tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81146109080594479662024-03-13T08:31:07.463-04:00Indiana High TunnelsHigh Tunnels - also known as unheated greenhouses - allow producers to extend their growing season to produce during more months of the year. This blog was created to document the activities of a North Central - Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (NC-SARE) Professional Development Grant to Purdue University, as well as other High Tunnel events and activities in Indiana. Opinions expressed on this site may not represent the official views of Purdue University.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8114610908059447966.post-26168808918958263332012-07-24T05:56:00.000-04:002012-07-24T05:56:55.121-04:00High Tunnel Crop Talk Notes July 16, 2012<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">High Tunnel Crop Talk Notes July 16, 2012</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Summary: </b><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 115%;">We reviewed recommended sanitation practices
after a tomato crop is finished to reduce disease in following crops.</span></span><br />
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<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Discussion: </b><span style="background-color: white;">Dan Egel offers the following suggestions
after finishing with a tomato crop in a high tunnel or hoophouse to reduce
disease pressure on future tomato crops.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">1. If possible, allow three years between
tomato crops in the same structure and location. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">2. If three years without tomatoes isn't
possible, take tomato plants out of the structure. Compost or bury the plant material. If
composting, do not use compost on future solanaceous crops unless the compost
has been well-managed so that all portions of the compost reach temperatures
high enough to kill plant pathogens.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">3. Landscape fabric on the floor of the
structure makes it easier to sweep and get plant parts out. After sweeping the
fabric could be sprayed down with a disinfectant. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">These next two suggestions have potential
to reduce disease, but they should be considered more experimental because we
don't understand the cost/benefit relationship as well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">4. Close the tunnel up and put clear
plastic over bare soil to solarize the soil. It might help to kill
pathogens. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">5. Plant a bio-active mustard cover crop
and incorporate it into the soil to reduce problems with soilborne diseases. It
might be effective against white mold and fusarium crown and root rot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 115%;">6.
Be aware that some diseases, for instance white mold, could carry over to
winter crops, because they have a wide host spectrum.</span><b> </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Notes by L. Maynard. Please get in touch with corrections
or additions, or just post a comment.</span></div>
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07776397947459476801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8114610908059447966.post-22070557749824445642012-07-04T10:45:00.000-04:002012-07-04T10:45:28.980-04:00High Tunnel Crop Talk Notes July 2, 2012<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>High Tunnel Crop Talk Notes July 2, 2012</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Summary:</b> Hot and dry conditions have prevailed in the region over the last two weeks until storms over the past weekend. High winds from those storms have damaged tunnels in some areas. Yield and eating quality of tomatoes from high tunnels have been good this year, and demand and prices have been good. Tomato harvest in tunnels will be ending in July for many growers who will be moving to harvest field tomatoes. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Join us again on July 16, 2012. 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. Eastern/11:30 - 12:30 Central. Point your web browser to <a href="https://gomeet.itap.purdue.edu/htct/">https://gomeet.itap.purdue.edu/htct/</a> and click on the phone icon to be dialed in to the call. Or participate without a computer by dialing 1-866-492-6283. </span><br />
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<a name='more'></a><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Reports:</b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Throckmorton PAC, Meigs Horticulture Research Facility: In the experiment to look at how fertility amendments mineralize, </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">sweet peppers transplanted May 3 have been doing well the last month. T</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">hey are starting to get mature fruit. </span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qeLf5_B3IqM/T_MoJ-AY2nI/AAAAAAAAAAY/ypcYNa__EEc/s1600/Slide1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qeLf5_B3IqM/T_MoJ-AY2nI/AAAAAAAAAAY/ypcYNa__EEc/s200/Slide1.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Overview of peppers in high tunnel.<br />
Photo by Matt Rudisill.</span> </span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Pepper fruit. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Photo by Matt Rudisill.</span><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">The treatments with fertilizer are doing pretty well. There are some observable differences in numbers and size of fruit between fertilizer treatments. Leaf greenness measurements have shown no differences yet. Blossom end rot is occurring in one replication of the composted chicken manure treatment. </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(Matt Rudisill)</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eslHJgpB7y8/T_Mr19wooGI/AAAAAAAAAAs/hJ7Kf_dmxIc/s1600/Slide3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eslHJgpB7y8/T_Mr19wooGI/AAAAAAAAAAs/hJ7Kf_dmxIc/s200/Slide3.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Blossom end rot on pepper fruit. <br />
Photo by Matt Rudisill. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1BzW_ADm9Yo/T_Mr2EFpneI/AAAAAAAAAA0/wRBdGjFienk/s1600/Slide4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1BzW_ADm9Yo/T_Mr2EFpneI/AAAAAAAAAA0/wRBdGjFienk/s200/Slide4.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Blossom end rot </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">beginning </span><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">on pepper fruit. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo by Matt Rudisill.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Question: Has crown fruit been pruned? Often in greenhouse pepper production crown flowers are removed because if left to develop those fruit often become wedged in between branches and are misshapen and unmarketable. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Answer: No. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Question: How much hotter in the tunnel than outside has it been? Answer: Last week it was 100°F outside and 105°F in the tunnel. Roll-up sides have been open all the way and upper vents have also been open.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Question: What is the plant spacing? Answer: Two feet apart in rows, about 1 foot between rows on a bed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Question: How are plants irrigated? Answer: There are two lines of T-tape in each raised bed. Irrigation is run daily for an hour. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Southwest Ohio: A storm went through Friday with high winds and took out power. Some tunnels in the area have been damaged, and some plastic and shade cloth have been ripped off. Prior to that it has been very hot, in the mid to high 90's and low 100's, and very dry. Growers have covered tunnels with shade cloth and whitewash to keep things cool. Tomato yields and production are great so far; tomatoes are doing very well. At this time people are beginning to see blossom drop, probably due to the heat. It has gotten too hot for the cool season crops. People are getting busy in the field and so management in tunnels is not as intensive, and they are beginning to see leaf mold and irrigation management issues. Some yellow shoulder is also showing up. Most growers who don't plan to continue harvesting tomatoes in tunnels throughout the summer have topped the plants, and they will finish the crop by the end of July. They intend to switch to their field tomatoes. Some will plant a fall or winter crop in the tunnel after cleaning it out; others will not use the tunnel until next season. Tomatoes planted in the tunnel in Feb. were ready at the end of May. One grower with a 30 ft. X 120 ft. house, has been harvesting 1 ton of tomatoes per week, and selling them retail at $3.00/lb. Demand for tomatoes has been great, with prices $2.00 to $2.50/lb. even for Number 2's at wholesale. The flavor of the tomatoes from tunnels has been really good. Interest in new tunnels is still strong, with half a dozen NRCS EQIP-funded tunnels going up, and another 6 or 8 approved for funding. (Brad Bergefurd)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Daviess County: It has been hot and dry. Storms moved through yesterday, with rainfall varying from about 0.9 to 0.1 inch. People are busy harvesting tomatoes in tunnels. The Daviess County Produce Auction is distributing about 2 tons of tomatoes 3 times a week. Last Friday Number 1's in 10-lb. boxes averaged $11.16/box, with a high of $31.00. Number 2's averaged $7.20 with a high of $15.00 The auction will fax price and volume reports after each auction on request; call 812-486-2445 to be added to the fax list. (Scott Monroe)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Southwest Indiana: Fusarium crown and root rot was observed in one high tunnel tomato planting last week. This disease is caused by a different organism than Fusarium wilt. Symptoms of the disease include wilting. A lesion may appear on the outside of the stem, and internally there will be discoloration at the base of the stem. In contrast, with Fusarium wilt, no external lesion would be present and internal discoloration would go all the way up the stem. </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Fusarium crown and root rot </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> could have been introduced in soil, seed, or transplants. There are no curative measures. Practices that may reduce the problem in future years include solarizing the soil after this year's tomato crop, and planting a brassica cover crop and incorporating it into the soil. </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(Dan Egel and Shubin Saha) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Question: Would grafting help? Answer: It may help if it makes the plant more vigorous. 'Maxifort', a common rootstock, is reported to be resistant to Fusarium crown and root rot as well as Fusarium wilt, so grafting onto that rootstock should help.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Southwest Purdue Ag Center:</span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The 10 tomato varieties planted in tunnels on March 28 have been harvested since the last week of May. A field day / twilight meeting on July 12 will include a tour of the trial. (See the registration flyer <a href="http://www3.ag.purdue.edu/counties/knox/Hot%20Topic%20Images/twilighttourpub_final.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>.) They will probably wrap up the crop in the middle to end of July. Varietal differences in tolerance to changes in environmental conditions are apparent. Temperatures have been high over the past few weeks. Highs of 112°F to 113°F have been recorded in the tunnels in the last few days. This is about 5 degrees warmer than outside. As a result of the high temperatures, flowering may stop soon, and some leaf roll is occurring. There may also be persistent growth regulator injury from the exposure earlier in the season–there are some odd flower clusters, with an unusually large distance between flowers. