1. Season Extension with
High Tunnels
November 2013
Paul & Sandy Arnold

2. GETTING OLD??
NEED LESS MAINTENANCE!

3. HIGH TUNNELS

4. STONE & WITH A TRANSIT
PRECISIONDRAINAGE TILE

5. TUNNEL ONE 30’ X 144’

6. HAVE SITE WORK DONE EARLY
HIRE THE PROFESSIONALS!

7. POLYCARBONATE KNEE WALL

8. 2” THICK
12” DEEP SET AT
GROUND LEVEL
INSULATION BOARD

9. RIMOL GREENHOUSES
BUILT FOR SNOW
2008
TUNNEL #2 34’X144’ NO WOOD!

10. POLYCARBONATE & SLIDER DOORS

11. POWER & PROPANE & 2 WATER SOURCES

12. TRICKS TO PUTTING 150’ OF
PLASTIC ON??
Single Layer
No Motors

13. VENTING IMPORTANT!

15. APRIL 2012
NRCS GRANT PAID LABOR
TUNNEL #3 34’X144’ ROTATION

16. SUN DRIVEN SYSTEM—NO HEAT

17. • Soil Tests
• A&L Labs
• Compost
SOIL PREPARATION

18. • Organic
Fertilizer
• Micros
• CNG
FERTILITY

19. • Chisel
Plow
• Rototill
• Plant
ROTOTILLING

20. SPRING PRODUCTION

21. LETTUCE
• GH SEEDED FEB 15+
• SPEEDLING VS
WINSTRIP
• TRANSPLANT IN
MARCH into TUNNEL

22. LETTUCE
• FULL SIZE HEADS
New Red Fire, Green
Star, Carmona, Nancy
and Romaine
• MINI HEADS-Many
from Johnnys
• HARVEST IN MAY
• Mini Heads make the
salad mix or are $1

23. •
•
•
•
•
•
•
SQUASH
BEANS
CUCUMBERS
TOMATOES
BASIL
ONIONS
BROCCOLI
CROPS FOR SUMMER

24. EARLY IS THE
KEY FOR
HIGHEST
RETURN
BE FIRST TO
MARKET
LOW
MAINTENANCE

25. COVER CROP -ROTATION

26. PLASTIC OFF

27. WINTER PRODUCTION
IN HIGH TUNNELS

28. CROPS WE GROW
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Kale
CROPS
Swiss chard
VARIETIES
Spinach
SEEDING
DATES
Asian Greens
SPACING
Lettuce Mix
PERCENT
Arugula
USE
• Broccoli
DECEMBER TO MAY
DECEMBER TO MAY

29. VARIETIES
• Kale: Red Russian, White Russian, Winterbor
• Swiss chard: Bright Lights
• Spinach: TRIALS
• Lettuce Mix: Five Star, Mustards
• Arugula: Astro, Regular
Asian Greens: Tokyo Bekana,
Yukina Savoy, Vitamin Green,
Tatsoi, Red Choi, Black Summer,
DECEMBER TOJoi Choi
Mei Qing Choi, MAY

30. GREENHOUSE
SEEDING DATES

31. SEED STRIPS, SPEEDLING, WINSTRIPS
Must be on special list to
get imported Winstrips
from Korea-ask!
SEEDING TRAYS

32. KALE & SWISS CHARD
SEEDED JULY 15TH

33. • Asian Greens- Sept 1st
to Oct 15th
• Spinach- Sept
20th to Oct 1st
GREENHOUSE
SEEDING DATES

34. TRANSPLANT UP
• TRANSPLANTS ALLOW
SUMMER PRODUCE
TO CONTINUE
PRODUCING IN
TUNNELS
• CAN POT UP IF
NECESSARY
DEPENDING ON
VALUE OF TUNNEL
CROPS LIKE
TOMATOES
HAVE READY TO PLANT IN TUNNEL
ABOUT OCTOBER 15TH

35. PREPARE TUNNEL MID-LATE OCTOBER
• 6 BEDS IN 30’ WIDE
TUNNEL
• 7 BEDS IN 34’ WIDE
TUNNEL
• ROTOTILL AND FORM
BEDS BY HAND WITH A
SHOVEL…TAKES
APPROX 5 HOURS
• BEDS ABOUT 3.5 FT
WIDE
• LAY BIOTELLO BY
HAND TO SAVE SPACE
ROCK DOWN BIOTELLO---ADD STRAW TO PATHS

