When we surveyed Indiana high tunnel producers eight years ago, about two-thirds of the operations grew cool season crops for harvest from November to March. Although spring field planting season is just underway, it is not too early to plan for markets and organize a production schedule for fall. This article summarizes common crops and[Read More…]
High Tunnels
The April 8th solar eclipse reduced temperature and light for a period in the afternoon of an otherwise mostly sunny day. Sensors in an unheated high tunnel with open end walls at the Pinney Purdue Ag Center, Wanatah, IN, captured the change as the moon covered 96% of the sun (Figure 1). The air temperature[Read More…]
Over the past two years, we’ve been testing various cucumber cultivars to see which ones are most vulnerable to pests in high tunnel systems. We split the cucumbers into two groups based on fruit characteristics for a fair comparison. The first group consists of pickle-type cucumbers, known for being small, blocky, and having thin skin.[Read More…]
Are you looking to enhance your knowledge of soil fertility management in high tunnel farming? Look no further! Let’s explore the crucial aspects of High Tunnel Soil Fertility Management that can help you grow abundant and healthy crops. Spring has arrived, and with it comes the excitement of planting cool and warm-season crops. If you[Read More…]
Over the past year, we conducted a comparative study on microclimate conditions within caterpillar tunnels and high tunnels at five farms in Indiana. This initiative was prompted by the growing interest in employing caterpillar tunnels for season-extension vegetable production among small and diversified farms. Caterpillar tunnels, typically lower in height than permanent high tunnels, stand[Read More…]
Background Tomato pinworm “TPW” (Keiferia lycopersicella) is a small microlepidopteran pest of solanaceous crops with a strong preference for tomato (Figure 1). It naturally occurs in warm climates of the U.S., including Texas, Florida, Hawaii, and California. It cannot survive outdoors in temperate climates, such as Indiana, where winter temperatures exceed a low threshold of[Read More…]