High Tunnel Fruit and Vegetable Production

1. High Tunnel Fruit and Vegetable Production Lesson SEVEN: High tunnel bed arrangement and plant spacing

2. Video • Plant Spacing Video • After watching this video, discuss why plant spacing is important.

3. Objectives Explain how planting bed arrangement can affect yields and income. Discuss how plants can be arranged for maximum efficiency and productivity.

4. Importance of Space Utilization Efficient and productive space utilization is as important in a high tunnel as it is in a greenhouse. The greater percentage of space utilized in crop production will result in increased profit per square foot. Some areas need to be open for ready access to all portions of the tunnel. A good tunnel arrangement optimizes crop production and accessibility.

5. Two types of Bed Arrangements Longitudinal Lateral

6. Longitudinal Bed Arrangement • Most typical arrangement in high tunnels • Advantages • Practical for laying plastic and drip lines • Efficient installation and management of trellises and row covers • Long rows are a desirable arrangement for single-crop production • Disadvantages • Plants grown along the sides of a high tunnel may exhibit an “edge effect,” displaying poorer growth due to: • cooler temperatures in the spring • wet soils from inadequate drainage • wind damage.

7. Lateral Bed Arrangement A desired arrangement when several different crops are grown or different planting times are scheduled Provides slightly more growing space than beds arranged longitudinally in the high tunnel Configuring lateral beds north-south in a high tunnel with an east-west orientation will result in less shading.

8. Plant Spacing • Increased plant populations made feasible by: • Trellising • Dry (no rain) environment • Plant populations can be increased to nearly double the plant density of field-grown crops. • Crops requiring more growing room are typically planted in single rows within the bed.

9. Plant Spacing Many crops can be planted in double rows (twin rows) within one bed or strip of plastic. The two rows are typically spaced 12 to 18 inches apart. Staggering the plants so that two plants in double rows are not side-by-side allows for closer planting with adequate room for growth.

10. Trellising • Advantages: • Improves light interception by the crop canopy • Makes harvest easier • Improves pollination • Reduces damage to plants during harvest • Required if growing melons in addition to other crops in a high tunnel • Without the use of trellises, melon vines will overrun other plants if not trained.

11. Summary Bed arrangement and plant spacing are important for increasing yields and productivity of crops, which leads to an increase in income from produce.

12. Reflection • Answer the following questions on a separate piece of paper. • If you were to own a high tunnel, how would you choose to arrange the planting beds? Why did you choose this arrangement? • Would you plant one crop or multiple crops? • What is the benefit of staggering the plants? • Besides melons, what is another crop that might benefit from trellising?