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Frequently
Asked Questions |
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1.
What are some warm season vegetables that can be produced within
a high tunnel? |
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2.
What are some examples of cropping patterns for a high tunnel? |
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3.
How are tomatoes grown within a high tunnel? |
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4.
How many tomato plants can I plant in a 20’ x 96’
high tunnel? |
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5.
Is pollination of tomatoes adversely affected by the high tunnel? |
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6.
What is an average yield for high tunnel tomatoes? |
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7.
Do I need to spray tomatoes within a high tunnel for disease
and insect control? |
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8.
Are certain tomato cultivars best suited for high tunnel production? |
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9.
Are tomatoes daylight sensitive? |
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1.
What are some warm season vegetables that can be produced
within a high tunnel?
Warm
season vegetables are sensitive to frost. There are many types
of
vegetables that can grown successfully within a high tunnel.
Many growers have used high tunnels for early tomatoes. However,
other choices include peppers, squash, eggplant, and snap
or pole beans. (Jett)
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2.
What are some examples of cropping patterns for a high tunnel?
At
least two crops per year can be produced using a high tunnel.
For example, in Missouri, tomatoes can be planted as early as
March within a high tunnel, and harvest can begin in-June. Depending
on the variety and type of tomato chosen, harvest can continue
through July. At this point, the tomatoes can be removed, the
soil fertilized and tilled, and a second crop of tomatoes, peppers
or cucumbers can be established for fall harvest. In late November,
a cool season vegetable can be planted and over-wintered in
the high tunnel for early spring harvest. (Jett) |
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3.
How are tomatoes grown within a high tunnel?
Tomatoes are grown on raised beds
with organic or plastic mulch. The
raised bed ( 6”) will facilitate drainage and keep the
root system warmer. Plastic mulch (black, clear, or IRT) will
also increase soil temperatures. Drip irrigation is applied
to water and fertilize the tomatoes through the growing season.
Row covers, a lightweight fabric, must be used to provide early
frost protection. The tomatoes can be either staked or caged.
(Jett) |
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Single layer rowcovers cover staked
tomatoes |
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4.
How many tomato plants can I plant in a 20’ x 96’
high tunnel?
The
optimal spacing for tomatoes in a high tunnel is 6 square feet
per plant. Therefore,
approximately 300 plants can be planted per house. (Jett) |
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5.
Is pollination of tomatoes adversely affected by the high tunnel?
No. Tomatoes are self-pollinated. In research
at the University of Missouri, we
have not experienced pollination problems with tomatoes in a
high tunnel. Air
movement, which reduces humidity and vibrates the flower, is
important for good pollination. If you have to keep the vents
closed for an extended period of time, you may want to shake
the cages or stakes to facilitate pollination. If you are using
rowcovers, you should remove them when your plants are flowering
and the sidewalls are rolled-up. If temperatures are projected
to get 55F or less, the rowcovers should remain on the plants.
(Jett)
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6.
What is an average yield for high tunnel tomatoes?
In Missouri, we average approximately 10 lbs.
of tomatoes per plant over a 4
week harvest period (mid June to mid July). Percentage of
unmarketable fruit is much less relative to field tomatoes.
(Jett)
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7.
Do I need to spray tomatoes within a high tunnel for disease
and insect control?
High
tunnels provide a protected environment for crop growth. However,
this
does not mean you will not have any harmful diseases or insects.
Protecting the crop from rain will significantly reduce disease
problems. However, you should scout your crop for any sign of
disease. In Missouri, the insects we have encountered on tomatoes
include aphids (Myzus persicae), hornworms (Protoparce quinquemaculata),
and fruitworms (Helicoverpa zea). Many of these insects can
be controlled by biological methods (beneficial insects) or
using biological insecticides (Bt insecticides). (Jett)
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8.
Are certain tomato cultivars best suited for high tunnel production?
Any
field or garden tomato will perform well within a high tunnel.
If the objective is to produce early tomatoes, the best choice
would be a hybrid, determinate cultivar that concentrates its
fruit-set within a narrow window (4-6 weeks). Indeterminate
types will perform well within a high tunnel, however, these
types of tomatoes continue to set fruit through the summer and
fall. Indeterminate tomatoes would be well-suited for late summer
and fall tomatoes. (Jett) |
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ARTICLE:
Evaluating
Suitable Tomato Cultivars for Early Season High Tunnel Production
in the Central Great Plains
LINK:
Penn
State Tomato Variety Trial
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9.
Are tomatoes daylight sensitive?
We have two questions in
one: 1) How much light do tomatoes need? and 2) Does the
duration of light (day) affect tomato fruit set?
How
much light do tomatoes need? Generally speaking, for
winter production of tomatoes, light intensity of about 3500
foot candles is adequate. When light is not sufficiently
intense, a disorder known as blotchy ripening occurs.
This also can occur in field production when there is an
extended period of cloudy weather. Greenhouse growers
can increase light intensity by using white mulch as the floor
of the greenhouse to reflect light back into the crop canopy
and by being sure the film covering the greenhouse or high
tunnel is clean and relatively new. The ability of
polyethylene film to transmit light is reduced as the film
ages, even before the aging is visible to the human eye.
So don't wait until it gets yellow or so old it cracks before
replacing it. Tomatoes also respond to the wavelength of
the light with blue and red light increasing vegetative growth
and red and far-red light increasing flowering. Light is
essential for photosynthesis with creates the carbohydrates
necessary for plant growth. Poor light intensity=poor
growth, poor fruit set, poor fruit development, and poor
flavor. Tomatoes respond best to maximum sunlight.
Cultivars bred for greenhouse production are bred to produce
high quality fruit when grown in lower light conditions (and
higher humidity) than those bred for field production.
They are best adapted for late fall and early spring
production.
Tomatoes
are daylength neutral, which means that tomatoes flower the
same regardless of how many hours of darkness or light they
receive. However, this does not mean that the best
tomatoes are grown under continuous light. Tomatoes
require an extended dark period for best quality because it is
during the dark period that the products of photosynthesis are
transported to the developing fruit, providing sweetness,
flavor, and color. (Hodges) |
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