High tunnels are well suited for use in the production of floral crops, especially cut flowers. High tunnels allow earlier and later harvests than is possible in the field. During summer, rain protection and a relatively windless environment provides an ideal growing environment to cut flower crops. In cool climates, the higher temperatures of a high tunnel permit culture of warm-season crops like celosia. Cut-flower production allows intensive production on a small land area, and provides a higher level of income. For these reasons, high tunnels have become a standard part of cut flower growers' farms. Most commonly, they are single-bay structures with roll-up sides, but use of multi-bay complexes is becoming more popular for larger-scale growers. In Southern areas, high tunnels are shaded in summer to lower interior temperatures and enhance production of shade-tolerant species. Overall, techniques of moderating temperature extremes with shading and ventilation, or use of low tunnels inside to increase minimum temperatures, are important considerations for cut flower production. In the presentation, comparisons will be made in growth, earliness of production and yield, for several cut flower species grown in the field and an adjacent high tunnel.

High tunnels are simple greenhouses with no source of heat save the sun's rays. During sunny days, temperatures in these structures can quickly rise to levels injurious to plant growth, unless the tunnel is ventilated in a timely manner. At night, the loss of heat leads to low temperatures that stop plant growth. Tunnel cover materials are needed that dampen this temperature fluctuation, and these need to be popularized among growers.

Research is being conducted on the performance of different polyethylene covers on four identical high tunnels at the Penn State University Horticultural Research Farm. At Cornell's high tunnel facility, different fabrics are being compared when used as low tunnels. Temperatures are being monitored in all these structures and data collected on crop performance. In the second year of the project, growers in our cooperative will test the most promising tunnel covers in their production systems. Covers will be tried on crops of high- tunnel vegetables, cane fruits, and cut flowers.

Since we are in the first year of the project, impact has just begun to be felt. Publicity generated by the New York Farm Viability Institute, our sponsoring agency, has aroused considerable interest among potential users of high tunnels, and we have responded to these messages by sending out additional information. Some may be incorporated into our pool of growers, who will participate directly in Year Two of the study. In addition, high interest by growers and extension personnel in season-extending techniques in northern New York will be supported by a series of four extension meetings in early April, 2007 attended by Dr. Pritts and myself.

Crop production in high tunnels

• M. P. Pritts (Cornell)
• Judson Reid (CCE Yates County)
• Michael Orzolek (Penn State)
• William Lamont (Penn State)
• Louis Albright (CU)
• Walter Nelson (CCE Monroe Cty.)
• Janet Aldrich (CCE Delaware Cty.)
• Molly Shaw (CCE Tioga Cty.)