36. PLANT TRANSPLANTS
• 5 Rows per bed
• 3 Rows of Kale or
Swiss Chard with 2
rows of Asian
Greens inbetween
TEAGLE TOMAHAWK FOR MULCH
MUST PLANT BY NOVEMBER 1ST

37. FRENCH INTENSIVE METHOD
Asian Greens
for Braising Mix
• Tokyo
Bekana
• Yukina
Savoy
• Vitamin
Green
Swiss Chard and Asian Greens

38. FRENCH INTENSIVE METHOD
• Asian Greens
also named
“Large leaf
mesclun mix”!
• Start harvesting
December/Jan
uary…love
cold
• Kale & Swiss
Chard dormant
till late Feb
unless warm!
Kale and Asian Greens

39. 8 x 12 for
• Kale
• Swiss chard
• Asian Greens
• Happy Rich
Broccoli
4 X14 for
• Broccoli
Raab
SPACING

40. • SpinachFrom
Transplants
with 3-4 seeds
per cell: 5”x8”
• SpinachDirect
Seeded 8”
between
rows
SPACING

41. DIRECT SEEDING DATES
OCTOBER 1st
OPTIMUM FOR US
(some years!)
• FIVE STAR LETTUCE
• MUSTARDS-Reds,
Greens
• SPINACH
• ASIAN GREENSMizuna, Tatsoi, etc
WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY
SEPTEMBER 20TH TO OCT 10TH

42. FIND YOUR
DATE!
THE WINTER HARVEST
HANDBOOK BY ELIOT
COLEMAN
Time of seedings are
critical…Successive
seedings gives
consistency
Weather is a
changing factor

43. SPACING
 Lettuce, Asian
Greens & Mustards
for Salad Mix
 Arugula
• 2 ½ inches
• Separate varieties
• Earthway Seeder
or Jang

44. ARUGULA
• Successive
seedings
• Oct 1st to
Nov 15th
Astro &
•
Regular

45. JANUARY SEEDINGS
• Broccoli Raab
• Happy Rich
• Beira Kale
• Asian Greens
• Salad Mix
Greens
IN THE GREENHOUSE

46. Seeded in
January,
transplanted
into the tunnel
in February, will
produce in
spring/summer
BROCCOLI RAAB

47. • GH Seeded
in early
January,
transplanted
to tunnel in
March
• Produces all
year till
October+
HAPPY RICH BROCCOLI

48. • GH Seeded
in early
January,
transplanted
to tunnel in
March
• Produces all
year till
October+
BEIRA KALE

49. GH Seeded
in early
January,
transplanted
to tunnel in
March
Produces for
April & May
ASIAN GREENS

50. GH Seeded in early
January,
transplanted to
tunnel in March
Produces for April &
May
Includes lettuce,
mustards & greens
SALAD MIX GREENS

51. GO PLAY TILL HARVEST! Well..
• Rowcovers left off
as much as
possible to get
sunlight
• Keep humidity
down
• Scout often for
diseases
• Monitor and set
traps for rodents
• Sluggo for slugs
• Water

52. PERCENT USE & VALUE
Map for
efficiency
Value per
square foot
high:
Usually about
$4-$5

53. Winter Weeding
WINTER MAINTENANCE

54. WEEDING
Our Favorite: Dutch
Push Hoe
Walking pace
Incorporate fertilizer
WINTER MAINTENANCE

55. WATERING OVERHEAD
• Good for seed starting
• Use nozzles that empty water out so
don’t freeze
• Out of way
WINTER MAINTENANCE

56. DRIP TAPE
WATERING
• Great for BioTelo
beds
• Can use on all
beds year-round
• Don’t get row
covers wet
WINTER MAINTENANCE

57. HAND WATERING
•
•
•
•
In winter—only about once per month
Even watering
Seed starting & Transplant watering in
Row covers can be left in place
WINTER MAINTENANCE