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">At the start of the season, the crop was irrigated every other day, and based on tensiometers at 6-inch depth, the soil moisture tension was in the desired range of 10 to 20 centibars. Fruit developed blossom end rot (BER) at a high rate. Blossom end rot is associated with low calcium levels in the blossom end of the fruit. Leaf tissue analysis showed calcium levels almost excessive, so a lack of calcium in the soil did not seem to be the likely cause. Uneven or inadequate soil moisture is known to promote BER. They switched to watering 4 times a day, supplying about 1/2 gallon per day per plant. Watering begins just after sun-up and ends just before sundown. A battery-operated solenoid valve is used to turn the irrigation on and off. This particular system has the capability to run 6 different irrigation programs, with varying length of time for the irrigations. The incidence of BER is much lower since this new irrigation timing has been implemented. (Shubin Saha)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Q&A:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Some growers use sprinkler or mist nozzles inside the high tunnel to reduce air temperature. Comments? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Shubin Saha reported on a trial he and others did in Florida comparing misting and Aluminet shade cloth for a pepper crop in a high-roofed, passively-ventilated greenhouse. They found higher photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) with mist vs. shade cloth. Both systems reduced air temperature: average daily temperatures were 81.0°F (mist), 81.9°F (shade) and 84.7°F (no cooling) in 2004, and 82.9°F (mist), 87.3°F (shade) and 87.4°F (no cooling) in 2005. The shade cloth was more expensive than misting. With cheaper shade cloth (more like what growers in this area use), shade would probably be less expensive than installing a misting system. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In this area, in low humidity conditions like this year, misting would probably work. In higher humidity conditions, like Florida, or our typical year, misting is not an efficient method of cooling. Another concern with misting is the likelihood of increasing foliar diseases. No increased disease was noted in the pepper crop in the trial above, but in a tomato crop there are several diseases that would be a concern. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Notes by L. Maynard. Please get in touch with corrections or additions, or just post a comment. </span><br />
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07776397947459476801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8114610908059447966.post-82709528318163046552012-06-28T13:56:00.001-04:002012-06-28T13:56:21.230-04:00High Tunnel Crop Talk Notes June 18, 2012<b>High Tunnel Crop Talk Notes June 18, 2012</b><br />
[repost]<br />
<b>Summary:</b> Dr. David Conner, Univ. of Vermont, tells about research on economics of 12 hoophouses in Michigan: average net revenue $3000/yr and average effective 'wage' $9/hour. Farmers with higher profits put in more time in the 'shoulder' months of March, April and October. Current farm reports: in southwest Michigan, tomato and summer squash harvest from tunnels has begun. In northwest Indiana ground for a new tunnel is being prepared with summer green manure crops and compost.<br />
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Join us again on July 2, 2012. 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. Eastern/11:30 - 12:30 Central. Point your web browser to https://gomeet.itap.purdue.edu/htct/ <https://gomeet.itap.purdue.edu/htct/> and click on the phone icon to be dialed in to the call. Or participate without a computer by dialing 1-866-492-6283. <br />
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Dr. David Conner from Univ. of Vermont presented results of his economic research on high tunnel production in Michigan. Additional information is available in publications listed in the slides. Here's the link to the publication on business plans for hoophouses derived from this project: 'Model Business Plan for Season Extension with Hoophouses' <a href="http://www.mottgroup.msu.edu/uploads/files/59/HoopHouseBulletin.pdf">http://www.mottgroup.msu.edu/uploads/files/59/HoopHouseBulletin.pdf</a> <br />
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Here are his slides: <br />
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<b>Reports and Discussion:</b><br />
Southeast Michigan: Last year a farm's first hoophouse resulted in much better yield and quality for tomatoes in the hoophouse than tomatoes in the field. In 2011, field tomatoes suffered first from dry conditions, then 3 inches of rain all at once, then hail, and then broken trellises. This year all tomatoes are in the hoophouse, and the first fruit has just been harvested. Summer squash from the tunnel will be harvested this Friday.<br />
During the winter of 2011-2012, the farm produced salad mix, kale, chard and baby spinach in the hoophouse and sold them to local customers through online sales. This system worked very well. The kale flowered (bolted) this spring (2012) and they went ahead and sold it as 'kale raab', instead of the standard 'broccoli raab.' Customers liked it and repeatedly bought the kale with flowers. Greens are washed in tubs on cinder blocks in the front of hoophouse. They try to schedule washing with sunnry weather and use insulated neoprene gloves. Other washing systems for greens are described by the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/cool_tools/wash_stations. <br />
The hoophouse was funded from the NRCS/EQIP program. It is covered with double poly and in winter months crops are covered with row covers supported on wire cables attached to t-posts. Other people have used plumbing conduit to support row cover over the crops. <br />
The soil was very low organic matter. Leaf compost and peat were applied to beds before planting. Beds are mulched with pine needles or leaves after planting, and more compost applied on top of the mulch. Before each subsequent crop, additional leaf compost is applied to the beds and worked in with broad fork. The rate is about five 5-gallon buckets for every 24-ft. by 3-ft. bed. The house is arranged with 3-ft. paths along each edge, a 1-ft. path in the center, and 24-ft. X 3 ft. beds.<br />
This farm's owner trained at the Michigan State University Student Organic Farm.<br />
<br />
Northwest Indiana: A farm in northwest Indiana reports that the first high tunnel is under construction with plans to produce winter crops this year. A green manure of sudangrass, cowpea and buckwheat has been seeded following the prior crop of crimson clover. The cowpea was chosen for its taproot and nitrogen fixating ability, the sudangrass for biomass, and the buckwheat for a quick cover and soil fertility benefits. The mix will be mowed which should make the sudangrass tiller and form a thick stand. All of these crops should be killed by frost. They have been used on this farm in the past in advance of garlic seed production. 20 tons per acre of leaf compost has also been applied.<br />
<br />
<b>Information Resources:</b><br />
For additional information on the economics of high tunnel vegetable production, check out the budgets recently published by the Leopold Center at Iowa State University. The information is based on production record of five Iowa farmers. Vegetable Production Budgets for a High Tunnel, by Linda Naeve and Craig Chase, ISU Extension PM 3025. http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/sites/default/files/pubs-and-papers/2012-05-vegetable-production-budgets-high-tunnel.pdf<br />
<br />
Notes by L. Maynard. Please get in touch with corrections or additions, or just post a comment.<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8114610908059447966.post-40267251416408104042012-06-04T23:56:00.000-04:002012-06-05T00:00:26.863-04:00High Tunnel Crop Talk Notes June 4, 2012 <style>
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</style><b>High Tunnel Crop Talk Notes June 4, 2012</b>
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<b>Summary:</b> Peppers in experimental trials at Meigs Farm are
blooming; possible nutritional problems observed in red raspberries; white
druplets seen in blackberries; blossom end rot and zippering of tomatoes
observed; pests observed on tomatoes include aphids, cabbage loopers, yellow
striped armyworm, and stink bug (eggs only).</div>
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Join us again on June 18, 2012. 12:30–1:30 p.m.
Eastern/11:30-12:30 Central. Point your web browser to
<a href="https://gomeet.itap.purdue.edu/htct/">https://gomeet.itap.purdue.edu/htct/</a> and click on the phone icon to be dialed
in to the call, or just dial 1-866-492-6283. </div>
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Dr. David Conner from Univ. of Vermont will join us to
discuss results of his economic research on high tunnel production in Michigan.
You might be interested in reading some of the information in advance. See
'Model Business Plan for Season Extension with Hoophouses' at <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.mottgroup.msu.edu/uploads/files/59/HoopHouseBulletin.pdf">http://www.mottgroup.msu.edu/uploads/files/59/HoopHouseBulletin.pdf</a>,
and 'Hoophouse Contributions to Farm Profitability and Food System
Sustainability: Lessons from Michigan' at
<a href="http://www.joe.org/joe/2011february/tt9.php">http://www.joe.org/joe/2011february/tt9.php</a>. There is also an abstract '</span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Determinants of Hoophouse
Profitability: A Case Study of 12 Novice Michigan Farmers' available at <a href="http://horttech.ashspublications.org/content/22/2/215.abstract">http://horttech.ashspublications.org/content/22/2/215.abstract</a>.</span></div>
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<b>Reports: </b></div>
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Adams County: No major changes since two weeks ago. It is a
little cooler now; in particular there have been some cool nights.</div>
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DeKalb County: Last week saw 0.1 to 0.3 inches of rain, the
first in 3 weeks. It is very dry. First cutting of hay has been taken.</div>
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South Central Indiana: Researching tunnel type to purchase
with a NRCS grant. The 'nicer' tunnels seem to cost more than NRCS grants
provide. </div>
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Question: Does anyone have an opinion on the different sizes
of pipe? Another grower I talked to said the 14 gauge pipe we were looking at
from a certain company may not be great. (Readers, if you have an opinion,
please write a comment, or send it by email to emaynard(at)purdue.edu)</div>
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Throckmorton PAC, Meigs Horticulture Research Facility:</div>
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Sweet peppers transplanted May 3 into black plastic mulch
are flowering. These are part of an experiment to look at how organic fertility
amendments are mineralized in the soil. There are two organic fertility
treatments (green manure (hairy vetch) plus alfalfa meal or composted chicken
manure), a conventional fertility treatment with urea as the nitrogen source,
and a 'control' treatment with no added nutrient source. Each treatment has 8
plants and is about 5.5 ft. by 10.5 ft. Treatments are replicated in the tunnel
and also in adjacent plots out of the tunnel. </div>
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For the green manure treatment, hairy vetch was seeded at 35
lb./acre as a cover crop in November 2011. Vetch didn’t grow much in winter,
but took off in Feb. and March. This photo was taken in late March and shows
the vetch and other treatments. The next photo shows nodules on the roots of hairy vetch.
