High Tunnel Tomato Production

1
High Tunnel Tomato Production
Amanda Sears Extension Associate for
Horticulture University of Kentucky
2
What is a high tunnel?
3
Happy Tomatoes

• 1 water a week
• Temperatures
• Day 70-75F
• Night 62-64F
• Frost and cold (50F) sensitive
• Require 70-80 days from seeding to first harvest

4
Changes In Light Over the Year
Courtesy of Dr. Robert Anderson, University of
Kentucky, Department of Horticulture
5
Tomatoes

• Mt. Spring
• FLA 91
• Amelia

6
Tomatoes

• Seeded 7-5-06
• Transplanted 8-10-06
• In row spacing 20 inches
• Row spacing 5.5 feet
• Rows 48 feet long
• Covered 9-26-06
• Harvest 10/15, 11/3, 11/12, 11/27

7
Harvest

• White Star Stage

8
Normal versus Actual Low Temperatures in October
9
Normal versus Actual High Temperatures in October
10
Daily Average Temperatures in High Tunnel in
October
11
Tomatoes in Field October 13, 2006
12
Tomatoes in High Tunnel October 13, 2006
13
Tomatoes in High Tunnel October 13, 2006
14
High Tunnel Tomato Results
15
Prices of Tomatoes at the Fairview, KY Produce
Auction
16
Tomato Shipping and Movement
17
High Tunnel Tomato Results
18
Budget
19
Additions

• Electricity
• Fan
• Condensation
• Air circulation
• Pollination

20
Additions

• Heater
• Water spout and fertilizer injector

21
Problems Encountered

• Malformed fruit
• Related to cool weather during pollination
• Genetic Mt. Spring

22
Problems Encountered

• Scaly Fruit
• Thrips?
• Cool weather during flowering
• Physical damage when young

23
Problems Encountered

• Edge Effect

24
Changes

• Plant at least two weeks earlier
• Need to start picking prior to October 15
• Some recommend seeding date of July 4, planting
  no later than July 20
• Use a fan for better air circulation
• Leave plastic sheeting over door to hold in more
  heat
• Black plastic vs. white plastic mulch
• Have alternative ideas of where to sell produce

25
High Tunnel Useful Information and Resources

• The Center for Plasticulture Penn State
  http//plasticulture.cas.psu.edu
• American Society of Plasticulture
  http//www.plasticulture.org
• Rutgers Cooperative Extension (Grower Resources
  High Tunnel Construction Information)
  http//rutgerstomato.org/grower
• Penn State University Ag-Alternatives
  (Information on Marketing and Production)
  http//agalternatives.aers.psu.edu

26
High Tunnel Useful Information and Resources

• Hightunnel.org (USDA Web site for Great Plains)
  http//www.hightunnels.org
• High Tunnel Project Vegetable Program College of
  Ag, University of Saskatchewan
  http//www.usask.ca/agriculture/plantsci/vegetable
  /vegetable/vhightunnel.htm
• NC State University High Tunnels.
  http//www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/greenhouse_veg/
  topics/topics-pages/HighTunnels.html
• ATTRA Season Extension Techniques for Market
  Gardeners http//www.attra.org/attra-pub/seasonext
  .html

27
High Tunnel Useful Information and Resources

• Martins Produce Supplies (greenhouse and
  vegetable supplies) ph 606 787-9389
• 5627 S. Fork Rd.
• Liberty, KY 42539
• Deerfield Supplies (greenhouse and vegetable
  supplies and equipment) ph 270 265-2425
• 2825 Stringtown Rd.,
• Elkton, KY 42220
• Rain-Flo Irrigation (irrigation and vegetable
  equipment)
• 884 Center Church Rd. ph 270 265-2425
• East Earl, PA 17519