High tunnel planting scheduling: Working out a schedule for successive plantings

High tunnels offer flexibility in crop production and can handle diverse crops from asparagus to zucchinis and many crops in between. High tunnels create an environment, one hardiness zone warmer than the field. The only time not to plant is when daylight does not allow any growth at all, but one can schedule crops in high tunnel to continue all year long. Once day length exceeds 10 hrs per day in late January, seeding of plants in high tunnels can commence, especially with adequate soil temperatures (>55°F). The cropping system should take advantage of season extension while ensuring good use of high tunnel space. The capability of starting your own seeds or having a source of seedlings or planting material whenever needed is important. Growers involved in supplying their CSAs, local restaurants and wholesale markets are always thinking ahead and should develop a good successive planting schedule.

At this time high tunnel producers are done with winter production season and have moved on to spring production. In hind sight, and with this past winter season in mind, early planting and establishment of crops is very important. October 15 should be the latest fall planting date considered for winter harvesting. Having gone through a long, comparatively cold winter, some lessons have been learned. Provision of minimal supplemental heating during extreme cold situations and an inside layer of row covers help a great deal. During the winter months, one needs reliable production of spinach, lettuce, radish, carrots etc. Cultivars of these crops that may be tolerant of freezing temperatures should be considered. Part of the winter’s activities involves pulling out some fall plantings in January or February to open space for re-seeding. The crops to be removed could be lettuce, cilantro, Asian greens, claytonia, corn mache, kale or any other crops in the decline. End of winter and spring management of the high tunnel is often marred with uncertainties of what best to plant and plans for the main planting season.

Click here for the complete article and an example of a schedule at extension.udel.edu