High Tunnel Crop Talk Notes July 16, 2012

High Tunnel Crop Talk Notes July 16, 2012


Summary:  We reviewed recommended sanitation practices after a tomato crop is finished to reduce disease in following crops.

High Tunnel Crop Talk Notes July 2, 2012

High Tunnel Crop Talk Notes July 2, 2012

Summary: 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. 


Join us again on July 16, 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 participate without a computer by dialing 1-866-492-6283. 

High Tunnel Crop Talk Notes June 18, 2012

High Tunnel Crop Talk Notes June 18, 2012
[repost]
Summary: 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.

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.

High Tunnel Crop Talk Notes June 4, 2012

 High Tunnel Crop Talk Notes June 4, 2012

Summary: 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).

Join us again on June 18, 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.

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 http://www.mottgroup.msu.edu/uploads/files/59/HoopHouseBulletin.pdf, and 'Hoophouse Contributions to Farm Profitability and Food System Sustainability: Lessons from Michigan' at http://www.joe.org/joe/2011february/tt9.php. There is also an abstract ' Determinants of Hoophouse Profitability: A Case Study of 12 Novice Michigan Farmers' available at http://horttech.ashspublications.org/content/22/2/215.abstract.

High Tunnel Crop Talk Notes 05-21-2012

Summary: Crops are progressing well with small fruit harvest underway, cukes close to harvest, tomato and pepper fruit developing. Tomato pith necrosis has been observed.

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.

Tomato pith necrosis often causes the pith to appear rotten and the external stem to have necrotic lesions.  Photo by Dan Egel.

The stems of tomato plants affected by tomato pith necrosis often appear shriveled and wrinkled. Photo by Dan Egel.

Tomato Pith Necrosis:
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.

High Tunnel Crop Talk Notes April 23, 2012

High Tunnel Crop Talk Notes 04-23-2012

Summary: 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.

Join us again on May 7, 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 dial 1-866-492-6283.

Reports:  

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.

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.

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.

In Wanatah, the frame for the first movable tunnel at Pinney-Purdue has been erected and can be rolled along the rails. https://gomeet.itap.purdue.edu/p19359101/

Questions/Discussion: Determinate vs Indeterminate Tomatoes

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?

A northern Indiana grower reports that he used BHN 589 last year, with stake and weave. Plants did well and tomatoes tasted good.

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 http://www.hort.purdue.edu/fruitveg/veg/tomsupport/tomato_support_systems/tomato_support_systems.html.

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.

Questions/Discussion: Construction: Where to Get Tunnels, What Size, Mistakes to Avoid, etc.

The high tunnels web site has a list of sources for structures: http://www.hightunnels.org/resources.htm#StructureSuppliers

One individual purchased a 30X72 tunnel from R&M Produce Suppliers in Goshen. 

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.

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.

In northern Indiana a grower is looking into applying a ‘whitewash’ to the hoophouse for shade in the summer.

In both northern and southern Indiana yellow shoulder on tomato has been a problem when temperatures are high in the tunnel.

It’s common for people to buy kits and put the structure together themselves.

The high tunnels listserv has also had discussions on structures. The discussion can be found by searching the listserv archive.

Please contribute to this discussion. Share your questions, experiences, and ideas by posting comments.

Resources:

High Tunnel Listserv

http://listserv.ksu.edu/web?SUBED1=HIGHTUNNELS&A=1

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.

http://www.btny.purdue.edu/Pubs/ID/ID-56/GreenhouseTunnel.pdf

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. http://www.hort.purdue.edu/tristate_organic/hoophouse_hightunnel_2008.html

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. https://gomeet.itap.purdue.edu/htct/

Horticultural Crop Production in High Tunnels in the United States: A Snapshot. T. Carey et al. 2009. HortTech 19:37-43.

High Tunnel Raspberries and Blackberries. C. Heidenreich et al. 2008. Cornell University. http://www.fruit.cornell.edu/berry.html

Iowa Vegetable Budgets. C. Chase. 2006. A1-17. http://www.extension.iastate.edu/agdm

High Tunnel Yields. L. Jett. W. Virginia University.

Model Business Plan for Season Extension with Hoophouses. D. Conner. 2010. Michigan State University.

High Tunnel Tomato Production. L. Jett. 2004. Univ. of Missouri. http://extension.missouri.edu/p/M170

In-Ground Greenhouse Tomato Production. A. Carver. 2008(?). Univ. of Tennessee.

Should Production in High Tunnels Be Part of Your Specialty Crop Enterprise? HC Wien et al. 2009. Smart Marketing Newsletter. Cornell University.

Check out other resources at http://www.hort.purdue.edu/fruitveg/veg/plast.shtml.

High Tunnel Crop Talk Notes, April 9, 2012

High Tunnel Crop Talk Notes: April 9, 2012

Report: 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. http://www.in.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/eqip/eqiphomepage.html#Seasonal_High_Tunnel_Initiative

Report: 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.

Report: 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. ( https://gomeet.itap.purdue.edu/p93485184/ , https://gomeet.itap.purdue.edu/p13536189/)The images Shubin had from the current research underway at SWPAC were of tomatoes that exhibited some leaf curling and distortion. (https://gomeet.itap.purdue.edu/p11285964/ and https://gomeet.itap.purdue.edu/p25267362/ . 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. 

Join us again on April 23, 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 dial 1-866-492-6283.

High Tunnel Crop Talk Notes April 2, 2012

High Tunnel Crop Talk Notes April 2, 2012

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 https://gomeet.itap.purdue.edu/htct/ and click on the phone icon to be dialed in to the call, or dial 1-866-492-6283. Tony Bailey from NRCS will join us to talk about the EQIP program for high tunnel grants in Indiana.

Reports: 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 http://www.btny.purdue.edu/Pubs/vegcrop/VCH2004/VCH435.pdf and 463 http://www.btny.purdue.edu/pubs/vegcrop/VCH2006/VCH463.pdf of the Vegetable Crops Hotline (VCH) for an image and description)

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 http://www.btny.purdue.edu/pubs/vegcrop/VCH2007/VCH487.pdf and 474 http://www.btny.purdue.edu/Pubs/vegcrop/VCH2007/VCH474.pdf for image of epinasty on fall-grown greenhouse tomatoes and information on heaters in greenhouses.)

In Wanatah, rails for the first movable tunnel at Pinney-Purdue have been installed https://gomeet.itap.purdue.edu/p85997770. 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 https://gomeet.itap.purdue.edu/p79877158. The rebar will help to anchor the post into the concrete poured in the hole around the post. (Liz Maynard)

Suggestions for future topics: General information about high tunnels and their uses, supplying plant nutrients during the growing season.