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Season Extension - Early & Late; Gardening Guidebook for Portage County, Central Wisconsin
The document discusses various methods and technologies for extending the growing season of vegetables, including low-tech options like cold frames and high-tech solutions like greenhouses. It emphasizes the importance of factors such as light, temperature, and variety selection in optimizing crop production and market timing. It also highlights specific techniques like plasticulture, row covers, and hoop houses to improve yields, manage pests, and support plant growth.
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Season Extension - Early & Late; Gardening Guidebook for Portage County, Central Wisconsin
- 1. Season ExtensionSeason Extension Earlyand LateEarly and Late Tim ConnellTim Connell Portage County Ag AgentPortage County Ag Agent Central Wisconsin Vegetable SpecialistCentral Wisconsin Vegetable Specialist
- 2. Methods of SeasonExtensionMethods of Season Extension Low tech to high techLow tech to high tech PlasticulturePlasticulture Cold framesCold frames –– drip tapedrip tape –– high tunnelshigh tunnels –– greenhousesgreenhouses Low $ to High $$$$$Low $ to High $$$$$ Light, water, wind, colors, bugs, benefits,Light, water, wind, colors, bugs, benefits, temperatures, fertilizers, plastic, wood, glasstemperatures, fertilizers, plastic, wood, glass and varietiesand varieties
- 3. Variety SelectionVariety Selection–– Days to MaturityDays to Maturity Easiest way to get earlierEasiest way to get earlier cropcrop May be limited on varietiesMay be limited on varieties May not be best flavor asMay not be best flavor as longer season cropslonger season crops Earlier to market, betterEarlier to market, better priceprice Consumer may be tolerantConsumer may be tolerant of smaller size/ less flavor ifof smaller size/ less flavor if they are the first availablethey are the first available
- 4. Variety SelectionVariety Selection–– Days to MaturityDays to Maturity Easiest way to get earlierEasiest way to get earlier cropcrop May be limited on varietiesMay be limited on varieties May not be best flavor asMay not be best flavor as longer season cropslonger season crops Earlier to market, betterEarlier to market, better priceprice Consumer may be tolerantConsumer may be tolerant of smaller size/ less flavor ifof smaller size/ less flavor if they are the first availablethey are the first available
- 5. Time of HarvestTimeof Harvest Consider size ofConsider size of vegetable at harvestvegetable at harvest Early red potatoesEarly red potatoes Small picklingSmall pickling cucumberscucumbers Small summer squashSmall summer squash Baby carrotsBaby carrots Cherry tomatoesCherry tomatoes
- 6. Differences Amongst VegetablesDifferencesAmongst Vegetables
- 7. New VegetablesNew Vegetables SwissChard 55 DaysArugula 42 Days Lettuce Blend 40-70 Days Spinach Mustard 35 Days
- 8. Considerations with NewVeggiesConsiderations with New Veggies Growing requirements for new cropGrowing requirements for new crop Samples??Samples?? Consider providing recipe cardsConsider providing recipe cards Suggestions for useSuggestions for use Information on nutritionInformation on nutrition Engage the customerEngage the customer –– ““I bet youI bet you’’ve neverve never seen this beforeseen this before””
- 9. Starting Seeds PlantsEarlierStarting Seeds Plants Earlier Light very importantLight very important –– quality and durationquality and duration Fan on young seedlingsFan on young seedlings –– helps prevent leggyhelps prevent leggy plantsplants TemperatureTemperature –– daytime 60daytime 60 -- 7070°°FF –– nights nonights no lower than 50lower than 50°°FF Size of containerSize of container –– prevent root bound plantsprevent root bound plants TimingTiming –– getting plants in the ground in agetting plants in the ground in a timely mannertimely manner
