Keep those veggies coming!

High tunnel at Bechdolt's Orchard

Our usual hot, humid summer temperatures have cooled off quite a bit in southeastern Pennsylvania, feeling more like fall than summer.  Even though produce is booming now, the cool temperatures remind me that soon the harvest will be tapering off and I’ll be tilling in the garden before I know it.  Most vegetable farmers will have ample produce well into September, and many of them will be producing food much later in the year, thanks to structures called high tunnels. 

High tunnels are essentially a cross between green houses and row covers (Row covers are made of light weight, woven material that’s pulled over top of the plants.  The cover allows water and sunlight to pass through, yet covers the crops enough to give a few extra degrees of warmth.).  High tunnels are constructed of metal bows and posts, forming a quonset-shape (like a greenhouse) that is covered with greenhouse-grade plastic. High tunnels are ventilated by manually rolling up the sides each morning and rolling them down early in the evening. Unlike greenhouses, there is less environmental control with no permanent heating system or electricity, with typically only an external water connection for trickle irrigation.  

While high tunnels don’t have all the bells and whistles of a greenhouse, they do elevate temperatures a few degrees each day for a period of several weeks that will increase growth, yield and quality.  High tunnels are also relatively inexpensive, simple to construct, prevent wind and rain damage, and provide frost protection as well as some control of insects, diseases and predators, like birds.  High tunnels can be used to grow a variety of crops like vegetables, small fruits and flowers.

Sources: http://extension.psu.edu/plants/plasticulture/technologies/high-tunnels

Grow Your Own:  You can learn to extend your own vegetable growing season at one of the sessions at Workshops for the Gardeners scheduled for Saturday, September 14^th in Nazareth.  Click here for more information.

Support Your Farmer:

You can check out high tunnels at the following farms during the Northampton County Open Gate Farm Tour on October 12^th and 13^th:

BAARDA FARM, located in Mt. Bethel, is a 20-acre fruit and vegetable farm that makes, presses and sells apple cider and vinegar. Never wasting anything, they sell brown eggs with over 200 chickens that are corn fed and given greens from veggies that stop producing. 

CLEAR SPRING FARM, located in Easton, is a 23-acre vegetable and pumpkin farm.  They have been running a CSA (community supported agriculture) for 9 years.  They have a farmstand on site as well as 3 high tunnels where they will be starting their strawberries for early picking in the spring.

JUNIPERDALE FARMS, located in Nazareth, is a 20-acre fruit and vegetable farm with a variety of field crops.  This is a family farm run by Brian and Eva Fulmer with their children, nieces and nephews.   They have a few beef animals and a high tunnel to start selling vegetables earlier in the season.  During strawberry season they have a pick your own strawberry patch.  In fall, they offer pick your own pumpkin and hayrides to the patch.