High_Tunnel_Fact_Sheet.pdf — PaddleOCR-VL (Baidu)

Crop selection and Rotation

Warm Season Crops: Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, cucumbers, and melons.
Cool Season Crops (Fall & Winter): Lettuce, spinach, kale, radishes, and carrots.
Choose crops based on market demand and projected returns per unit of production area.
Choose determinant or compact cultivars for easier management, pest control, and harvesting in confined tunnel spaces.
Avoid continuous cultivation of high-value crops from the same botanical family to prevent soil health issues.
Implement a crop rotation schedule tailored to the specific needs of each crop family in high tunnel production.

Photo Credit: KSU High Tunnel under construction. (Photo by Jonathan Palmer, Media Specialist, Kentucky State University)

Sources

Construction

Planning & Material Selection:

Choose durable, weather-resistant materials (UV resistant, impact-resistant).
Ensure the structure can withstand snow, wind, and rain.
Steel tubing or fence pipes are used for frame construction. Posts should be driven into soil to support the hoops.
Pressure-treated lumber baseboard should be bolted to posts for frame rigidity.
Frame poles sunk 2-3 feet into the ground and set with concrete for stability.
Movable high tunnels require an anchor post for attachment.
Follow manufactures instructions to assemble frame

Covering & Light Management:

Use greenhouse-grade polyethylene for cost-effective coverage.
Properly secure the polyethylene to prevent wind damage.
Replace plastic covering every 4-5 years as light transmission decreases.
For summer cool-season crop production, use shade cloth to reduce light intensity and temperature.

Regulations & Permits:

Check with local authorities for required permits and regulations before construction.

EQIP Seasonal High Tunnel Initiative:

USDA NRCS funding supports season extension for high-value crops. Contact your local NRCS for additional information.

Eligibility Requirements:

High tunnel must be 6 feet tall, covered with 6-mil greenhouse film, and unheated.
Grower must provide crop production data.
Must have $1,000 in annual agricultural sales or submit a business plan to meet the requirements.

Bartok, J.W. (2007). High Tunnels - Low-Cost Seasonal Growth Space. University of Massachusetts Amherst Center for Agriculture, Food and the

Environment https://ag.umass.edu/greenhouse-floriculture/fact-sheets/high-tunnels-low-cost-seasonal-growth-space

Dunn, B., Vinson, M., Brandenberger, L. (2017). High Tunnels. Oklahoma State University Press.

https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/hightunnels.html#:~:text=High%20tunnels%20are%20unheated%2C%20plastic,as%20leafy%20greens%20and%20tomatoes.EQIR High Tunnel System Initiative https://www.prcs.usda.gov/programs_initiatives/again_high_tunnel_initiative

EQIP High Tunnel System Initiative. https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs-initiatives/eqip-high-tunnel-initiative

Harper, J.K., Ford, T., Kime, L., Bogash, S. (2023). High Tunnel Production. Penn State Extension. https://extension.psu.edu/high-tunnel-production

Natural Resources Conservation Service (2024). Growing All Seasons: High Tunnels. U.S. Department of Agriculture. https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/getting-assistance/other-topics/organic/nrcs-assistance-for-organic-farmers/growing-all-seasons-high-tunnels

Kaiser, C., Ernst, M. (2021). High Tunnel Overview. University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Cooperative Extension Service. https://www.uky.edu/ccd/sites/www.uky.edu.ccd/files/hightunneloverview.pdf