- 10. Lighting ConsiderationsLighting Considerations IncandescentIncandescent–– not good for plants needsnot good for plants needs Good for heat, day length controlGood for heat, day length control FluorescentFluorescent –– supplement sunlight wellsupplement sunlight well Combination of cool white with warm white willCombination of cool white with warm white will provide full light spectrumprovide full light spectrum Cool white bulbs are more efficient than growCool white bulbs are more efficient than grow lights in providing supplemental lightlights in providing supplemental light High Pressure sodium and metal halideHigh Pressure sodium and metal halide 1/3 more efficient than fluorescent1/3 more efficient than fluorescent -- costlycostly
- 11. Cold Frames /Hot BedsCold Frames / Hot Beds Mini greenhousesMini greenhouses Old windowsOld windows Plastic film on woodPlastic film on wood frameframe Rigid plasticRigid plastic Hinged top needed toHinged top needed to regulate heatregulate heat
- 12. Cold FramesCold Frames DonDon’’thave to bet have to be coveredcovered Used to harden offUsed to harden off plants before going toplants before going to fieldfield Can use lattice or snowCan use lattice or snow fence to shade plantsfence to shade plants
- 13. Other Cold FrameUseOther Cold Frame Use Earlier plantings of leafy greensEarlier plantings of leafy greens Lettuce, spinach,Lettuce, spinach, swissswiss chard, parsleychard, parsley Better in cool weather and lower lightBetter in cool weather and lower light Wintering containersWintering containers –– Early forcing of tulips,Early forcing of tulips, hyacinths, daffodils and crocushyacinths, daffodils and crocus Force early springForce early spring New markets???New markets???
- 14. Other Cold FrameUseOther Cold Frame Use Late Summer SeedingLate Summer Seeding Plant broccoli, pepper, spinach, lettucePlant broccoli, pepper, spinach, lettuce Early winter harvestEarly winter harvest Something to market other than rootSomething to market other than root vegetables and winter squashvegetables and winter squash
- 15. Hot BedsHot Beds HeatingCableHeating Cable Hole 6 inches deepHole 6 inches deep Lay cableLay cable Cover with sandCover with sand ManureManure 10 inch deep hole10 inch deep hole Add horse or chickenAdd horse or chicken manuremanure Cover with windowCover with window screenscreen Cover with soilCover with soil
- 16. Shade HousesShade Houses Propagationof woody cuttingsPropagation of woody cuttings –– somesome perennialsperennials In containers or in ground bedIn containers or in ground bed Misting may be neededMisting may be needed Finishing/conditioning plantsFinishing/conditioning plants –– fromfrom greenhouse before field plantinggreenhouse before field planting
- 17. Row CoversRow Covers Flexibletransparent materialFlexible transparent material Perforated plastic,Perforated plastic, spunbondedspunbonded polyesterpolyester –– polypropylenepolypropylene Floating or supported by hoopsFloating or supported by hoops Can cover one or more rowsCan cover one or more rows Trap heat of dayTrap heat of day –– warm air and soilwarm air and soil Wind protection, less moisture lossWind protection, less moisture loss May be insect barrier depending on typeMay be insect barrier depending on type Think of crop needs when deciding on type of rowThink of crop needs when deciding on type of row covercover –– temperature needs, pollination, growth habittemperature needs, pollination, growth habit
- 18. Supported Row CoversSupportedRow Covers Also Called Low TunnelsAlso Called Low Tunnels Can use PVC pipe, heavyCan use PVC pipe, heavy wirewire More labor neededMore labor needed Support needed for cropsSupport needed for crops such as tomato, pepper andsuch as tomato, pepper and summer squashsummer squash Weed control neededWeed control needed between rowsbetween rows
- 19.