It is in these nodules that the symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria live and
convert nitrogen from the air into forms used by the bacteria and the plant. </div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fqUgt2jCi9k/T811qol5V4I/AAAAAAAAAFI/k-j5rpezLaE/s1600/1_red.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fqUgt2jCi9k/T811qol5V4I/AAAAAAAAAFI/k-j5rpezLaE/s320/1_red.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hairy vetch in high tunnel. Photo by M. Rudisill.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Soi_vLhReu8/T811tk5PS5I/AAAAAAAAAFQ/aEG5cezgyoA/s1600/2_red.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Soi_vLhReu8/T811tk5PS5I/AAAAAAAAAFQ/aEG5cezgyoA/s320/2_red.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nodules on roots of hairy vetch. Photo by M. Rudisill.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zZ5xqd1beKo/T811wCVA-OI/AAAAAAAAAFY/5nYDHco8bMk/s1600/3_red.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zZ5xqd1beKo/T811wCVA-OI/AAAAAAAAAFY/5nYDHco8bMk/s320/3_red.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hairy vetch plots after incoporation. Photo by M. Rudisill.</td></tr>
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Vetch was incorporated April 18. Since this is
an experiment, hairy vetch was pulled up, weighed, and then tilled in - quite a
difficult process. It was incorporated 2 wks prior to planting. The photo
shows the plots after incorporation.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PfUXUIbuS3Y/T811ymsFP7I/AAAAAAAAAFg/D59D9oq8Sfs/s1600/4_red.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PfUXUIbuS3Y/T811ymsFP7I/AAAAAAAAAFg/D59D9oq8Sfs/s320/4_red.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peppers shortly after transplanting on May 3. Photo by M. Rudisill.</td></tr>
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The final photo shows peppers shortly after transplanting. </div>
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Blooms present on peppers at transplanting were removed, as
well as any flowers in the first two or 3 weeks after transplanting. </div>
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No insect pests have been noticed in the tunnel. Peppers
planted outside about two weeks ago have noticed whiteflies. (Matt Rudisill)</div>
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Southwest Indiana: Red (Joan J.) and black (Mac Black)
primocame-fruiting raspberries in tunnel are showing interveinal chlorosis
and/or bronzing. It is probably a nutritional disorder. The problem is severe
enough on black raspberries that fruit will not ripen properly. See the photos
below. </div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JBC-ZPh9XMs/T814MiBioKI/AAAAAAAAAFw/BALFrYdjy3s/s1600/JoanJ_3_bordelon_red.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JBC-ZPh9XMs/T814MiBioKI/AAAAAAAAAFw/BALFrYdjy3s/s320/JoanJ_3_bordelon_red.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Joan J' red raspberries showing internveinal chlorosis and <br />bronzing. Photo by B. Bordelon.</td></tr>
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These are very large plants. They were planted last year, on raised
beds, on plastic mulch. </div>
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If it is a nutritional disorder, it is possible that the
vigorous growth in high tunnels combined with the limited rooting volume (only
in the portion of the soil wet by drip irrigation) has contributed to the
problem. In an outdoor situation, blackberries rarely have nutritional
problems. Red raspberries more commonly have such problems in a field
situation.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LQsgBw1FtnE/T814OFQ88OI/AAAAAAAAAF4/Hj7KvkljHVU/s1600/MacBlack2_bordelon_red.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LQsgBw1FtnE/T814OFQ88OI/AAAAAAAAAF4/Hj7KvkljHVU/s320/MacBlack2_bordelon_red.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Mac Black' black raspberries showing inteveinal chlorosis<br />and necrosis. Photo by B. Bordelon.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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White druplet disorder was observed on blackberries in a
high tunnel. This disorder is relatively common in hot years. It has been
attributed to UV light, heat, and possibly stink bug. In this case, UV light
seems unlikely as a cause since the plastic should block UV light. Stink bug
also seems unlikely because injury is only observed on druplets on the upper
side of the fruit. (Bruce Bordelon)</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Chu0CU5FQLA/T815vdMYevI/AAAAAAAAAGA/KF7SWnArPT0/s1600/Blackberry_whitedruplets_bordelon-trim_red.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="176" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Chu0CU5FQLA/T815vdMYevI/AAAAAAAAAGA/KF7SWnArPT0/s200/Blackberry_whitedruplets_bordelon-trim_red.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White druplets on blackberry. Photo by B. Bordelon.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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West Central Indiana:</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tHWBPKufX_M/T816bZRS35I/AAAAAAAAAGI/YZbddSVQQoM/s1600/tom-yellow-leaf-plantIMG_3096_red.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tHWBPKufX_M/T816bZRS35I/AAAAAAAAAGI/YZbddSVQQoM/s320/tom-yellow-leaf-plantIMG_3096_red.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Interveinal chlorosis is visible on one lower leaf<br />at right center; otherwise plants look good. <br />Photo by D. Egel.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uqO1vhDZZ08/T816dwe_1zI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/dsFWr1gOa9c/s1600/tom-yellow-leaf_dse_IMG_3094_red.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uqO1vhDZZ08/T816dwe_1zI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/dsFWr1gOa9c/s320/tom-yellow-leaf_dse_IMG_3094_red.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Close view of interveinal chlorosis on lower tomato leaf. <br />Photo by D. Egel.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Interveinal chlorosis was noted on lower, older leaves of
tomato plants that otherwise looked healthy. No disease, insects, or mites were
observed. </div>
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Yellowing of older leaves is a common symptom when nitrogen or other
mobile nutrients (magnesium, potassium) are moved from older leaves to younger
leaves. Interveinal chlorosis is a classic symptom of magnesium deficiency;
marginal chlorosis is typical of potassium deficiency. When restricted to older
leaves, the symptoms don't necessarily mean that the plant needs more
fertilizer. Regular tissue testing of recently mature leaves is the preferred
way to monitor nutritional status of the plant. If this type of leaf yellowing
is observed, it makes sense to look on the back side of the leaves to see
whether there is any disease or pest. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-67-ZWrcEaLY/T817ZdhMlBI/AAAAAAAAAGY/44AcSv9BeQk/s1600/aphid_dse_IMG_3089_red.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-67-ZWrcEaLY/T817ZdhMlBI/AAAAAAAAAGY/44AcSv9BeQk/s320/aphid_dse_IMG_3089_red.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aphids and cast exoskeletons on tomato leaf. Photo by D. Egel.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Aphids were also observed on tomatoes, see photo.
These are probably potato aphids. A number of materials are labeled for
control. Biocontrol may also be possible with the predatory wasp, Aphidius
colemani, illustrated in the image below. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pyesoXvFPQk/T819nRy-boI/AAAAAAAAAGg/_vC8gJxr1rs/s1600/HT-Crop+Talk-6-4-2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pyesoXvFPQk/T819nRy-boI/AAAAAAAAAGg/_vC8gJxr1rs/s320/HT-Crop+Talk-6-4-2012.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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This tiny wasp lays an egg in the
aphid, the egg hatches and the wasp larva feeds inside the aphid, eventually
emerging as an adult wasp. A parasitized aphid turns grey or tan and takes on a
more spherical shape so it is readily distinguished with the naked eye. These
wasps can be purchased and released, but there are also natural populations that
can help to provide control. Specific studies on their use under Indiana
conditions have not been conducted. The image also illustrates a parasitized grain aphid, a species that does not feed on broadleaf plants. This type of aphid was put on potted sorghum and placed
in a greenhouse to build up a population of aphids as food for the predatory
wasp. (Shubin Saha and Dan Egel)</div>
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Southwest Indiana, Southwest Purdue Ag Center:</div>
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Floral parts stuck to tomatoes can cause deformities in
tomato fruit. A result of this can be a zipper scar, a dark narrow scar running
from the stem scar towards the blossom end, with small horizontal crosshatches. </div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gtThjMd7sQc/T81_I5X8D5I/AAAAAAAAAGo/hBYiOzcFCVo/s1600/FloralPartsnotdetached-1_saha_red.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gtThjMd7sQc/T81_I5X8D5I/AAAAAAAAAGo/hBYiOzcFCVo/s320/FloralPartsnotdetached-1_saha_red.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tomato fruit deformed and with flower parts attached. <br />Photo by S. Saha.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p0FtgpdN2Ks/T81_O6fCDmI/AAAAAAAAAGw/bZMPmHl_YaE/s1600/FloralParts-2_saha_red.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p0FtgpdN2Ks/T81_O6fCDmI/AAAAAAAAAGw/bZMPmHl_YaE/s320/FloralParts-2_saha_red.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Double tomato fruit from fused flowers. Photo by S. Saha.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I0dbJMO0PdA/T81_Q7l40QI/AAAAAAAAAG4/2oulzcE8iWM/s1600/FloralParts-3_saha_red.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I0dbJMO0PdA/T81_Q7l40QI/AAAAAAAAAG4/2oulzcE8iWM/s320/FloralParts-3_saha_red.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tomato with zipper scar and hole into locule. Photo by S. Saha.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Sometimes in addition to the there is a hole into the locule. At SWPAC these
are showing up on the first and second flower clusters. In some cases flowers
have fused and two tomatoes develop stuck together. These tomatoes are probably
not marketable.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xkT4kSsDsUo/T82AeiH3HhI/AAAAAAAAAHA/qrC0JHAGHUs/s1600/Poor+Pollination+%282%29_red.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xkT4kSsDsUo/T82AeiH3HhI/AAAAAAAAAHA/qrC0JHAGHUs/s320/Poor+Pollination+%282%29_red.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Small fruit on a normally large-fruited tomato can be a symptom<br />of poor pollination or fertilization. Photo by S. Saha.<br /> </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0xcCqvQjNAI/T82Ajf8CMnI/AAAAAAAAAHI/KQ-BgXESNE0/s1600/PoorPollination_saha-red.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0xcCqvQjNAI/T82Ajf8CMnI/AAAAAAAAAHI/KQ-BgXESNE0/s320/PoorPollination_saha-red.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside of fruit shows reduce seed development on one side. <br />Photo by S. Saha.</td></tr>
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Poor pollination or fertilization has also been observed.
The tomatoes in the images above look like roma tomatoes, but they are a
beefsteak (large, round) variety. The small fruit can be related to poor
pollination or fertilization of ovules. These are from the first cluster.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Umc5zE63oqQ/T82BS9XARbI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/N5imHl2tRP0/s1600/BER-1_internal_saha_red.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Umc5zE63oqQ/T82BS9XARbI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/N5imHl2tRP0/s320/BER-1_internal_saha_red.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blossom end rot on tomato fruit, cross-section. Photo by S. Saha.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5jnEDhQK0Sg/T82BUoZul9I/AAAAAAAAAHY/FhYWlijsqOk/s1600/BER-2.JPG_saha_red.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5jnEDhQK0Sg/T82BUoZul9I/AAAAAAAAAHY/FhYWlijsqOk/s320/BER-2.JPG_saha_red.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blossom end rot on tomato fruit, external view. Photo by S. Saha.</td></tr>
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Blossom end rot has also shown up on tomato fruit, as shown
in the photos above.. The tan or brown sunken area at the blossom end often
extends into the fruit. This is associated with insufficient calcium at a
particular time, which is often due to insufficient water. These tomatoes
experienced temperatures over 100° on some days when it wasn't possible to keep
the tunnel cool enough. </div>
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Other pests Shubin has observed at SWPAC include: stink bugs
in the egg stage, cabbage looper, and yellow striped armyworm. All of these
have been managed in the experimental trials by hand removal. Yellow striped
armyworm has also been quite common in field plantings. (Shubin Saha)</div>
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Spider mites have been observed on tomatoes in tunnels in north central Indiana.</div>
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Question: </div>
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A problem on red raspberries was tentatively identified as
phytophthora. But it doesn't really look like phytophthora does on vegetable crops.
It looks somewhat like images of manganese deficiency in vegetable crops.
Tissue samples sent in three weeks ago looked good.</div>
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Bruce Bordelon recommends sending a sample of the root
system to the Plant and Pest Diagnostic Lab <a href="http://www.ppdl.purdue.edu/">http://www.ppdl.purdue.edu/</a>. They
can quickly test for phytophthora, which is a fairly common problem in wet
areas of fields. To test for nutrient deficiencies, follow recommendations in
The Midwest Small Fruit Pest Management Handbook <a href="https://mdc.itap.purdue.edu/item.asp?itemID=20110">https://mdc.itap.purdue.edu/item.asp?itemID=20110</a>.
