Discussion forum for the various methods and structures used for getting an early start on your growing season, extending it for several weeks or even year 'round.
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#1 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Illinois, zone 6
Posts: 8,407
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Does anyone grow in low tunnels, or at least start in the spring under them? I am thinking about building one or two next spring.
I'm looking at this bender: http://shop.hoopbenders.net/cropprotectionrowcover.aspx What I have not yet decided on is whether or not I need the purlin bar down the center. The cheapest design would be just the hoops, like this one: http://countyrailfarm.com/2013/03/04...tunnel-bender/ I am thinking at the moment that I will run a 2x4 baseboard down one side and screw the plastic to that board with smaller boards. And then the other side can be held down with sandbags. When I need to get to the plants, I can pull the plastic from under the sand bags, but the board attachment will keep it from all flying away if it is windy. I will probably make plywood ends to the tunnels. On a sunny day, both ends will be open, anyway. Plywood seems easy. I have a lot of early, compact, determinate cherry varieties that I think would fit in the tunnel. I know for sure that Terrenzo would be perfect, if I wanted to buy hybrid seed. I have grown that variety before, and I like it. It's DTM is in the 50's. My goal would be to have early cherry tomatoes to sell at the farmer's market, alongside my high tunnel tomatoes. The low tunnel is a cheaper way to grow under plastic. I think it will work, as long as I choose the right varieties. I have a soil that tends to make giant plants, so varieties that a seed company calls "compact" still get 7' tall. I've grown Terrenzo in 10" hanging baskets, bit in my soil it gets much bigger, occupying about a cubic yard of space. |
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#2 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Vermont
Posts: 1,001
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I made my quickhoop bender out of a scrap of 2X10 lumber. I cut an arc, then routed a groove on the curve to hold and support the pipe (half-inch conduit) as I bend it. A strap screwed on one end holds the pipe while I bend. Also, I found that pvc conduit cut into 18" lengths, sharpened on one end, driven into the ground 10" or so make nice ground posts for the hoops to slide into - much easier than trying to push the hoops into the ground. I just hold the plastic down with firewood on both sides. That way I can access either side equally inconveniently. So far I have only used them at the end of the season to keep peppers, leeks, and Brussels sprouts going long past first frost.
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"Red meat is NOT bad for you. Now blue-green meat, THAT'S bad for you!" -- Tommy Smothers |
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#3 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Den of Drunken Fools
Posts: 38,539
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This is why I want a tubing roller.
Any pipe any size any radius. ![]() Worth ![]() |
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#4 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Near Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 1,940
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I have a low tunnel made from PVC bent into an arc - because it is on a 4ft wide raised bed, they all came out very even. Covered with a remnant piece of 4 mil greenhouse plastic. You can find these cheaply on web sites that sell the material to others - ends of rolls are inexpensive but watch shipping costs. I should probably tie in a ridge pole for stability in wind and snow, but it is in a protected spot. Great for lettuce and a variety of greens.
I really want a high tunnel so I can walk in on a cold winter day! ![]() How do folks solve the issue of ventilation of low tunnels on sunny days? The small size means it heats up quickly in the sun, and I am not available to cover/uncover all day long. Does anyone have a good solution to this issue? ![]() |
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#5 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Colorado
Posts: 124
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I use low tunnels on some of my watermelon and cantaloupe. I use #9(3/16") wire for the hoops, they are placed every 6'. I bought the hoops pre-formed from Marvels Plastic. I cover the hoops with 76" clear perforated plastic and cover the edges and ends with dirt. The extra heat and wind protection early make about a 2-3 week difference in days to harvest. I leave the tunnels on till the first blossoms set then remove them. The dirt on the edges pulls the plastic tight so there is no need for a purlin. We get very strong winds here on the front range and the tunnels have survived well. With the perforated plastic I have seen very little cooking of the plants and don't open the ends because if the wind gets under the cover it's headed to the next county in the blink of an eye.