- 20. Floating Row CoversFloatingRow Covers SpunboundSpunbound polyester or polypropylenepolyester or polypropylene 7070 –– 80% light, air and water transmission80% light, air and water transmission Placed directly on cropPlaced directly on crop 0.50.5 –– 1.25oz. /sq yard1.25oz. /sq yard Covers under 0.5oz.Covers under 0.5oz. –– very little heat retentionvery little heat retention Over 1.75oz. Significant light reductionOver 1.75oz. Significant light reduction 22°° -- 44°° frost protection in spring, morefrost protection in spring, more protection in fallprotection in fall
- 21. Floating Row CoversFloatingRow Covers For large covers weigh down centers toFor large covers weigh down centers to prevent damage with high windsprevent damage with high winds Insect control may improveInsect control may improve Maggot controlMaggot control Squash bug controlSquash bug control Remember needs for pollinationRemember needs for pollination DonDon’’t trap insect pestst trap insect pests –– CPBCPB 22--6 weeks earlier depending on local6 weeks earlier depending on local conditionsconditions
- 22. Floating Row CoverFloatingRow Cover
- 23. Zip HousesZip Houses MinigreenhouseMini greenhouse Ability to easierAbility to easier regulate temperature,regulate temperature, light and ventilationlight and ventilation Frost protection down toFrost protection down to 2626°° Open and close easilyOpen and close easily from end of rowfrom end of row Reusable for 2Reusable for 2--33 seasonsseasons
- 24. Zip HousesZip Houses Protectsfrom heavyProtects from heavy rains, heavy winds andrains, heavy winds and small hailsmall hail 2020--3030”” wide and 21wide and 21--2525”” talltall Cut to any lengthCut to any length –– strings stay ready to pullstrings stay ready to pull 500500’’ roll $158 + S&Hroll $158 + S&H
- 25. Zip HousesZip Houses ZipHouse OpenedZip House Opened Several hundred feetSeveral hundred feet opened with one stringopened with one string pullpull No dirt moved whenNo dirt moved when openingopening Opens in secondsOpens in seconds Allows pollinationAllows pollination Can be sprayed thruCan be sprayed thru open top Zip House ClosedZip House Closed Release strings at end ofRelease strings at end of rowrow Closed in secondsClosed in seconds Double layer wallsDouble layer walls Protects from wind, rainsProtects from wind, rains and blowing soiland blowing soil Much earlier growthMuch earlier growth open top
- 26. Plastic MulchesPlastic Mulches Usedfor years in vary colorsUsed for years in vary colors AdvantagesAdvantages –– increased yields, earlier crops,increased yields, earlier crops, higher quality, weed control and enhancedhigher quality, weed control and enhanced insect managementinsect management Work well with drip irrigationWork well with drip irrigation High value cropsHigh value crops –– melons, tomatoes, peppersmelons, tomatoes, peppers cucumbers, squash, eggplantcucumbers, squash, eggplant ……………………………….. Many considerations for colorMany considerations for color
- 27. Plastic Mulches 2PlasticMulches 2 ColorsColors –– black, white, clear, white on black,black, white, clear, white on black, red, green, silver reflecting, bluered, green, silver reflecting, blue--green, brown,green, brown, yellow,yellow, ectect.. Red and black raise soil temps comparablyRed and black raise soil temps comparably BlueBlue--green and brown warm soil like cleargreen and brown warm soil like clear without weed problemwithout weed problem Red, blue, yellow, gray and orange haveRed, blue, yellow, gray and orange have distinct optical characteristics and reflectdistinct optical characteristics and reflect different radiation pattern into the cropdifferent radiation pattern into the crop
- 28. Plastic Mulches 3PlasticMulches 3 Blue and green plastic increased root:shootBlue and green plastic increased root:shoot ratios in turnipsratios in turnips Yellow, red and blue increased green peachYellow, red and blue increased green peach aphidsaphids Yellow attracted cucumber beetlesYellow attracted cucumber beetles Silver repels certain aphid species and reducesSilver repels certain aphid species and reduces or delays virus in summer squashor delays virus in summer squash White or grey may require herbicide for weedWhite or grey may require herbicide for weed controlcontrol