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Notes by L. Maynard. Please get in touch with corrections or
additions, or just post a comment.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8114610908059447966.post-77154301800792543222012-05-23T17:52:00.001-04:002012-05-23T17:52:07.395-04:00<br />
<b>High Tunnel Crop Talk Notes 05-21-2012</b><br />
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<b>Summary:</b> Crops are progressing well with small fruit harvest underway, cukes close to harvest, tomato and pepper fruit developing. Tomato pith necrosis has been observed. <br />
<br />
Join us again on June 4, 2012. 12:30–1:30 p.m. Eastern/11:30-12:30 Central. Point your web browser to https://gomeet.itap.purdue.edu/htct/ and click on the phone icon to be dialed in to the call, or just dial 1-866-492-6283.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fQgmqcr9yWw/T71Wat_d6eI/AAAAAAAAAEU/L8LaA9qmReI/s1600/tomato_pith_necrosis_dse_IMG_5872.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Tomato pith necrosis" border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fQgmqcr9yWw/T71Wat_d6eI/AAAAAAAAAEU/L8LaA9qmReI/s320/tomato_pith_necrosis_dse_IMG_5872.JPG" title="Tomato pith necrosis" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tomato pith necrosis often causes the pith to appear rotten and the external stem to have necrotic lesions. Photo by Dan Egel.</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UEH5sSsX8QY/T71Wggk80OI/AAAAAAAAAEc/st3RMUlUFZE/s1600/IMG_5854.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Tomato pith necrosis" border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UEH5sSsX8QY/T71Wggk80OI/AAAAAAAAAEc/st3RMUlUFZE/s320/IMG_5854.JPG" title="Tomato pith necrosis" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">T</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal;">he stems of tomato plants affected by tomato pith necrosis often appear shriveled and wrinkled. Photo by Dan Egel.</span></span></span></td></tr>
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<b>Tomato Pith Necrosis:</b><br />
Tomato pith necrosis has been observed recently in a high tunnel. This disease is caused by a bacterium. Although observations of this disease in Indiana are infrequent, growers should scout their production for tomato pith necrosis. Management options include avoiding excessive nitrogen fertilization and high humidity.<br />
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If Indiana growers see suspected tomato pith necrosis, Dan Egel recommends that you send a sample in to the Purdue Plant and Pest Diagnostic Lab, or to him, for confirmation of the diagnosis, and so that pathologists can document how common the problem is. It would be a good idea to rogue out symptomatic plants and a few nearby, and destroy them away from the greenhouse. Crop rotation away from tomatoes is recommended. If rotation is not possible, then Egel recommends using a landscape fabric ground cover, cleaning it between crops, and taking all tomato plant material out and away from the high tunnel after the growing season. <br />
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<b>Reports:</b><br />
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Wabash County: It is very dry, just a teaser of rain last night.<br />
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Southwest Indiana: Harvest of raspberries in tunnels is underway. An unknown problem was observed: black sticky substance on the surface of the berry. (See picture below). Any suggestions of what this could be?<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PgKKmFSa8Lo/T71Zhk4SWtI/AAAAAAAAAE8/fq7grtQ6IoY/s1600/raspberry2_dse_2012-05-18+16.08.39_trim.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Raspberry fruit with black sticky substance." border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PgKKmFSa8Lo/T71Zhk4SWtI/AAAAAAAAAE8/fq7grtQ6IoY/s320/raspberry2_dse_2012-05-18+16.08.39_trim.jpg" title="Raspberry fruit with black sticky substance." width="229" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Raspberry fruit with unidentified black sticky substance. Photo by Dan Egel.</td></tr>
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South Central Indiana: Received an NRCS grant for a high tunnel and plan to put it up this year. Have in the past done a lot of greens in a smaller tunnel, 20ft x 20ft 6ft high. The spinach crop is still going from plantings as early as last September and late as February as well as turnip greens and winter lettuces. Thinking of doing a few figs and berries in the new tunnel.<br />
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North Central Indiana: Tomatoes in high tunnels have dime-size fruit. Pepper plants just starting to set fruit. Harvesting a small planting of everbearing strawberries which were put in to see how they would do.<br />
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Central Indiana, Meigs Research Farm at Purdue: Tomato variety trial transplanted abaout two weeks ago in three tunnels. Peppers in a nutrient research project (see March 26 HTCT notes for more information) transplanted into a tunnel about the same time. Cover crops in the tunnel had to be worked in before planting the peppers. <br />
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Northeast Indiana: Under an acre of Haygrove tunnels, producer has tomatoes (both red slicers and romas) at first fruit set, peppers close to first fruit set, and self-pollinating slicing cucumbers that will be ready for harvest next week. <br />
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<b>Questions/Discussion: </b><br />
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<b>High tunnel manufacturers:</b><br />
Tunnels represented on the call include Rimol, FarmTek, Haygrove, and one from R&M Produce Supply in Goshen, IN. The Haygrove owner chose that type because he had an opportunity to purchase them used and could split cost with others. Also, he was familiar with them on neighboring farms. The tunnel from the supplier in Goshen was reasonably priced; note that buyer arranges transport. The FarmTek tunnels at the Purdue Meigs farm are the economy quonset model; Tristand Tucker who works there would recommend one of the sturdier models rather than the economy model. He would also recommend a bow spacing of 4 ft., or maybe 6 ft., but no wider, and a tunnel with higher sidewalls so it is easier to work close to the edge. The tunnels at Meigs came with the zippered fabric endwalls; those have been replaced with hard double-layer plastic. A gothic arch tunnel with a steeper pitch sheds snow better than a quonset tunnel which has a rounded arch. The Rimol tunnels at SW Purdue Ag Center and under construction at Pinney-Purdue are gothic arch tunnels. The tunnels at SW have high sidewalls and a roof vent; the tunnels at Pinney will have 4-ft. side walls and be on rails to they can be moved to cover a different section of soil.<br />
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<b>What about double-layer poly?</b><br />
Double layer poly has better insulating value but reduces light inside the tunnel. It is common on greenhouses used for bedding plant and other spring plant production, including vegetable transplants. At Pinney-Purdue a double-poly covered greenhouse has been used for transplant production, and has worked well. A small fan blows air between the layers to keep it inflated. There are straps over the greenhouse to stabilize the plastic - but not every double poly house has these. Air to inflate between the plastic layers is drawn from outside the greenhouse. If drawn from inside the greenhouse it will have more moisture in it, and condensation between layers of plastic may be a problem. <br />
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<b>How do people stake peppers in tunnels?</b><br />
Three methods were mentioned. One method works when peppers are grown in a double row on a bed. Stakes are placed along each edge of the bed. Twine is tied horizontally between stakes at a height that will support pepper plants to prevent them from falling sideways over the bed edges. The photo below shows another method: tall posts along each side of the bed support a horizontal string above the plants. Hanging down from that horizontal string are strings to which pepper plants are attached. Peppers can also be supported using the stake and weave system likes tomatoes. It would be great to have some more photos and descriptions of these or other methods for staking peppers.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fL7Z93RRnrs/T71XrKSZUSI/AAAAAAAAAEk/RigTXIpdhRA/s1600/staked_peppers_dse_IMG_4668.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Staked pepper plants." border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fL7Z93RRnrs/T71XrKSZUSI/AAAAAAAAAEk/RigTXIpdhRA/s320/staked_peppers_dse_IMG_4668.JPG" title="Staked pepper plants." width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Staked pepper plants is a high tunnel. Photo by Dan Egel.</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Notes by L. Maynard. Please get in touch with corrections or additions, or just post a comment.</span></span><br /><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8114610908059447966.post-81864164612037748142012-05-07T16:54:00.000-04:002012-05-07T16:54:17.655-04:00High Tunnel Crop Talk Notes 05-07-12<style>
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<b>High Tunnel Crop Talk
Notes 05-07-2012</b></div>
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<b>Summary:
</b>Discussion of bramble, especially raspberry, production in high
tunnels. Tomatoes and strawberries are being harvested from tunnels in S. Ohio.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8ZOjzktpk7M/T6gwtaRdaII/AAAAAAAAAD4/K1c5YtwSeOQ/s1600/raspberries+009-72dpi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Raspberries in high tunnel." border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8ZOjzktpk7M/T6gwtaRdaII/AAAAAAAAAD4/K1c5YtwSeOQ/s320/raspberries+009-72dpi.jpg" title="Raspberries in high tunnel." width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Raspberries in high tunnel, photo courtesy J. Miller.</td></tr>
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Join us again on May 21, 2012. 12:30–1:30
p.m. Eastern/11:30-12:30 Central. Point your web browser to <a href="https://gomeet.itap.purdue.edu/htct/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman";">https://gomeet.itap.purdue.edu/htct/</span></a><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">and click on the phone icon to be dialed
in to the call, or dial 1-866-492-6283.</span></div>
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<b>Reports: </b> </div>
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N. Central Illinois: Growers Supply 30x96 ClearSpan tunnel was
erected with USDA grant funds in Spring 2011. Planted ‘Josephine’ red
raspberries. Plants are supported with steel T posts and a double wire. Two
hundred plants (2, 100-ft. rows about 7 ft. apart) produced 356 pints between
Aug. 30 and Nov. 10 last year, the first harvest. Berry quality was excellent,
much better than is found in grocery store. Berries could also be harvested
both spring (June – mid-July) and fall. </div>
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They have had u-pick raspberries in
the field for many years. Their existing U-pick market will not support a price
high enough to cover extra costs of tunnel production. They have not tried a
pre-pick market. <br />
Maintenance of the tunnel, including putting on and taking
off the cover, is too labor-intensive. In a normal year, the cover would need
to be put on by April 1 to avoid frost/freeze injury. In the future would
choose a different brand of tunnel, perhaps a single-bay tunnel from Haygrove. </div>
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‘Sandra Rose’ cherries were also planted in Spring 2011 the
same tunnel as the raspberries. The trees came in as whips and were trained to
the UFO system. They do not take as much area per plant as the raspberries. They
produce well but it doesn’t seem like it is possible to get a decent price. The
blooms this spring were killed by the freeze. (They were not covered.) He is
also experimenting with primocane fruiting black raspberries in the tunnel. </div>
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More photos:
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Pint of raspberries harvested from high tunnel. <a href="https://gomeet.itap.purdue.edu/p50804644/"><span style="color: blue;">https://gomeet.itap.purdue.edu/p50804644/</span></a></div>
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Raspberry harvested from a high tunnel. <a href="https://gomeet.itap.purdue.edu/p60125576/"><span style="color: blue;">https://gomeet.itap.purdue.edu/p60125576/</span></a></div>
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S. Central Indiana: New tunnel grant recipient is interested
in growing greens, fruit, and berries.</div>
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S. Ohio: Harvest of earliest tunnel tomatoes began about 4
weeks ago from plants that were put in a tunnel with ground heat in January,
and then benefited from the sunny weather since. ‘Normally’ tomatoes are
planted in tunnels the last week of February. Harvest of tunnel strawberries began
about 3 weeks ago. In the field, some sweet corn and cabbage that got frozen
will be replanted. Excess rains last week (over 5 inches). High temperatures
last week were pushing strawberries to get overripe.</div>
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N. Indiana: Report of caterpillar inside stem of pepper
plant in a high tunnel, probably stalk borer. The tunnel had housed a cover
crop over the winter, and tillage had not completely killed the cover crop
along edge of the tunnel. It is possible that stalk borer eggs overwintered on
the cover crop. See <a href="http://www.extension.entm.purdue.edu/fieldcropsipm/insects/stalk-borer.php">http://www.extension.entm.purdue.edu/fieldcropsipm/insects/stalk-borer.php</a>
for image and description of stalk borer life cycle. Stalk borers are known to
attack tomatoes, peppers, and other vegetable crops at times. </div>
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<b>Questions/Discussion:</b></div>
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<b>What are economics of
raspberries or other brambles in tunnels?</b></div>
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It may be hard to get enough income from a single crop to
justify the cost of a permanent high tunnel. The brambles will be taking up
space in the tunnel the entire year, but producing for only a short period. A
better option may be to use a temporary tunnel, like the ‘caterpillar’ tunnels,
to cover a few rows in a field production system. They are interested in
looking at this at the Purdue Meigs research farm near Lafayette. – B. Bordelon</div>
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In any system, finding the right niche market is probably
going to be very important.</div>
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Strawberries in the field on plastic mulch:</div>
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In Central Indiana and S. Ohio, have been picking field
strawberries in a plasticulture system for about three weeks. In Ohio they have gone
to producing their own starts for field planting on plastic in late summer/fall.