58. Fusarium &
Mildews
• Root Shield
• RSSI
• Actinovate
DISEASES

59. • Venting most
important!
• Temperature
fluctuations
• +/- 20
degrees
• HAF fans
helpful-6 per
tunnel
Cladosporium leaf spot
WINTER DISEASES

60. LETTUCE ALL WINTER
 DISEASE
RESISTANCE
 NOW SEED
SEPARATELY
 HAPPY CUSTOMERS

61. GREW IN 2012
LEFT TO RIGHT:
• ANNAPOLIS
• DEFENDER
• BLACKHAWK
• SULU
• GARRISON
OTHERS:
• ANTAGO
• FIRECRACKER

62. •
•
•
•
•
FIRECRACKER-1R-6GR-5D
BLACKHAWK-2R-7GR-5D
ANNAPOLIS-3R-5GR-4D
ANTAGO-4R-3GR-3D
GARRISON-5R-4GR-7D
• DEFENDER-1G-2GR-2D
• SULU-2G-1GR-1D
R=RED COLOR
GR=GROWTH
1=BEST
G=GREEN COLOR
D=DISEASE
7=WORST
RATINGS OF LETTUCE FOR SALAD MIX

63. •
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Blade
Spock
Bolsachica
Refugio
Gaviota
Sulu
Trials :
Bixby
Dane
Aerostar
Gem
NEW TRIALS ALWAYS!

64. • New 2012
• Trialed Winter
2012-13
• Seeded 9/30
• Not ready until
March
• Very cold
tolerant
• No disease issues
SALANOVA LETTUCE

65. • Fantastic
efficiency for
harvest
• Cut 8 pounds
in 5 minutes
SALANOVA LETTUCE

66. • Makes a great
quality mix
• Same length
leaves
• Can recut
• Slower to grow
SALANOVA LETTUCE

67. • Trials for 20132014
• Weekly seedings
starting Aug 15
• 8 Varieties
• First seeding
almost ready
• Record dates for
cuts and recuts
SALANOVA
LETTUCE

68. • Venting criticalno moisture!
• Fans help
• Keep row cover
dry
• Actinovate
• Regalia
• Cease
• Double Nickel
• LOTS OF TRIALS!
Downy Mildew in
Lettuce and Greens
WINTER DISEASES

69. Aphids
Ladybugs:
• Buy Early
• Spread weekly
WINTER INSECTS

70. Aphids
Aphidoletes
• Predaceous
midge
Safer Soap
WINTER INSECTS

71. Mites
• Ragged edges on
leaves/ Irregular
leaves
• Microscopic
• Predatory MitesIPM Labs
• Aza-direct
WINTER INSECTS

72. Monitor to
catch early!
SPINACH CROWN MITE

73. VENTS OPEN 24/7 TO KEEP HUMIDITY DOWN

74. WEATHER STATION
SOLAR TEMP HUMIDITY WIND RAIN

75. WEATHER STATION
Wireless 3 Stations Computer
Davis Vantage Pro II

76. WEATHER STATION
Scientific Sales, Inc.– Repeater—Harvest time

77. DATA LOGGERS
44 temperature data loggers with multiple
parameters: Soil temp 1” down, outside temp,
rafter temp, plant height, 1’ up, 6’ up

78. 44 DATA
LOGGERS
JANUARY TO
APRIL 2009
HOURLY TEMP
RECORDINGS
3 DIFFERENT
FARMS

79. •2 Unheated High Tunnels
•2 Ground-Heated High
Tunnels
•1 Heated Low Tunnel & 1
Unheated Low Tunnel

80. LOTS OF DATA!!
Rowcovers varied; Tent heights varied (0, 18”, 2’ to 3’)

81. 80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
2/1/2009 0:00
-10
2/2/2009 0:00
2/3/2009 0:00
2/4/2009 0:00
2/5/2009 0:00
2/6/2009 0:00
2/7/2009 0:00
2/8/2009 0:00
2/9/2009 0:00
-20
H1_no BP_18"hoop_ground (7)
Outside (13)
H1_BP_18"hoop_ground (20)
32ºF
Soil temps: Biotello plastic and No Biotello plastic
under 18” hooped Swiss Chard; Outside temp
Not much difference at night, but daytime
advantage to warm the soil…more growth