- 29. Mulch Color andTomatoesMulch Color and Tomatoes Penn State StudyPenn State Study –– ‘‘SunbeamSunbeam’’ ‘‘MountainMountain SupremeSupreme’’ Best yields on blackBest yields on black –– worst on green infraworst on green infra--redred thermalthermal Blue, silver and brown reduced fruit sizesBlue, silver and brown reduced fruit sizes Varieties differ in response to same colorsVarieties differ in response to same colors Colors affect microclimate in variety of waysColors affect microclimate in variety of ways ReflectedReflected wavelenghwavelengh, temperature, moisture,, temperature, moisture, humidity, insects and diseaseshumidity, insects and diseases
- 30. Mistakes inMistakes inPlasticulturePlasticulture Lack of firm uniform bedLack of firm uniform bed –– hot air funnelinghot air funneling Loose plasticLoose plastic –– can cover transplants, windcan cover transplants, wind Poorly placed irrigation tapePoorly placed irrigation tape –– plant health, cut tapeplant health, cut tape when plantingwhen planting Failure to operate drip system immediately afterFailure to operate drip system immediately after plantingplanting Not monitoring temperaturesNot monitoring temperatures Not calibrating fertilizer injectors/ratesNot calibrating fertilizer injectors/rates Not removing row cover from cucurbit crops duringNot removing row cover from cucurbit crops during pollinationpollination
- 31. Hoop HousesHoop Houses HightunnelHigh tunnel Many manufacturersMany manufacturers Build your ownBuild your own Anchored in groundAnchored in ground Many heights/lengthsMany heights/lengths Some large enough forSome large enough for tractorstractors Sides and ends forSides and ends for ventilationventilation
- 32. CropsCrops Anything high valueAnythinghigh value Anything with early season premiumAnything with early season premium Fruits and vegetables, cut flowers, etcFruits and vegetables, cut flowers, etc Keep a crop later in the seasonKeep a crop later in the season –– extendextend harvestharvest Starting plants earlierStarting plants earlier Wind protection / temp modification overWind protection / temp modification over winterwinter –– nursery plants, perennials and herbsnursery plants, perennials and herbs
- 33. Dan Mielke –tomatoes, peppers and cukesPenn State Research Facility
- 34. Hoop HousesHoop Houses Sellingfresh local tomatoes in JuneSelling fresh local tomatoes in June Give you months of extra hours in a growingGive you months of extra hours in a growing seasonseason Cultivating spinach and leafy greens yearCultivating spinach and leafy greens year roundround
- 35. BenefitsBenefits Extending cropping seasonExtendingcropping season August/September seedingAugust/September seeding –– spinach, broccoli,spinach, broccoli, other greensother greens Harvest until DecemberHarvest until December Limited by sunlight w/out supplemental lightLimited by sunlight w/out supplemental light Mulch with straw and harvest root cropsMulch with straw and harvest root crops throughout winterthroughout winter
- 36. One Growers ExperienceOneGrowers Experience 20 x 96 foot tunnel20 x 96 foot tunnel 4 rows tomatoes4 rows tomatoes 2 rows of peppers2 rows of peppers 1 row of cucumbers1 row of cucumbers YieldsYields 4,500 lbs of tomatoes4,500 lbs of tomatoes 1313 bubu of peppersof peppers 300 lbs of cucumber Cost of tunnelCost of tunnel -- $2000$2000 Sales > $5000Sales > $5000 300 lbs of cucumber
- 37. Outside Tunnel InsideTunnel
- 38. Strawberry CropStrawberry Crop Startedon 4/15/03 by lowering sidesStarted on 4/15/03 by lowering sides Temperature monitoring criticalTemperature monitoring critical Use floating row cover on cold nightsUse floating row cover on cold nights Picking started on 6/1/03Picking started on 6/1/03 –– tunneltunnel 6/11/036/11/03 –– plastic mulch with row coverplastic mulch with row cover 6/26/036/26/03 –– berries without mulch or row coverberries without mulch or row cover Berries were sweeter, cleaner, less distorted, largerBerries were sweeter, cleaner, less distorted, larger TunnelTunnel vsvs nono--tunnel from 200tunnel from 200 –– 380 % increase in380 % increase in yieldyield
