This spring we’ve been busy building four more new high-tunnels to grow tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers in. When we’re finished we will have three 17’x96’ and six 17’x144’ high-tunnels on our farm, almost a half acre under cover.
Putting the top purlin on a new high-tunnel
A high-tunnel is an un-heated greenhouse built in the field for the purpose of season extension. The crops we grow in them are planted directly in the ground, unlike typical “hot-house” style where plants are grown in sterile “soil-less media” and fed a diet of pre formulated chemical fertilizer. We feel this gives the tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers a more vibrant flavor.
One great thing about high-tunnel production is the extended season. We typically only harvest tomatoes from the field for about 3 to 6 weeks, but in the high-tunnels we can pick high-quality heirloom tomatoes from the first week of August until the end of October.