82. Down right cold night
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
2/1/2009 0:00
-10
2/2/2009 0:00
2/3/2009 0:00
2/4/2009 0:00
2/5/2009 0:00
2/6/2009 0:00
2/7/2009 0:00
2/8/2009 0:00
2/9/2009 0:00
-20
H2_2rc__no hoop_plant height_spinach (18)
H2_18" hoop_plant height (19)
H2_3' tent_plant height (16)
32ºF
45ºF
Outside (13)
COLD NIGHT: Plant Height (2”):
No hoops; 18” Hoops; 2-3’ Hooped area; Outside
5-10 degree increase in temp the closer rowcover is to
the ground; laying right on crop best for night;
Daytime peak temp all about the same

83. Chilly nights
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
3/6/2009 0:00
-10
3/7/2009 0:00
3/8/2009 0:00
3/9/2009 0:00
3/10/2009 0:00
-20
H2_2rc__no hoop_plant height_spinach (18)
H2_18" hoop_plant height (19)
H2_3' tent_plant height (16)
32ºF
45ºF
Outside (13)
3/11/2009 0:00
3/12/2009 0:00

84. Down right cold night
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
2/1/2009 0:00
-10
2/2/2009 0:00
2/3/2009 0:00
2/4/2009 0:00
2/5/2009 0:00
2/6/2009 0:00
2/7/2009 0:00
2/8/2009 0:00
2/9/2009 0:00
-20
HeatHa_plant height (33)
H2_18" hoop_plant height (19)
H2_3' tent_plant height (16)
32ºF
Plant Height (2”) and outside temp
Heated tunnel; 18” hoops; 2-3’ tent
COLD NIGHT: 5 to 7 degree benefit from
heat at night and 2 to 5 degrees in the
daytime.
WORTH THE COST OF PROPANE or OIL?
Stockpile? Production yields????
45ºF
Outside (13)

85. • Tools
• Specialty
Knives
WINTER HARVESTING

86. • Buckhorn
crates
• Window of
opportunity
for harvest
WINTER HARVESTING

87. • Keep area
clean and
neat—no
debris
• Clean up
bed after
cutting
• Many re-cuts
WINTER HARVESTING

88. WINTER HARVESTING

89. ONE OF OUR FAVORITE THINGS!
GOLF CARTS
• We now have 3
• Easy to drive
• Inexpensive
• Great for kids

90. PROTECTION
ROWCOVER
• 1, 2, 3
• Height
• Hoops

91. Winter Washing
Station for Energy
Savings & Efficiency
•STAINLESS STEEL
•FLOOR MATS
•WARM WATER

92. YIELD DATA

93. DECEMBER
TO APRIL
•Kale
•Swiss chard
•Spinach
•Asian Greens
•Lettuce Mix
•Arugula
•Turnips
•Herbs
Increased weekly
sales by $450 in
08-09

94. SPINACH
FIRST WINTER 2007
Plastic on in January
11 Rows of Spinach
Gross over $10,000
Just one crop!
2009-10 Gross
$16,000 and
$150,000 per acre
2010-11 Winter
9 Variety Trial

95. SPINACH 2011-12
ANOTHER
VARIETY TRIAL
WITH 24+
VARIETIES
• PRODUCTION
BY WEIGHT
PER FOOT
• COLOR
• HARVEST TIME
• VT Veg & Berry
Website Results

96. AMERICA
BAHAMAS
CORVAIR
CROCODILE
DONKEY
EMILIA
EMU
ERSTE ERNTE
GIANT WINTER
LAZIO
LOMBARDIA
MENORCA
TYEE
QUEEN
RACCOON
RED KITTEN
REFLECT
REGIMENT
SAMISH
SEVEN GRN
SPACE
SPARGO
ST HELENS
TARPY
24 VARIETIES FOR 2011-12 WINTER TRIALS

