Profitable Production of

Quality Winter Greens in

Unheated High Tunnels

December 2013

Paul & Sandy Arnold

Pleasant Valley Farm

Argyle, New York

OUR 10 KEY FACTORS TO

REACHING OUR GOAL OF
PROFITABLE FARMING

INEXPENSIVE START-UP WITH SMART EXPENDITURES

GOOD BUSINESS MANAGEMENT & RECORD KEEPING

LABOR EFFICIENCIES TO MAXIMIZE PROFITS
EFFICIENT PRODUCTION SYSTEMS & SOIL MANAGEMENT
MULCHING AND WEED CONTROL
PEST AND DISEASE MANAGEMENT
SEASON EXTENSION-ROWCOVERS & FIELDHOUSES
YEAR-ROUND HIGH TUNNEL PRODUCTION
POST-HARVEST HANDLING AND CROP STORAGE
CREATIVE MARKETING

 5 Acres Mixed Diverse Vegetables

Acre Large Fruits
Acre Small Fruits
Perennials & Herbs From Seed
3-4 Acres Cover Crops
Sell at 3 local weekly farmers markets in
summer & two Saturday winter markets
Hay fields used by local Beefalo farmer

PLEASANT VALLEY FARM

1988-1998

GETTING OLD??
NEED LESS MAINTENANCE!

HIGH TUNNELS

2006 30X144
2008 34X144
2012 34X144

3 RIMOL HIGH TUNNELS

Drain tile
Polycarbonate
No wood
Utilities
Auto Roll-up Sides

CONSTRUCTION DETAILS

SUN DRIVEN SYSTEMNO HEAT

WINTER PRODUCTION

IN HIGH TUNNELS

 Soil Tests
A&L Labs
Compost

SOIL PREPARATION

 Organic
Fertilizer
Micros
CNG

FERTILITY

 Chisel
Plow
Rototill
Plant

ROTOTILLING

CROPS WE GROW

Kale
CROPS
Swiss
chard
VARIETIES
Spinach
SEEDING
DATES
Asian Greens
SPACING
Lettuce Mix
PERCENT
Arugula
USE

Broccoli

DECEMBER TOTO
MAY
DECEMBER
MAY

VARIETIES
Kale: Red Russian, White Russian, Winterbor
Swiss chard: Bright Lights
Spinach: TRIALS
Lettuce Mix: Disease resistant varieties;
Mustards
Arugula: Astro, Regular

DECEMBER TO MAY

Asian Greens: Tokyo Bekana,

Yukina Savoy, Vitamin Green,
Tatsoi, Red Choi, Black Summer,
Mei Qing Choi, Joi Choi

LETTUCE ALL WINTER

DISEASE
RESISTANCE
NOW SEED
SEPARATELY
HAPPY CUSTOMERS

WE RATE OUR LETTUCE VARIETIES

EACH WINTER BY:
COLOR-RED AND GREEN
GROWTH
DISEASE RESISTANCE
R=RED COLOR
GR=GROWTH
1=BEST

G=GREEN COLOR
D=DISEASE
7=WORST

RATINGS OF LETTUCE FOR SALAD MIX

Blade
Spock
Bolsachica
Refugio
Gaviota
Sulu
Trials :
Bixby
Dane
Aerostar
Gem

NEW TRIALS ALWAYS!

 New 2012
Trialed Winter
2012-13
Seeded 9/30
Not ready until
March
Very cold
tolerant
No disease issues

SALANOVA LETTUCE

 Fantastic
efficiency for
harvest
Cut 8 pounds
in 5 minutes

SALANOVA LETTUCE

 Makes a great
quality mix
Same length
leaves
Can recut
Slower to grow

SALANOVA LETTUCE

 Trials for 20132014

Weekly seedings
starting Aug 15
8 Varieties
First seeding
almost ready
Record dates for
cuts and recuts

SALANOVA
LETTUCE

SPINACH VARIETIES
2011-12 VARIETY
TRIAL WITH 24+
VARIETIES
PRODUCTION BY
WEIGHT PER FOOT
COLOR
HARVEST TIME
VT Veg & Berry
Website Results

http://www.uvm.edu/vtve
gandberry/meetings/mee
tlist.html

AMERICA
BAHAMAS
CORVAIR
CROCODILE
DONKEY
EMILIA
EMU
ERSTE ERNTE
GIANT WINTER
LAZIO
LOMBARDIA
MENORCA

TYEE
QUEEN
RACCOON
RED KITTEN
REFLECT
REGIMENT
SAMISH
SEVEN GRN
SPACE
SPARGO
ST HELENS
TARPY

24 VARIETIES FOR 2011-12 WINTER TRIALS

AMERICA
BAHAMAS
CORVAIR
CROCODILE
DONKEY
EMILIA
EMU
ERSTE ERNTE
GIANT WINTER
LAZIO
LOMBARDIA
MENORCA

7
5
9
9
7-8
7
5
2
3
8
5-7
8

QUEEN
7
RACCOON 6-8
RED KITTEN
8
REFLECT
4-5
REGIMENT
7-8
SAMISH
8
SEVEN GREEN 7
SPACE
5-8
SPARGO
8
ST HELENS
7
TARPY
6
TYEE
7