In N. Ohio they plant at the end of August or Early September; in S. Ohio they
need to get them in the ground by Sept. 20. In the tunnel they can plant later.
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<b>Has anyone used SARE
Farmer/Rancher grants to do research on tunnels? </b></div>
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In Ohio Extension has worked with growers on two grants, one
on lavender and one on raspberries. Grants awarded and reports are posted on
the SARE website; it is possible to search by keyword. – B. Bergefurd.</div>
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Here is the link to the search page: <a href="http://mysare.sare.org/mySARE/ProjectReport.aspx?do=search">http://mysare.sare.org/mySARE/ProjectReport.aspx?do=search</a></div>
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To search just Farmer/Rancher grants, in the drop-down menu
for ‘project type’ choose ‘Farmer/Rancher Project’. I used an ‘OR’ search and
typed ‘tunnel’ and ‘hoophouse’ into the search string box. One hundred results
showed up. </div>
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Here is one example that was funded in the Northeast Region
of SARE: Using High Tunnels to Produce Blackberries Organically in West
Virginia. </div>
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You can find the final report here:</div>
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<a href="http://mysare.sare.org/mySARE/ProjectReport.aspx?do=viewProj&pn=FNE08-638">http://mysare.sare.org/mySARE/ProjectReport.aspx?do=viewProj&pn=FNE08-638</a></div>
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<br /></div>
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For more info on SARE Farmer/Rancher grants (usually due in
December) see: <a href="http://www.northcentralsare.org/Grants/Our-Grant-Programs/Farmer-Rancher-Grant-Program">http://www.northcentralsare.org/Grants/Our-Grant-Programs/Farmer-Rancher-Grant-Program</a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>What are people
growing in tunnels besides tomatoes?</b></div>
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<br /></div>
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A partial list: Cucumbers, peppers, green beans, cut
flowers, raspberries, blackberries, greens. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Resources:</b></div>
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Thanks to Bruce Bordelon for Lewis Jett’s ‘Growing
Strawberries in High Tunnels’. The pdf will be available for download in the
‘file share’ pod of the HTCT Adobe Connect meeting room for a while. <a href="https://gomeet.itap.purdue.edu/htct">https://gomeet.itap.purdue.edu/htct</a>
or <a href="https://gomeet.itap.purdue.edu/p43744404/">https://gomeet.itap.purdue.edu/p43744404/</a></div>
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<br /></div>
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Notes by L. Maynard. Please get in touch with corrections or
additions, or just post a comment.<a href="http://www.indianahightunnels.blogspot.com/"></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8114610908059447966.post-89062422336131479642012-04-23T16:12:00.000-04:002012-04-23T16:12:11.431-04:00High Tunnel Crop Talk Notes April 23, 2012<style>
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<b>High Tunnel Crop Talk
Notes 04-23-2012</b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span>Summary:</span></b><span>
Tomatoes in northern and southern Indiana are doing well. Discussion topics included
tomato varieties and advice on tunnel suppliers, structures, and construction.
Additional resources are listed at the end of the posting.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span>Join us again on May 7, 2012, 12:30 –
1:30 p.m. Eastern/11:30-12:30 Central. Point your web browser to </span><a href="https://gomeet.itap.purdue.edu/htct/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman";">https://gomeet.itap.purdue.edu/htct/</span></a><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">and click on the phone icon to be dialed
in to the call, or dial 1-866-492-6283.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Reports: </b><span> </span></div>
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In southern Indiana, tomatoes in greenhouse and hoophouse
look good. Butterflies/moths were observed in greenhouse last two weeks so an organic
Bt product was used which controlled them well. One problem this year has been
the ground cover. In past years black plastic mulch in the row and straw
between the rows worked well. This year no black plastic in rows was used
because weather was so warm it seemed unlikely there would be a benefit. However,
the absence of plastic has really slowed the crop down. He has tried black weed
control fabric in the past and it worked ok, but no longer uses it because it
is necessary to clean and sanitize it at the end of the season.</div>
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<br /></div>
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In northern Indiana tomatoes planted in a small high tunnel
(15X50) in the beginning of March are knee-high with buds, and are doing well.
A second crop plant the end of March in a 30X72 tunnel also looks good. The
tomatoes in both tunnels are covered with a row cover when it gets cold (40s,
30s, or 20s). Peppers were also planted at the end of March, even though it may
be a little cold for them. This operation grows a number of tomato varieties;
they are still experimenting to see what will work best. Most are indeterminate.
Examples include: Big Beef, Cherokee Purple, Fourth of July (an early variety,
did well last year with tomatoes harvested in June). Also cherry tomatoes:
Sweet 100, Sweet Million, a black cherry, and Sungold.</div>
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<br /></div>
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In east central Indiana an organic farm is in the process of
tunnel construction and plans to have 12,000 sq. ft. under cover by the end of
the summer.</div>
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<br /></div>
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In Wanatah, the frame for the first movable tunnel at
Pinney-Purdue has been erected and can be rolled along the rails. <a href="https://gomeet.itap.purdue.edu/p19359101/"><span style="color: blue;">https://gomeet.itap.purdue.edu/p19359101/</span></a>
</div>
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<b>Questions/Discussion:
Determinate vs Indeterminate Tomatoes</b></div>
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What’s better? Some say determinates won’t do well inside,
will get pithy, and won’t taste good. One participants’ experience with Mt.
Spring bore this out: the plant got large and tomatoes were not good eating
quality. He uses mostly indeterminates now. However, he has seen determinates
in a stake and weave system in Haygrove tunnels, managed using tractors like
one would in a field situation. What experiences do people have in Indiana? Is
anyone using determinate varieties in tunnels with stake and weave? How do they
do?</div>
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<br /></div>
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A northern Indiana grower reports that he used BHN 589 last
year, with stake and weave. Plants did well and tomatoes tasted good. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Some other varieties that have been observed in Indiana tunnels
or in greenhouses using in-ground culture with stake and weave or cages for
support include: Mountain Fresh, Celebrity, Florida 91, BHN varieties. Plants
usually get bigger than outdoors Less nitrogen is needed inside. It is not
uncommon for plants to get so big that the stake and weave or cage doesn’t
adequately support them. For some images of various tomatoes and support
systems in high tunnels, see <a href="http://www.hort.purdue.edu/fruitveg/veg/tomsupport/tomato_support_systems/tomato_support_systems.html">http://www.hort.purdue.edu/fruitveg/veg/tomsupport/tomato_support_systems/tomato_support_systems.html</a>.
</div>
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The high tunnel listserv from KSU has had discussions on
this topic (see link to listserv in Resources section). Some varieties
mentioned on that list include: Polbig, Florida 91, and BHN 589. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Questions/Discussion:
Construction: Where to Get Tunnels, What Size, Mistakes to Avoid, etc.</b></div>
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The high tunnels web site has a list of sources for
structures: <a href="http://www.hightunnels.org/resources.htm#StructureSuppliers">http://www.hightunnels.org/resources.htm#StructureSuppliers</a></div>
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<br /></div>
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One individual purchased a 30X72 tunnel from R&M Produce
Suppliers in Goshen.<span> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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It’s important to make the tunnel strong enough to support
snow, any crop supports (e.g. tomato strings) you might attach to the tunnel,
and also to anchor it well against wind. </div>
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<br /></div>
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It’s important to think about how to get the heat out of the
tunnel. Wider hoophouses are more difficult to cool with a passive system. In
S. Indiana a 30-ft. wide structure with 4-ft. sidewalls, 4-ft. roof vent, and
top 4 ft. of end walls dropped down still gets too hot for tomatoes in the
summer. 30% shade cloth is used to reduce heat. Past experience showed that 50%
or 60% shade cloth was too much shade for tomatoes.</div>
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In northern Indiana a grower is looking into applying a
‘whitewash’ to the hoophouse for shade in the summer.</div>
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In both northern and southern Indiana yellow shoulder on
tomato has been a problem when temperatures are high in the tunnel.</div>
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<br /></div>
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It’s common for people to buy kits and put the structure
together themselves. </div>
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<br /></div>
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The high tunnels listserv has also had discussions on
structures. The discussion can be found by searching the listserv archive.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Please contribute to this discussion. Share your questions, experiences,
and ideas by posting comments. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Resources:</b></div>
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High Tunnel Listserv</div>
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<a href="http://listserv.ksu.edu/web?SUBED1=HIGHTUNNELS&A=1">http://listserv.ksu.edu/web?SUBED1=HIGHTUNNELS&A=1</a></div>
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Pesticide Use in Greenhouse and High Tunnels from the
Midwest Vegetable Production Guide 2012 (ID-56). Includes tables of
insecticides and fungicides labeled for greenhouse use on vegetables.</div>
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<a href="http://www.btny.purdue.edu/Pubs/ID/ID-56/GreenhouseTunnel.pdf">http://www.btny.purdue.edu/Pubs/ID/ID-56/GreenhouseTunnel.pdf</a></div>
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<br /></div>
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The March 20, 2008 Hoophouses and High Tunnels program
includes a nice presentation by Adam Montri about structures and building a
hoophouse. You can download a pdf of the powerpoint, and watch the recorded
presentation. <a href="http://www.hort.purdue.edu/tristate_organic/hoophouse_hightunnel_2008.html">http://www.hort.purdue.edu/tristate_organic/hoophouse_hightunnel_2008.html</a></div>
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<br /></div>
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Thanks to Roy Ballard for the following resources. Included
are publications with enterprise budgets, and tomato and bramble production
guidelines. They will be available in the file share pod of the HTCT Adobe
Connect meeting room for a while. <a href="https://gomeet.itap.purdue.edu/htct/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman";">https://gomeet.itap.purdue.edu/htct/</span></a><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></u></div>
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Horticultural Crop Production in High Tunnels in the United
States: A Snapshot. T. Carey et al. 2009. HortTech 19:37-43.</div>
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High Tunnel Raspberries and Blackberries. C. Heidenreich et
al. 2008. Cornell University. <span>http://www.fruit.cornell.edu/berry.html</span></div>
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Iowa Vegetable Budgets. C. Chase. 2006. A1-17. http://<span class="A1"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal;">www.extension.iastate.edu/agdm</span></span></div>
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<span class="A1"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal;">High Tunnel Yields. L. Jett. W. Virginia
University.</span></span><a href="https://gomeet.itap.purdue.edu/p11323565/"></a></div>
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<span class="A1"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal;">Model Business Plan for Season Extension with
Hoophouses. D. Conner. 2010. Michigan State University.</span></span></div>
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<span class="A1"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal;">High Tunnel Tomato Production. L. Jett. 2004.