Marcus |
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#6 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: ohio
Posts: 4,350
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I do low tunnels but with poly cover not greenhouse plastic. I start tomatoes and zucchini in them in april (which is about 4-6 weeks before you can plant out here) and trench the edges under with dirt shovels on it after one of us tightens the cover the other shovels a little dirt on it all the way down the row. BUT if you get a freeze you may as well start over with the tomatoes. They will not come through it and produce well. They may survive, but they dont thrive.
We bought wire hoops for the tunnel from Yoder's. 64" spring steel hoops for 100/$33.00 and we reuse them every year. They are great to protect many a crop. Some from bugs, some from dirt... like lettuce, and for the cold or for shade. We don't limit using them to extending the season.
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carolyn k Last edited by clkeiper; December 11, 2015 at 07:25 PM. |
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#7 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Wasilla Alaska
Posts: 2,010
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A good friend of mine is the master at using row cover to start plants under to get a jump start on the season. I have also used these on a smaller scale for corn, which does not like the cold Alaskan soil.
Anyway, I think starting tomatoes under these then taking off plastic after the ground has warmed, will affect seasonal yields by increasing length of the season, just like any other crop. Irt covers the row, then plastic on hoops over that, about 3ft wide or so, not as tall, tension wire hoops work great, and they are super cheap, just buy a roll of wire and cut it. You will have to use drip irrigation, or something of like to water though, at least until you pull the plastic cover off. Here's a decent example I found online. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/cv201 |
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#8 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 4,488
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Scott AKA The Redbaron "Permaculture is a philosophy of working with, rather than against nature; of protracted & thoughtful observation rather than protracted & thoughtless labour; & of looking at plants & animals in all their functions, rather than treating any area as a single-product system." Bill Mollison co-founder of permaculture |
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#9 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Illinois, zone 6
Posts: 8,407
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Thanks for all the replies.
I saw that Harris sells slitted row cover: https://www.harrisseeds.com/storefro...d-6-x-250.aspx They also sell a punched hole row cover: https://www.harrisseeds.com/storefro...d-6-x-250.aspx I have no idea which of the two products would be better for tomatoes. Maybe slitted, so the plants don't get wet on a cold rainy day? |
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#10 |
BANNED FOR LIFE
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 13,333
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Just a thought:
Make the tunnels look more like a long house. It doesn't matter how tall you choose to make it, but I'll use these measurements as an example. Put in 4' stakes down the middle of your row then 2.5' stakes down each side a foot or so away. Run a nylon string on top of the length of the 4' stakes and do the on the same on the 2.5' stakes. At the bottom of the outer 2.5' stakes, run more nylon string. Throw plastic or whatever you like on this and secure the bottom to the nylon string with clothespins - or whatever you come up with. That way when global changes happen - you can open up the lower part to get some air. If I were to build a lower tunnel - that's my initial thoughts. |
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#11 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Vermont
Posts: 1,001
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Cool idea, but here's one concern. If it rains, water will pool in the sags between the horizontal strings, getting heavier and heavier until the whole thing comes crashing down. Or, if you catch it in time you slit the plastic strategically so the pooling water drains. Don't ask me why I feel this might be a concern... I have learned that a single string across the peak of my low hoops works best.
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"Red meat is NOT bad for you. Now blue-green meat, THAT'S bad for you!" -- Tommy Smothers |
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#12 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: San Diego-Tijuana
Posts: 2,598
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It's getting cold here and I'll need to protect my winter children. keep the ideas coming please.
I've never really looked for it specifically, but does Lowe's or HD carry any material that could work? |
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#13 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Illinois, zone 6
Posts: 8,407
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They sell construction plastic, with no UV inhibitor. I priced it, and it's not much cheaper than getting a UV-protected greenhouse type plastic.
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#14 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Den of Drunken Fools
Posts: 38,539
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It will break up into smaller and smaller flakes just like the garbage floating around in the ocean. Worth |
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#15 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Sunol, CA
Posts: 2,723
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Check out the extent of growing under plastic in El Ejido Spain. The whole region is covered in plastic.
Yes. All the white is plastic. |
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