COLOR RATED JAN 1ST 1 TO 10 (10 BEST)

FEB 16
1
2
3
4
5
6
6
6
7
7
7
7
8
9
9
9
9
9
10
10
10
10

SPACE
LOMBARDIA
LOMBARDIA
REGIMENT
ST HELENS
REFLECT
LOMBARDIA
GIANT WINTER
SAMISH
DONKEY
EMU
ST HELENS
GIANT WINTER
LOMBARDIA
EMILIA
ERSTE ERNTE
REGIMENT
CORVAIR
7 GRN
RACCOON
GIANT WINTER
TYEE

MAR 8
11
SPACE
11
LOMBARDIA
11
REGIMENT
11
LOMBARDIA
11
ST HELENS
11
SAMISH
11
DONKEY
12
EMU
12
GIANT WINTER
12
REFLECT
12
SPACE
12
BAHAMAS
12
TARPY
13
ST HELENS
13
7 GRN
13
LOMBARDIA
13
14
15
16
OPERATING FRM16

MAR 8
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
7
8
8
9
10
10
10
10
10

YIELDS CAN VARY!!

EMILIA
SAMISH
LOMBARDIA
LOMBARDIA
RACCOON
QUEEN
SPARGO
RED KITTEN
TYEE
LOMBARDIA
GIANT WINTER
CORVAIR
ERSTE ERNTE
REGIMENT
ST HELENS
GIANT WINTER
CORVAIR
SPACE
CORVAIR
EMU
TYEE

NOT A SIMPLE
LIST!!
SOME EARLY
SOME LATE
UPRIGHT
FLAT
SPACING
DIRECT SEED
TRANSPLANT

SUMMARY

SPINACH VARIETIES

TOP 10
SPINACH??
SPACE
RACCOON
LOMBARDIA
REFLECT
GIANT
WINTER
PIGEON
LOMBARDIA
DONKEY
SAMISH
EMU
++NEW ONES

GREENHOUSE
SEEDING DATES

SEED STRIPS, SPEEDLING, WINSTRIPS

Must be on special list to

get imported Winstrips
from Korea-ask!

SEEDING TRAYS

KALE & SWISS CHARD

SEEDED JULY 15TH

 Asian Greens- Sept 1st

to Oct 15th

Spinach- Sept
20th to Oct 1st

GREENHOUSE
SEEDING DATES

TRANSPLANT UP
TRANSPLANTS ALLOW
SUMMER PRODUCE
TO CONTINUE
PRODUCING IN
TUNNELS
CAN POT UP IF
NECESSARY
DEPENDING ON
VALUE OF TUNNEL
CROPS LIKE
TOMATOES

HAVE READY TO PLANT IN TUNNEL

ABOUT OCTOBER 15TH

PREPARE TUNNEL MID-LATE OCTOBER

6 BEDS IN 30 WIDE
TUNNEL
7 BEDS IN 34 WIDE
TUNNEL
ROTOTILL AND FORM
BEDS BY HAND WITH A
SHOVELTAKES
APPROX 5 HOURS
BEDS ABOUT 3.5 FT
WIDE
LAY BIOTELLO BY
HAND TO SAVE SPACE

ROCK DOWN BIOTELLO---ADD STRAW TO PATHS

PLANT TRANSPLANTS

5 Rows per bed

3 Rows of Kale or
Swiss Chard with 2
rows of Asian
Greens inbetween

TEAGLE TOMAHAWK FOR MULCH

MUST PLANT BY NOVEMBER 1ST

FRENCH INTENSIVE METHOD

Asian Greens
for Braising Mix
Tokyo
Bekana
Yukina
Savoy
Vitamin
Green

Swiss Chard and Asian Greens

FRENCH INTENSIVE METHOD

Asian Greens
also named
Large leaf
mesclun mix!
Start harvesting
December/Jan
uarylove
cold
Kale & Swiss
Chard dormant
till late Feb
unless warm!