Univ. of Missouri. http://extension.missouri.edu/p/M170</span></span></div>
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<span class="A1"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal;">In-Ground Greenhouse Tomato Production. A.
Carver. 2008(?). Univ. of Tennessee.</span></span></div>
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<span class="A1"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal;">Should Production in High Tunnels Be Part of
Your Specialty Crop Enterprise? HC Wien et al. 2009. Smart Marketing
Newsletter. Cornell University.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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Check out other resources at <a href="http://www.hort.purdue.edu/fruitveg/veg/plast.shtml">http://www.hort.purdue.edu/fruitveg/veg/plast.shtml</a>.
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8114610908059447966.post-54131384704746251832012-04-23T11:41:00.001-04:002012-04-23T11:41:47.784-04:00High Tunnel Crop Talk Notes, April 9, 2012<style>
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<b>High Tunnel Crop Talk Notes: April 9, 2012</b></div>
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<b>Report:</b> Tony Bailey provided information regarding the NRCS
EQIP program for high tunnels. This is a program designed to help offset the
cost of a high tunnel for producers. Currently there are already forty-seven
contracts confirmed for the program (in Indiana) for a total of $300,000. At this point, all
the funds allocated for this year have been claimed. There are still some
funding opportunities available for those interested in switching to organic or
who already grow crops organically. There is a small chance funds will be shifted
from other states that did not utilize their entire allotment and thus NRCS is
still taking applications. <a href="http://www.in.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/eqip/eqiphomepage.html#Seasonal_High_Tunnel_Initiative">http://www.in.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/eqip/eqiphomepage.html#Seasonal_High_Tunnel_Initiative</a></div>
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<b>Report:</b> A producer in southern IN shared information on his tomatoes. He indicated that two varieties that
perform well for him are ‘Trust’ and ‘Match’ in a greenhouse and high tunnel
setting. He is also growing two other varieties (‘Cherokee Purple’ and ‘Better
Boy’) in tunnels and the field. Some of the issues he has dealt with in past
seasons included heat build-up in the summer and disease issues. With the
excess heat in the summer time, production falls off and since he continues to
maintain the crop it allows little time for him to establish a cover crop in
the tunnels to build up organic matter. Some of the pathogens he deals with
most seasons in tomatoes are sclerotinia and grey mold. He has noticed this
season with the early warm weather that insects such as caterpillars/worms and
weeds have become a problem earlier than normal.</div>
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<b>Report:</b> Shubin Saha and Scott Monroe. There was discussion
regarding tomato symptoms seen in various locations in southwestern Indiana.
Scott Monroe had images from high tunnel tomato operations which showed tomato
plants exhibiting leaf curling. Based on the images, it seems that the cause is
most likely related to physiological tomato curling. ( <a href="https://gomeet.itap.purdue.edu/p93485184/">https://gomeet.itap.purdue.edu/p93485184/</a> , <a href="https://gomeet.itap.purdue.edu/p13536189/">https://gomeet.itap.purdue.edu/p13536189/</a>)The images Shubin had from
the current research underway at SWPAC were of tomatoes that exhibited some
leaf curling and distortion. (<a href="https://gomeet.itap.purdue.edu/p11285964/">https://gomeet.itap.purdue.edu/p11285964/</a> and <a href="https://gomeet.itap.purdue.edu/p25267362/">https://gomeet.itap.purdue.edu/p25267362/</a> . The symptoms of these plants appeared different
than what was shared by Scott. These symptoms were more similar to damage
associated with growth regulator herbicide exposure. </div>
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Join us again on April 23, 2012, 12:30 –
1:30 p.m. Eastern/11:30-12:30 Central. Point your web browser to <a href="https://gomeet.itap.purdue.edu/htct/" target="_blank">https://gomeet.itap.purdue.edu/htct/</a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> and click on the phone
icon to be dialed in to the call, or dial 1-866-492-6283.</span> </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8114610908059447966.post-1409416965930980652012-04-02T18:02:00.001-04:002012-04-02T18:02:39.650-04:00High Tunnel Crop Talk Notes April 2, 2012<style>
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High Tunnel Crop Talk Notes April 2, 2012</div>
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<br /></div>
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We had a High Tunnel Crop Talk this week since it had been advertised, but normally plan to talk every other week. Join us again on April 9, 2012, 12:30 –
1:30 p.m. Eastern/11:30-12:30 Central. Point your web browser to <a href="https://gomeet.itap.purdue.edu/htct/" target="_blank">https://gomeet.itap.purdue.edu/htct/</a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> and click on the phone
icon to be dialed in to the call, or dial 1-866-492-6283. Tony</span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bailey from NRCS will join us to talk
about the EQIP program for high tunnel grants in Indiana.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Reports: </b>In
southern Indiana tomatoes transplanted into tunnels around the first of March
were about a foot high last week. If weather turns wet, it wouldn’t be
surprising to see some Sclerotinia (also known as white mold or timber rot)
turn up. (Scott Monroe) (see issues 435 <a href="http://www.btny.purdue.edu/Pubs/vegcrop/VCH2004/VCH435.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.btny.purdue.edu/Pubs/vegcrop/VCH2004/VCH435.pdf </a> and 463 <a href="http://www.btny.purdue.edu/pubs/vegcrop/VCH2006/VCH463.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.btny.purdue.edu/pubs/vegcrop/VCH2006/VCH463.pdf</a> of the Vegetable Crops Hotline (VCH) for
an image and description) </div>
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Another problem often seen on tomatoes around this time of
year is curling leaves. Sometimes this is observed when there is too much
moisture. In other cases a heater that is improperly vented or exhausted
releases enough ethylene into the air to cause tomato leaves to bend down or
curl. Other pollutants from heaters can cause speckling of leaves and/or scorching
of leaf margins. (See VCH issues 487 <a href="http://www.btny.purdue.edu/pubs/vegcrop/VCH2007/VCH487.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.btny.purdue.edu/pubs/vegcrop/VCH2007/VCH487.pdf </a> and
474 <a href="http://www.btny.purdue.edu/Pubs/vegcrop/VCH2007/VCH474.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.btny.purdue.edu/Pubs/vegcrop/VCH2007/VCH474.pdf </a> for
image of epinasty on fall-grown greenhouse tomatoes and information on heaters
in greenhouses.) </div>
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In Wanatah, rails for the first movable tunnel at
Pinney-Purdue have been installed <a href="https://gomeet.itap.purdue.edu/p85997770" target="_blank">https://gomeet.itap.purdue.edu/p85997770</a>.
They are on packed gravel that was placed in a trench approximately 7 in. deep
x 8 in. wide. Each 3-ft. ground post at the end of the rail has a short piece
of horizontal rebar through holes drilled about 10 in. from the bottom end of
the post <a href="https://gomeet.itap.purdue.edu/p79877158/" target="_blank">https://gomeet.itap.purdue.edu/p79877158</a>.
The rebar will help to anchor the post into the concrete poured in the hole
around the post. (Liz Maynard)<br />
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<b>Suggestions for
future topics:</b> General information about high tunnels and their uses,
supplying plant nutrients during the growing season.</div>
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<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8114610908059447966.post-83115801686133040142012-03-26T17:33:00.006-04:002012-03-26T18:12:12.638-04:00High Tunnel Crop Talk Notes March 26, 2012<style>@font-face { font-family: "Cambria"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }</style> <style>@font-face { font-family: "Arial"; }@font-face { font-family: "Cambria"; }@font-face { font-family: "Lucida Grande"; }@font-face { font-family: "Arial Narrow"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }a:link, span.MsoHyperlink { color: black; text-decoration: underline; }a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed { color: purple; text-decoration: underline; }p.MsoAcetate, li.MsoAcetate, div.MsoAcetate { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 9pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }span.BalloonTextChar { font-family: "Lucida Grande"; }p.Titlea, li.Titlea, div.Titlea { margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: center; font-size: 20pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: bold; }p.Byline, li.Byline, div.Byline { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: bold; }p.Subhead1-Preferred, li.Subhead1-Preferred, div.Subhead1-Preferred { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 16pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: bold; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }</style> <p style="font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal">High Tunnel Crop Talk Notes March 26, 2012</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">We held the first High Tunnel Crop Talk today! A summary of our discussion is below. (Participants, please let me know if there’s a need for any corrections; I’ve done my best but may have missed or misunderstood something – Liz.)<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Join us again in two weeks, April 9, 2012, 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. Eastern/11:30-12:30 Central. Point your web browser to <u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; color: blue;"><a href="https://gomeet.itap.purdue.edu/htct/"><span style="color: blue;">https://gomeet.itap.purdue.edu/htct/</span></a> </span></u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">and click on the phone icon to be dialed in to the call, or dial 1-866-492-6283. Tony</span> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bailey from NRCS will join us to talk about the EQIP program for high tunnel grants in Indiana.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Report:</span> Matt Rudisill’s research on how organic fertility amendments are mineralized in the soil is getting underway for the second season at Purdue’s Meig’s Research Farm near Lafayette. He is comparing nutrient release from different sources, including composted chicken manure from Rose Acre Farms and plant-based amendments. Last year the plant-based source was alfalfa meal and this year it will be a cover crop of hairy vetch, plus additional alfalfa meal if needed. The hairy vetch grew very well over winter and is still growing in the tunnel. Bell pepper seedlings are getting started in a greenhouse and will be transplanted to the tunnel later. At this time he is taking soil samples in the greenhouse.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Report:</span> At an organic farm in Ohio, preparation is underway for two new tunnels, 20-ft. wide, to be used for both summer and winter crops. The tunnels, from Tunnel Vision Hoops, will have retractable dome ends that allow for more space and handle winds better. Double poly will be used, with blocks between the layers to provide an air pocket that will provide additional insulation.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Question</b>: is 20 ft. wide enough to maintain heat in the structure for winter crops?</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">A smaller structure will lose heat more quickly, but will also warm up more quickly. (Shubin Saha)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">The Virtual Grower program can be used to estimate heating costs for greenhouses of various sizes and construction. It was developed by Jonathon Frantz, USDA/ARS in Toldeo and may be downloaded from <a href="http://www.ars.usda.gov/services/software/download.htm?softwareid=309">http://www.ars.usda.gov/services/software/download.htm?softwareid=309</a>.<span style=""> </span>See the end of this post for example calculations related to this question. (Liz Maynard)</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Report:</span> Tunnel-grown organic fall-bearing red raspberries in Ohio are 3 to 4 inches tall. They are grown on a TGS trellis system. The raspberries are in their fourth season. They have done well until last year when yellow rust significantly decreased production. Canes have been cut back and roses along fence line removed. A soil test showed need for additional nitrogen so compost was applied and red clover was sown in the aisles. The berries are mainly sold wholesale to grocery stores, with a few to restaurants and farmers market.