FINANCIAL AFFAIRS OF THE Town of Cohasset AND THE Report of Other Town Officers For the Year Ending December 31, 1940 Sanderson Brothers North AbIngton, Massachusetts INDEX Assessors, Board of 132 Cohasset Free Public Library 136 Collector of Taxes 117 Fire Department 125 Forest Warden 124 Harbor Master 142 Health Department 130 Highway Surveyor 129 Jury List 118 Moth Superintendent 123 Old Age Assistance, Bureau of 140 Paul Pratt Memorial Library 137 Planning Board 143 Police Department 120 Public Welfare, Board of 135 Registrars, Board of 47 School Department 165 Sealer of Weights and Meiasures 122 Selective Service Registration 122 Selectmen, Board of 135 State Audit of Accounts 144 Balance Sheet, Dec. 31, 1940 161 Town Accountant: Receipts 48 Expenditures 52 Town Clerk: Town Officers and Committees 3 Annual Town Meeting, March 2, 1940 9 Election of Officers, March 9, 1940 17 Vital Statistics 33 Town Treasurer 115 Tree Warden 123 W. P. A 131 Annual Report, Town of Cohasset, 1940 TOWN OFFICERS, 1940-1941 TOWN RECORDS Elected by Ballot Moderator ROBERT B. JAMES Town Clerk WILLIAM H. MORRIS Term expires March, 1941 Selectmen, Assessors and Board of Public Welfare EVERETT W. WHEELWRIGHT Term expires March, 1943 KENDALL T. BATES Term expires March, 1942 DARIUS W. GILBERT, V.S Term expires March, 1941 Treasurer MARY P.
    [Show full text]
  • Sequential Planting of Cool Season Crops in a High Tunnel
    Many Crops, Many Plantings to Maximize High Tunnel Production Efficiency ©Pam Dawling 2018 Twin Oaks Community, Central Virginia Author of Sustainable Market Farming and The Year-Round Hoophouse SustainableMarketFarming.com facebook.com/SustainableMarketFarming What’s in this Presentation 1. Multi-crop Hoophouses 2. Suitable Crops for Cold Weather 3. Suitable Crops for Warm Weather 4. Suitable Crops for Hot Weather 5. Packing More Crops in: Follow-on Crops, Filler Crops, Interplanting, Bare-root Transplanting 6. Succession Planting 7. Crop Rotations 8. Planning and Scheduling 9. Record-keeping 10. Resources I live and farm at Twin Oaks Community, in central Virginia. We’re in zone 7, with an average last frost April 30 and average first frost October 14. Our goal is to feed our intentional community of 100 people with a wide variety of organic produce year round. Our Hoophouse at Twin Oaks • We have one 30’ x 96’ FarmTek ClearSpan gothic arch hoophouse. • We put it up in 2003, and like many growers we had the primary goal of growing more winter greens, early tomatoes and peppers. • We grow many different crops, rotating them as best we can. • Our hoophouse is divided lengthwise into five 4’ beds and a 2’ bed along each edge. • Our paths are a skinny 12” wide - maximum growing space. Winter Hoophouses Protection of 2 layers of plastic and an air gap: 8F (5C) warmer than outside on cold nights . Single layer hoophouses are not much warmer at night than outdoors. Plants tolerate colder temps than they do outside, even without adding any inner rowcover In our double layer hoophouse in zone 7, without inner rowcover, salad greens survive when it’s 14F (-10C) outside.
    [Show full text]