Using High Tunnels to Extend the Growing Season
High tunnels are simply very basic greenhouse structures that are often unheated.  Much cheaper than regular greenhouses, high tunnels offer a way for growers to extend their season either by coming in earlier in the spring and/or later in the fall.  High tunnels are often employed to grow tomatoes or other high value crops in the spring.  This way, growers can get up to a month’s jump on the season and get to market earlier with a product, when prices are highest. In fact, many high-tunnel growers are finished marketing their spring product by the time field-grown vegetables hit the market. 

High tunnels can also extend a grower’s season into the fall after field production has all but finished. This way growers can capitalize on rising prices due to a scarcity of product.  During cold winter months some farmers’ grow greens in their high-tunnels.  In Kentucky’s climate, high tunnels generally offer enough protection that many types of greens can be grown through the winter. 

High tunnels are not new in Kentucky. They were evaluated by University of Kentucky Professor of Horticulture Emery Emmert in the 1950’s.  However, they did not catch on in Kentucky. 

High tunnels have been very successful in Europe and Asia where they are used extensively to grow anything from tomatoes to brambles to tree fruit such as peaches.   High tunnels have increased in numbers as of late.  Not only do they give a grower a jump on the season, as discussed above, they also can  increase the quality of the crop grown.  Because the tunnels prevent rainsplash, the severity of many waterborne diseases is decreased.  Because the grower has more control over water, they also help decrease problems such as cracking in tomatoes.   High tunnel usage is expected to grow significantly in Kentucky as our farmers find new and unique ways to utilized these structures.

[return]