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Report:</span> Shubin Saha, Vegetable Specialist located at Southwest Purdue Ag Program (SWPAP) in Vincennes, has two of three 30X96-ft. structures ready for production this season at SWPAP. He will be doing a replicated tomato variety trial this year. The varieties include 7 indeterminate (Big Dena, Panzer, Arbizon, New Girl, Estiva, Imperial 643, and Potenza) and 2 determinate (Rocky top and Red Deuce). He is emphasizing inderminate varieties because they make better used of the vertical space. Tomatoes are on 5-ft. centers, 2-ft. in-row spacing. Seed companies represented include Syngenta, Enza Zaden, Johnny’s, and Harris Moran. He is finishing up fertilizer application in the tunnel and will soon be laying plastic mulch.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Question:</b> How do you spray tomatoes in high tunnels?</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Create a trellis.<span style=""> </span>Remove lateral shoots on tomato plants so there is just a single stem. Use a braided steel cable down center of row. Drop a string down from cable (‘Tomahook’ and other spool systems are available) and train tomato along it. As tomato grows and fruit are harvested, lean and lower tomato plants.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">For spraying, Shubin has used a backpack sprayer in the past. This year he has developed a sprayer that can be pulled through the high tunnel. It is based on a garden cart, has a mixing tank, battery for the pump, and boom with nozzles spraying parallel to the ground. (Shubin Saha)</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Diseases likely to be found on tomatoes in greenhouse include early blight, leaf mold, and bacterial diseases. Management recommendations are available in the tomato section of the Midwest Vegetable Production Guide for Commercial Growers, ID-56 <a href="http://www.btny.purdue.edu/Pubs/ID/ID-56/">http://www.btny.purdue.edu/Pubs/ID/ID-56/</a>. On page 12 materials for use greenhouses are listed <a href="http://www.btny.purdue.edu/Pubs/ID/ID-56/GreenhouseTunnel.pdf">http://www.btny.purdue.edu/Pubs/ID/ID-56/GreenhouseTunnel.pdf</a>. (Dan Egel)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Question:</b> What happens to tomatoes when it gets down into the 40’s or high 30’s? Would it make sense to put a propane construction heater in the tunnel?</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">When it gets below 50°F tomato growth slows down. Wouldn’t recommend a construction-type propane heater in the tunnel. (Shubin Saha)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Question:</b> How do you avoid condensation in the greenhouse? Other than venting, is there any solution?<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">When using two layers of poly with a fan blowing air between the layers, set the fan to pull air from outside the greenhouse, not from inside the greenhouse. This will reduce condensation between the layers of plastic. To reduce condensation inside the greenhouse, vent, especially just before the end of the day. (Shubin Saha and Liz Maynard)</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Greenhouse films with anti-condensation properties are available. They have an additive so that drops don’t form and the water rolls down the plastic instead of dripping. Several brands are available. (Roy Ballard)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">There are also products that can be sprayed on to reduce drop-formation; they do rinse off over time. One example is Sun Clear. (Liz Maynard)</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Question: </span>What are some good resources for someone starting to research high tunnel structures and production?</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">The Purdue Fruit and Vegetable Connection has links to recorded programs on high tunnels, and key sites at other states. See <a href="http://www.hort.purdue.edu/fruitveg/veg/plast.shtml">http://www.hort.purdue.edu/fruitveg/veg/plast.shtml</a> .<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"> <style>@font-face { font-family: "Cambria"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }</style> </p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Report:</span> Liz Maynard reported on two 48X30 rolling high tunnels under construction at the Pinney-Purdue Ag Center in Wanatah. Work is beginning on shallow trenches for the rails on which the wheels attached to the bottom of the structures roll.</p> <p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Resource:</span> This publication might be of value especially if you are using compost or manures in your production system. It discusses potential for carryover of particular herbicides in compost and manure. (Roy Ballard) </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/fletcher/programs/ncorganic/special-pubs/herbicide_carryover.pdf">http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/fletcher/programs/ncorganic/special-pubs/herbicide_carryover.pdf</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Example calculations from the Virtual Grower Program (see above)</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The Virtual Grower program doesn’t exactly answer the question posed today – how much colder would a 20-ft.-wide greenhouse be than a 30-ft.-wide greenhouse – but it can answer the question how much more would it cost to heat a 20-ft greenhouse than a 30-ft. greenhouse. If one greenhouse costs more to heat than another, than without heat it would be colder. The table below shows relative heating costs to maintain a minimum temperature of 30°F in various double-poly greenhouses, 16 ft. tall with 4-ft. sidewalls and corrugated polycarbonate end walls, in Toledo, Ohio. The calculations were done using Virtual Grower 3. The 100 X 30 ft. greenhouse costs more to heat because of the increased area, but costs the least on a per square foot basis. Comparing the 100 X 20 and the 67 x 30 structures, both about 2000 sq. ft., the 67 X 30 costs slightly less to heat. The cost assumes a propane heater operating at 45% efficiency and propane at $2.40/gallon.</p> <table class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: medium none;" border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr style=""> <td style="width: 110.15pt; border: 1pt none; padding: 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="110"> <p class="MsoNormal">Length X Width (ft.)</p> </td> <td style="width: 83.1pt; border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="83"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center">Total Area (sq. ft.)</p> </td> <td style="width: 81.85pt; border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="82"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center">Cost per Year ($)</p> </td> <td style="width: 83.85pt; border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center">Relative Cost</p> </td> <td style="width: 83.85pt; border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center">Relative Cost per Sq. Ft.</p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="width: 110.15pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="110"> <p class="MsoNormal">100 X 20</p> </td> <td style="width: 83.1pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="83"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center">2000</p> </td> <td style="width: 81.85pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="82"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center">2,125</p> </td> <td style="width: 83.85pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center">1.00</p> </td> <td style="width: 83.85pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center">1.00</p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="width: 110.15pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="110"> <p class="MsoNormal">100 X 30</p> </td> <td style="width: 83.1pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="83"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center">3000</p> </td> <td style="width: 81.85pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="82"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center">2,687</p> </td> <td style="width: 83.85pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center">1.26</p> </td> <td style="width: 83.85pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center">0.84</p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="width: 110.15pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="110"> <p class="MsoNormal">67 X 30</p> </td> <td style="width: 83.1pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="83"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center">2000</p> </td> <td style="width: 81.85pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="82"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center">2,000</p> </td> <td style="width: 83.85pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center">0.94</p> </td> <td style="width: 83.85pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center">0.94</p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p class="MsoNormal">(Liz Maynard)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal">Contacts </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Name: email (all @ purdue.edu)</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Liz Maynard, Horticulture Specialist at Purdue in Valparaiso:<span style=""> </span>emaynard</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Dan Egel, Vegetable Pathologist at Southwest Purdue Ag Program in Vincennes: egel</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Shubin Saha, Vegetable Specialist at Southwest Purdue Ag Program in Vincennes:<span style=""> </span>ssaha</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Roy Ballard, Purdue Extension, Hancock County:<span style=""> </span>rballard</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Note: Mention of specific products does not constitute endorsement by Purdue University.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8114610908059447966.post-7366400145067104732012-03-21T16:18:00.006-04:002012-03-21T16:46:10.409-04:00Join Purdue Extension for ‘High Tunnel Crop Talk’<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jJ7MZLYhfDU/T2o6ICFPjQI/AAAAAAAAADs/bGuYeOwaHK4/s1600/HTCT_Flyer_1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 302px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jJ7MZLYhfDU/T2o6ICFPjQI/AAAAAAAAADs/bGuYeOwaHK4/s400/HTCT_Flyer_1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722450186199862530" border="0" /></a><br /> <style>@font-face { font-family: "Cambria"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }</style> <p class="MsoNormal">What: A regular discussion of crop progress and current issues for crops in high tunnels and food crops in greenhouses.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">When: Monday, March 26, 2012, 12:30-1:30 Eastern/11:30-12:30 Central, and every other week for the growing season. Dates through June: April 2, April 9, April 23, May 7, May 21, June 4, June 18.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Who: Growers, Purdue Extension Educators and Specialists, Students, NRCS Staff, Others interested in the topic</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Where: Dial 1-866-492-6283 for audio. To see images and other shared resources (optional), point browser to <span style=""><u>https://gomeet.itap.purdue.edu/htct/</u></span> (high speed internet only)</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">These bi-weekly discussions hosted by Purdue staff will include reports on progress of high tunnel or greenhouse crops, and questions and answers about current production issues. Participants may share images of their crop by emailing them to emaynard at purdue.edu by 8:00 p.m. Sunday with HTCT in the subject line. During the discussion, photos and other visuals will be viewable in an Adobe Connect meeting room accessible via high-speed internet. A summary of each discussion will be posted on the Indiana High Tunnels blog at http://www.indianahightunnels.blogspot.com/.