Kale and Asian Greens

8 x 12 for
Kale
Swiss chard
Asian Greens
Happy Rich
Broccoli
4 X14 for
Broccoli
Raab

SPACING

 SpinachFrom
Transplants
with 3-4 seeds
per cell: 5x8
SpinachDirect
Seeded 8
between
rows

SPACING

DIRECT SEEDING DATES

OCTOBER 1st
OPTIMUM FOR US
(some years!)
LETTUCE for Salad Mix
MUSTARDS-Reds,
Greens
SPINACH
ASIAN GREENSMizuna, Tatsoi, etc

WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY
SEPTEMBER 20TH TO OCT 10TH

FIND YOUR
DATE!
THE WINTER HARVEST
HANDBOOK BY ELIOT
COLEMAN
Time of seedings are
criticalSuccessive
seedings gives
consistency
Weather is a
changing factor

SPACING
Lettuce, Asian
Greens & Mustards
for Salad Mix
Arugula
2 inches
Separate varieties
Earthway Seeder
or Jang

ARUGULA
Successive
seedings
Oct 1st to
Nov 15th
Astro
&
Regular

JANUARY SEEDINGS

Asian Greens
Salad Mix
Greens

IN THE GREENHOUSE

GH Seeded
in early
January,
transplanted
to tunnel in
March
Produces for
April & May

ASIAN GREENS

GH Seeded in early
January,
transplanted to
tunnel in March
Produces for April &
May
Includes lettuce,
mustards & greens

SALAD MIX GREENS

GO PLAY TILL HARVEST! Well..

Rowcovers left off
as much as
possible to get
sunlight
Keep humidity
down
Scout often for
diseases
Monitor and set
traps for rodents
Sluggo for slugs
Water

PERCENT USE & VALUE

Map for
efficiency
Value per
square foot
high:
Usually about
$4-$5

Winter Weeding

WINTER MAINTENANCE

WEEDING

Our Favorite: Dutch

Push Hoe
Walking pace
Incorporate fertilizer

WINTER MAINTENANCE

WATERING OVERHEAD

Good for seed starting

Use nozzles that empty water out so
dont freeze
Out of way

WINTER MAINTENANCE

DRIP TAPE
WATERING

Great for BioTelo

beds
Can use on all
beds year-round
Dont get row
covers wet

WINTER MAINTENANCE

HAND WATERING

In winteronly about once per month

Even watering
Seed starting & Transplant watering in
Row covers can be left in place

WINTER MAINTENANCE

Fusarium &
Mildews
Root Shield
Root Shield Plus
Actinovate
Greenhouse
drench and
Tunnel Drench
Re-drench every
6 to 8 weeks if
disease

DISEASES

 Venting most
important!
Temperature
fluctuations
+/- 20
degrees
HAF fans
helpful-6 per
tunnel

Cladosporium leaf spot

WINTER DISEASES

 Venting criticalno moisture!

Fans help
Keep row cover
dry
Actinovate
Regalia
Cease
Double Nickel
LOTS OF TRIALS!

Downy Mildew in
Lettuce and Greens

WINTER DISEASES

Aphids
Ladybugs:
Buy Early
Spread weekly

WINTER INSECTS

Aphids
Aphidoletes
Predaceous
midge

Safer Soap

WINTER INSECTS

Mites
Microscopic

Predatory
Mites-IPM Labs
Aza-direct

WINTER INSECTS

Ragged edges
on leaves/
Irregular
leaves
Monitor to
catch early!

SPINACH CROWN MITE

LESS THAN 85%

HUMIDITY

VENTS OPEN 24/7 TO KEEP HUMIDITY DOWN

WEATHER STATION

SOLAR TEMP HUMIDITY WIND RAIN

WEATHER STATION

Wireless 3 Stations Computer

Davis Vantage Pro II

WEATHER STATION

Scientific Sales, Inc. RepeaterHarvest time

DATA LOGGERS

44 temperature data loggers with multiple

parameters: Soil temp 1 down, outside temp,
rafter temp, plant height, 1 up, 6 up

44 DATA
LOGGERS
JANUARY TO
APRIL 2009
HOURLY TEMP
RECORDINGS
3 DIFFERENT
FARMS

2 Unheated High Tunnels

2 Ground-Heated High
Tunnels
1 Heated Low Tunnel & 1
Unheated Low Tunnel

LOTS OF DATA!!
Rowcovers varied; Tent heights varied (0, 18, 2 to 3)

80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
2/1/2009 0:00
-10

2/2/2009 0:00

2/3/2009 0:00

2/4/2009 0:00

2/5/2009 0:00

2/6/2009 0:00

2/7/2009 0:00

2/8/2009 0:00

2/9/2009 0:00

-20

H1_no BP_18"hoop_ground (7)

Outside (13)

H1_BP_18"hoop_ground (20)
32F

Soil temps: Biotello plastic and No Biotello plastic

under 18 hooped Swiss Chard; Outside temp
Not much difference at night, but daytime
advantage to warm the soilmore growth