97. NOT A SIMPLE
LIST!!
• SOME EARLY
• SOME LATE
• UPRIGHT
• FLAT
• SPACING
• DIRECT SEED
• TRANSPLANT
SUMMARY

98. AMERICA
BAHAMAS
CORVAIR
CROCODILE
DONKEY
EMILIA
EMU
ERSTE ERNTE
GIANT WINTER
LAZIO
LOMBARDIA
MENORCA
7
5
9
9
7-8
7
5
2
3
8
5-7
8
QUEEN
7
RACCOON 6-8
RED KITTEN
8
REFLECT
4-5
REGIMENT
7-8
SAMISH
8
SEVEN GREEN 7
SPACE
5-8
SPARGO
8
ST HELENS
7
TARPY
6
TYEE
7
COLOR RATED JAN 1ST 1 TO 10 (10 BEST)

99. FEB 16
1
2
3
4
5
6
6
6
7
7
7
7
8
9
9
9
9
9
10
10
10
10
SPACE
LOMBARDIA
LOMBARDIA
REGIMENT
ST HELENS
REFLECT
LOMBARDIA
GIANT WINTER
SAMISH
DONKEY
EMU
ST HELENS
GIANT WINTER
LOMBARDIA
EMILIA
ERSTE ERNTE
REGIMENT
CORVAIR
7 GRN
RACCOON
GIANT WINTER
TYEE
MAR 8
11
SPACE
11
LOMBARDIA
11
REGIMENT
11
LOMBARDIA
11
ST HELENS
11
SAMISH
11
DONKEY
12
EMU
12
GIANT WINTER
12
REFLECT
12
SPACE
12
BAHAMAS
12
TARPY
13
ST HELENS
13
7 GRN
13
LOMBARDIA
13
14
15
16
16
OPERATING FRM
MAR 8
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
7
8
8
9
10
10
10
10
10
YIELDS CAN VARY!!
EMILIA
SAMISH
LOMBARDIA
LOMBARDIA
RACCOON
QUEEN
SPARGO
RED KITTEN
TYEE
LOMBARDIA
GIANT WINTER
CORVAIR
ERSTE ERNTE
REGIMENT
ST HELENS
GIANT WINTER
CORVAIR
SPACE
CORVAIR
EMU
TYEE

100. Winter Tunnels
increased Sales
W
$1200 per week
‘09-10

101. SWISS CHARD: 800 square feet yielded
$4998 for one winter season

102. •Perfecting the
systems
•More per
square foot
•Yielded $1630
per week
•Markets
building every
year
2010-11

103. •Every year different
•Weather variables
•Diversity Important
2011-12

104. •Asian Greens 11/12 to 5/19 $4,116
•Arugula 11/19 to 4/28 $4,039
•Spinach 11/25 to 4/3 $12,858
•Swiss Chard 12/17 to 6/20 $7,440
•Salad Mix 1/1 to 6/1 $18,484
•Kale 1/28 to 5/12 $3,291
TOTAL: $50,228 Gross
2 Tunnels-6 Crops!
TOTALS 2011-12

105. Averaged approximately 120 pounds of
greens weekly out of the three tunnels
TOTALS 2012-13

106. ALWAYS NEW THINGS TO TRIAL!
TURNIPS
ONIONS-FORUM & BRIDGER

107. SEASON EXTENSION INCREASES PROFITS IN
THE SPRING…..

108. AS WELL AS
IN THE
WINTER!!

109. SUMMARY
• LARGE INVESTMENT
• FAST PAYBACK
• COST $20,000 to $30,000
• LESS THAN TWO YEAR PAYBACK
FOR EACH
• PRODUCTION HIGH—LABOR LOW
• MUST BE GOOD MARKETER
• IMPROVING EVERY YEAR

110. HOW WE GET OUR
ELECTRICITY….
SOLAR, SOLAR & MORE
SOLAR!
2007-10kW
2012-19kW
NETMETERED

111. Zion
National
Park
EXCITING FAMILY
ADVENTURES ARE
IMPORTANT TO US!
TAKE TIME TO
ENJOY LIFE, FAMILY
& FRIENDS!
Bryce Canyon National Park
WE LOVE FARMING FOR THE
LIFESTYLE IT GIVES & THE
GREAT QUALITY OF LIFE!

112. THANKS AND HAVE A GREAT
2014 SEASON!
Hawaii 2006
Alaska, Glacier 2011