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Sponsored by:</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Dept. of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture</p> <p class="MsoNormal">USDA/SARE Indiana PDP Program</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">For more information:</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Liz Maynard</p> <p class="MsoNormal">emaynard at purdue.edu</p> <p class="MsoNormal">219-531-4200 ext. 4206</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8114610908059447966.post-62213395521350436202010-01-06T14:06:00.002-05:002010-01-06T14:08:35.947-05:00High Tunnels at Indiana Horticultural CongressRegistration information for the Indiana Horticultural Congress and the Hotel can be found here <a href="http://www.inhortcongress.org/">http://www.inhortcongress.org/</a><br /><br />On Wednesday of Hort. Congress, Jan. 20th, one of the tracks will focus on High Tunnel production. We have some exciting speakers joining us. The agenda for that session is below –<br /><br />High Tunnels 1/20/2010<br /><br />This Program is Sponsored by North Central Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education<br /><br />8:30 Welcome – Amy Thompson, Purdue Extension Educator<br /><br />8:40 Producer Panel – Perspectives on Current High Tunnel Production in Indiana<br /><br />9:20 Wish Lists For Your Next High Tunnel – Adam Montri, Student Organic Farm Outreach Coordinator, Michigan State University<br /><br />10:15 – Break<br /><br />10:45 – Small Fruits For High Tunnel Production – Kathy Demchak, Pennsylvania State University<br /><br />11:45 –Lunch Break<br /><br />1:15 – Clarifying Rules for High Tunnel Applications - Fred Whitford, Director Purdue Pesticide Programs & Dan Egel, Extension Vegetable Pathologist, Purdue University<br /><br />2:00- Creating a Fertility Management Program for Your High Tunnel – Liz Maynard and Shubin Saha, Regional Horticulture Extension Specialists, Purdue University<br /><br />2:50 Break -<br /><br />3:00 Options for 12 Months of Production – Adam Montri, Student Organic Farm Outreach Coordinator, Michigan State UniversityAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8114610908059447966.post-49987796899791963542010-01-06T14:05:00.001-05:002010-01-06T14:05:23.026-05:00Hoophouses Help Bring Local Food to UniversityMichigan State University is beating Mother Nature by taking farming indoors in an innovative way. An unusual partnership among foodservice staff, student farmers and faculty at 46,600-student Michigan State University is heralding a new era of sustainable and organic meals for on-campus foodservice venues. The catalyst for the partnership is the hoophouse. These low-energy hoophouses enable students to farm year-round without harming the environment or depleting it of its natural resources.Related ATTRA Publication: <a href="http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102924239890&s=17345&e=001ZfaxHA8eoKC9kfIm_CW_d9czThWbePWPRsyiZKEx31rfkHhd5t-l1TXfyIUEQk2aRiyLtc6wpS5rABVR3Vk5gqHf_mR_wBUSYBW_ztFFX08S2PREDOL91Xx3drNnFJ5zY0OmeGUJPBsAn3LTfr8EMw==">Bringing Local Food to Local Institutions</a>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8114610908059447966.post-55489272636665278922009-12-14T09:37:00.001-05:002009-12-14T09:39:24.134-05:00Using Waste Energy For High Tunnel ProductionDecember 11, 2009<br />Waste energy to be captured for winter crop production<br />WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Using water generally lost through evaporation from Purdue University's power plant, a researcher believes he can heat the ground during winter months and grow produce under cover that would taste better and cost less at local markets.<br />Cary Mitchell, a professor of horticulture, is one step closer to building a high tunnel structure that could affordably allow for out-of-season growing in Midwestern states. The tunnels, like greenhouses, would trap heat and moisture while water used to cool Purdue's coal-fired boilers would be piped underground beneath the tunnels to heat the ground to a suitable temperature for growing.<br />"That energy, the hot water created by cooling boilers, is usually just vented into the air," Mitchell said. "This would put that energy to use."<br />Mitchell, who hopes to build at least one 30-by-96-foot tunnel near the Wade Power Plant this spring or summer, on Friday (Dec. 11) accepted a $75,000 grant from Walmart to aid in his work.<br />Later phases of Mitchell's research would add heat-pump technology to increase air temperatures in the tunnels and heat engines that could convert low-grade heat to electricity for supplemental LED lighting.<br />Larry Whitlow, Walmart market manager for the Lafayette area, said the company is interested in the research as a way to cut some of its costs and benefit local communities.<br />"The high tunnel research ties right into two of our company's initiatives: sustainability and encouraging local economic growth," Whitlow said. "We're finding that with sustainability, there's a cost savings. By selling local produce in our stores, there is less freight and shipping cost, and that keeps prices low for our customers."<br />Mitchell said produce grown in high tunnels could be left to ripen on vines instead of ripening during the shipping process, increasing the quality.<br />"We'll be able to do locally what they do 1,500 miles away," Mitchell said. "We pay so much for shipping, and the produce sits in a truck degrading for a week."<br />The Walmart grant puts Mitchell over the halfway mark for the project, which is difficult to raise money for because many funding agencies do not support infrastructure development.<br />"Hopefully this Walmart initiative will help catalyze the rest of the funding we need," Mitchell said.<br />Writer: Brian Wallheimer, 765-496-2050, <a href="mailto:bwallhei@purdue.edu">bwallhei@purdue.edu</a><br />Sources: Cary Mitchell, 765-494-1347, <a href="mailto:cmitchell@purdue.edu">cmitchell@purdue.edu</a>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8114610908059447966.post-10587134474974112232009-07-23T10:00:00.002-04:002009-07-23T10:06:38.561-04:00'2009 Central Indiana Twilight Vegetable Grower Tour<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EfwHkYo418I/SmhuNTiixpI/AAAAAAAAABA/IUE6p8rr2sY/s1600-h/TuttlesJune09+004.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361656531247089298" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EfwHkYo418I/SmhuNTiixpI/AAAAAAAAABA/IUE6p8rr2sY/s400/TuttlesJune09+004.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://growingformarket.ning.com/events/event/show?id=3617196%3AEvent%3A264&xgi=2KKe6UB"></a><br /><strong>Time:</strong> August 3, 2009 from 6:30pm to 9pm</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><strong>Location:</strong> Tuttle Orchards</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><strong>Organized By:</strong> Roy Ballard<br /></div><br /><div><strong>Event Description:</strong></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>On the evening of Monday, August 3, 2009 vegetable growers are invited to attend a free twilight tour to discuss some of these topics with Extension specialists from Purdue University at Tuttle Orchards in North western Hancock County. The program will begin at 6:30 p.m. local time.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>The purpose of this meeting is to offer vegetable growers of Central Indiana a chance to gather, discuss current growing conditions and learn of pest pressures their crops are experiencing and how to reduce the impact of these on the yield/value of their crops.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Participants will also have a unique opportunity to take a guided tour of the Tuttle Orchards vegetable fields and to learn from co-owner Mile Roney about his recent experiences with drip irrigation and high tunnel production of tomatoes.Drs. Liz Maynard-Extension Horticulturalist and Rick Foster-Extension Entomologist will share their current research and provide an update on varieties and pest pressure that they are seeing across Indiana.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Dr. Maynard will display some new sweet corn varieties from her current trial work in Northern Indiana and Rick Foster will describe the potential the corn earworm trap that is sited at the Tuttle farm to reduce pesticide use and costs.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>The evening will wrap up with a brief August business meeting of the Hancock Harvest Council.The Hancock Harvest Council is a group of farmers seeking ways to enhance their place in the market by working together to meet the needs of consumers who wish to buy fresh farm products from local farmers. The Hancock Harvest Council serves farmers in Hancock and all contiguous counties.Please call 317-462-1113 or e-mail <a href="mailto:rballard@purdue.edu">rballard@purdue.edu</a> to register</div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8114610908059447966.post-17689896656629851432009-07-13T08:41:00.005-04:002009-07-13T08:50:47.076-04:00Potassium and Nitrogen Deficiencies in Tomatoes - submitted by Mark Kepler<div><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EfwHkYo418I/SlssVTBHD8I/AAAAAAAAAAo/dlWnb14zqlQ/s1600-h/IMG_7052_480x640.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357924926081142722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EfwHkYo418I/SlssVTBHD8I/AAAAAAAAAAo/dlWnb14zqlQ/s400/IMG_7052_480x640.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>On July 10, 2009 Liz Maynard, vegetable specialist and myself (Mark Kepler) went to Titus <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Oberholtzer</span>’s two high tunnels in which he is growing fresh market tomatoes. Liz brought along meters used for analyzing leaf petioles for Potassium and Nitrate levels. We tested plants that have a yellow shoulder problem. </div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357925107264644066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 307px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 307px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EfwHkYo418I/Slssf1-n4-I/AAAAAAAAAAw/1nLN-nqZiB0/s400/IMG_7050_trim_360px.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div>Levels in these plants were <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">substantially</span> lower in Potassium (1400 ppm in plants with yellow shoulder disorder vs. 2200 ppm in normal plants). Leaves in another greenhouse were compared for nitrogen levels. The stunted plants had nitrate levels of 360 ppm and those larger plants had a reading of 2500 ppm nitrate, confirming suspicions of a nitrogen deficiency.</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357925413374060786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 360px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 365px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EfwHkYo418I/SlssxqUy6PI/AAAAAAAAAA4/nmRe-poJCRE/s400/IMG_7046_trim_360px.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>These results were consistent with recent tissue test results for entire leaves performed by a commercial lab. It is my opinion this is a good tool to use in greenhouse situations to monitor plant fertility levels. </div></div></div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8114610908059447966.post-87135877994378084962009-07-10T10:24:00.002-04:002009-07-10T10:29:41.954-04:00Late Blight of Tomato - News from the Plant and Pest Diagnostic LabSenior Diagnostician Gail Ruhl from the Purdue Plant and Pest Diagnostic lab (PPDL) sent out this message concernting Late Blight on Tomato...... The PPDL has had two questions pertaining to Late Blight on Tomato today. This disease has not been confirmed in the Midwest so far this year. We are putting together a picture of the week to provide info on this recent development in the NORTHEAST states but in the meantime here is some information for you.<br /><br />Tomato plants infected with late blight (causal organism Phytophthora infestans) have been shipped to large retail stores throughout the Northeast region of the country, from Ohio to Maine. The disease has been confirmed on tomatoes in New York State, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland. Late blight is a very contagious disease that infects members of the nightshade family (tomatoes, potatoes, sweet peppers, etc.). While the disease is not uncommon in home gardens it is rather unusual for tomatoes to be infected this early in the growing season.<br /><br />Since there are many look-alike diseases on tomato leaves identification requires microscopic examination, not visual determination. Suspect samples should be submitted to the Purdue Plant and Pest Diagnostic Lab for confirmation. Diagnostic Service Fees for SUSPECT LATE BLIGHT CONFIRMNATION will be covered by our National Plant Diagnostic Network (NPDN) funding.<br /><br />Two pertinent links:Late Blight on Tomato Plants at Local Large Stores in Most States in the Northeast<a href="http://vegetablemdonline.ppath.cornell.edu/NewsArticles/LateBlightJune09.html">http://vegetablemdonline.ppath.cornell.edu/NewsArticles/LateBlightJune09.html</a><br /><br />Tomato Diseases and Disorders<a href="http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/PM1266.pdf">http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/PM1266.pdf</a> --<br /><br />Tom Creswell and Gail RuhlPlant and Pest Diagnostic Lab<a href="http://www.ppdl.purdue.edu/PPDL/">http://www.ppdl.purdue.edu/PPDL/</a>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8114610908059447966.post-34476774381275898592009-07-09T14:18:00.002-04:002009-07-09T14:34:17.652-04:00Indiana Horticulture CongressI can honestly say that this is the first entry to a blog that I have written...<br /><br />Here it is July...<em>county fair time</em>... and you are probably nearing peak production time for many crops. I hope the High tunnels have buffered your production from some of the "irregular" weather that we have received this spring.<br /><br />It is not too early to begin thinking about what subjects that you would like to learn more about to make your high tunnel as profitable as possible with the least amount of inputs.<br /><br />We are in the early discussions about the content/presenters for a high tunnel session/sessions for the 2010 Indiana Horticulture Congress...While January seems like a long time from now my quick research shows that as of this writing Christmas is only 168 days 10 hours and 33 minutes away and Hort Congress is less than a month after that!<br /><br />If you have High tunnel/season extension topics that you would like to learn more about and /or if you know of good presenters for those topics... we would like to know of them.<br /><br />Hope that you have a productive and profitable July...<br /><br />Remember that Indiana Market Maker can be a great tool to help connect with folks who want to buy fresh local Indiana products....and it's FREE!!!<br /><br />Roy Ballard<br />317-462-1113Roy Ballardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08792890312343919002noreply@blogger.com0