Commercial High Tunnel Vegetable Production Systems
Dave Wildung,
Professor, Horticulture, North Central Research and Outreach
Center, Grand Rapids, MN
Jerry Wright, Associate Professor, West Central Research and
Outreach Center, Morris, MN
Terry Nennich, Regional Extension Educator, University of
Minnesota–Crookston,
MN
Carl Rosen, Professor, Soil, Water and Climate
Funding Source
University of Minnesota Central Regional Sustainable
Partnership, Minnesota Fruit and Vegetable Growers–USDA
Risk Management Program, Irrigators Association of Minnesota,
Minnesota Agricultural
Experiment Station
Objective
- Evaluate the effectiveness of a high tunnel production
system on the growth of tomatoes and cucumbers
compared to conventional
outdoor irrigated plantings
- Investigate the water usage
and nitrogen needs of drip irrigated high tunnel tomatoes
in northern Minnesota
- Provide educational opportunities for area
growers
Need
or Impact
Commercial farmer market producers and others are
interested in the feasibility of applying high tunnel production
systems in their vegetable production systems to increase
the earliness
of harvest and extend the growing season in to the
fall. Irrigation is a major component in making the system
work, and information
on water needs are necessary to fine-tune an operator’s
scheduling tasks.
Project Status
In-field research was established in 2005 at
the Staples Ag Center and the North Central Research and Outreach
Center at Grand Rapids. Studies show that water
usage is between
1/2 to
2/3 gallons per plant per day between mid-June and
mid-September. Grant dollars are being sought for 2006.
Research results
are being shared with central Minnesota producers
at several workshops
sponsored by the University of Minnesota Extension
Service and the Minnesota Fruit and Vegetable Growers
Association.
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