Down right cold night

80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
2/1/2009 0:00
-10

2/2/2009 0:00

2/3/2009 0:00

2/4/2009 0:00

2/5/2009 0:00

2/6/2009 0:00

2/7/2009 0:00

2/8/2009 0:00

2/9/2009 0:00

-20
H2_2rc__no hoop_plant height_spinach (18)

H2_18" hoop_plant height (19)

H2_3' tent_plant height (16)

32F

45F

Outside (13)

COLD NIGHT: Plant Height (2):

No hoops; 18 Hoops; 2-3 Hooped area; Outside
5-10 degree increase in temp the closer rowcover is to
the ground; laying right on crop best for night;
Daytime peak temp all about the same

Chilly nights
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
3/6/2009 0:00
-10

3/7/2009 0:00

3/8/2009 0:00

3/9/2009 0:00

3/10/2009 0:00

-20
H2_2rc__no hoop_plant height_spinach (18)

H2_18" hoop_plant height (19)

H2_3' tent_plant height (16)

32F

45F

Outside (13)

3/11/2009 0:00

3/12/2009 0:00

Down right cold night

80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
2/1/2009 0:00
-10

2/2/2009 0:00

2/3/2009 0:00

2/4/2009 0:00

2/5/2009 0:00

2/6/2009 0:00

2/7/2009 0:00

2/8/2009 0:00

2/9/2009 0:00

-20

HeatHa_plant height (33)

H2_18" hoop_plant height (19)

H2_3' tent_plant height (16)

32F

Plant Height (2) and outside temp

Heated tunnel; 18 hoops; 2-3 tent
COLD NIGHT: 5 to 7 degree benefit from
heat at night and 2 to 5 degrees in the
daytime.
WORTH THE COST OF PROPANE or OIL?
Stockpile? Production yields????

45F

Outside (13)

 Tools
Specialty
Knives

WINTER HARVESTING

 Buckhorn
crates
Window of
opportunity
for harvest

WINTER HARVESTING

 Keep area
clean and
neatno
debris
Clean up
bed after
cutting
Many re-cuts

WINTER HARVESTING

WINTER HARVESTING

ONE OF OUR FAVORITE THINGS!

GOLF CARTS
We now have 3
Easy to drive
Inexpensive
Great for kids

PROTECTION
ROWCOVER
1, 2, 3
Height
Hoops

Winter Washing
Station for Energy
Savings & Efficiency

STAINLESS STEEL
FLOOR MATS
WARM WATER

YIELD DATA

DECEMBER
TO APRIL
Kale
Swiss chard
Spinach
Asian Greens
Lettuce Mix
Arugula
Turnips
Herbs
Increased weekly
sales by $450 in
08-09

SPINACH

FIRST WINTER 2007

Plastic on in January
11 Rows of Spinach
Gross over $10,000
Just one crop!

2009-10 Gross
$16,000 and
$150,000 per acre
2010-11 Winter
9 Variety Trial

Winter Tunnels
increased Sales
W
$1200 per week
09-10

SWISS CHARD: 800 square feet yielded

$4998 for one winter season

Perfecting the
systems
More per
square foot
Yielded $1630
per week
Markets
building every
year

2010-11

Every year different

Weather variables
Diversity Important

2011-12

Asian Greens 11/12 to 5/19 $4,116

Arugula 11/19 to 4/28 $4,039
Spinach 11/25 to 4/3 $12,858
Swiss Chard 12/17 to 6/20 $7,440
Salad Mix 1/1 to 6/1 $18,484
Kale 1/28 to 5/12 $3,291
TOTAL: $50,228 Gross
2 Tunnels-6 Crops!

TOTALS 2011-12

Averaged approximately 120 pounds of

greens weekly out of the three tunnels

TOTALS 2012-13

ALWAYS NEW THINGS TO TRIAL!

TURNIPS

ONIONS-FORUM & BRIDGER

WINTER TUNNELS INCREASE PROFITS IN THE

SPRING..

AS WELL AS
IN THE
WINTER!!

DIVERSITY AND BIG DISPLAYS!

TAKEN IN MID - JANUARY!

SUMMARY

LARGE INVESTMENT
FAST PAYBACK

COST $20,000 to $30,000

LESS THAN TWO YEAR PAYBACK
FOR EACH
PRODUCTION HIGHLABOR LOW
MUST BE GOOD MARKETER
IMPROVING EVERY YEAR

HOW WE GET OUR

ELECTRICITY.

SOLAR, SOLAR & MORE

SOLAR!
2007-10kW
2012-19kW
NETMETERED

THANKS AND HAVE A GREAT

2014 SEASON!
Hawaii 2006

Alaska, Glacier 2011