- 39. Strawberry VarietiesStrawberry Varieties EarlyGlowEarly Glow –– 200% increase in tunnel200% increase in tunnel HoneoyeHoneoye –– 380% increase in tunnel380% increase in tunnel JewelJewel –– 330% increase in tunnel330% increase in tunnel
- 40. Raspberry CropRaspberry Crop FallberriesFall berries First ripe berries inside or out September 26First ripe berries inside or out September 26 October 1October 1stst outside crop frozeoutside crop froze Tunnel berries produced until November 2Tunnel berries produced until November 2 Let berries freeze because of extended coldLet berries freeze because of extended cold weatherweather Too costly to heat for amount of salesToo costly to heat for amount of sales
- 41. Other ConsiderationsOther Considerations Diseasesand rotationDiseases and rotation Moving hoop housesMoving hoop houses Drainage around tunnelsDrainage around tunnels
- 43. SimpleSimple HoophouseHoophouse Simple toBuildSimple to Build Frame of plastic orFrame of plastic or metal pipemetal pipe Anchored by groundAnchored by ground postsposts Open endsOpen ends Ventilation importantVentilation important Doors, sidewalls otherDoors, sidewalls other ventsvents
- 44. Classic AClassic A--FrameFrame Veryeasy constructionVery easy construction Steep roof sheds snowSteep roof sheds snow Limited space (no roomLimited space (no room for benches)for benches) Growing space for tallGrowing space for tall plantsplants Ventilation importantVentilation important Can have second layerCan have second layer of plastic on insideof plastic on inside
- 45. Gothic ArchGothic Arch Canbe portable orCan be portable or anchored to foundationanchored to foundation Curved walls shed snowCurved walls shed snow InexpensiveInexpensive Lets in lots of lightLets in lots of light
- 46. Modified AModified A--FrameFrame Steeproof for sheddingSteep roof for shedding snowsnow Sits on frame of 4x4 posts +Sits on frame of 4x4 posts + insulationinsulation More headroomMore headroom Room for benchesRoom for benches –– storagestorage underneathunderneath Roof VentsRoof Vents Can use triple wall plasticCan use triple wall plastic panels for more insulationpanels for more insulation
- 47. SunSun -- PitPit Foundationsunk belowFoundation sunk below ground with concreteground with concrete block wallsblock walls More expensive initiallyMore expensive initially Recoup costs fromRecoup costs from heating savingsheating savings Need good drainageNeed good drainage Accessibility concernsAccessibility concerns Higher initial costsHigher initial costs
- 48. Barn StyleBarn Style Lotsof lightLots of light –– goodgood headroomheadroom Solid sidewallsSolid sidewalls Use plastic panels orUse plastic panels or two layers of plastictwo layers of plastic With foundation, greaterWith foundation, greater wind resistancewind resistance Attractive designAttractive design
- 49. SlantSlant--Sided Barn StyleSidedBarn Style Sheds heavy snowSheds heavy snow Wind resistanceWind resistance Simple constructionSimple construction Allows room forAllows room for benchesbenches Can use double plasticCan use double plastic with squirrel cage fanwith squirrel cage fan
- 50. Attached LeanAttached Lean--ToTo Strong,easy toStrong, easy to constructconstruct Energy savingsEnergy savings Can attach to house wallCan attach to house wall with existing doorwith existing door Need good ventilationNeed good ventilation
- 51. Attached AngledAttached Angled--WallWall Effectivewith coldEffective with cold sunny winters and hotsunny winters and hot summerssummers Wall angled to face lowWall angled to face low winter sunwinter sun Roof is covered andRoof is covered and insulated againstinsulated against summer heatsummer heat
- 52. Attached SolarAttached Solar Connectedto houseConnected to house with sliding glass doorswith sliding glass doors Helps heating house inHelps heating house in winterwinter Summer Cooling fromSummer Cooling from HouseHouse Rigid acrylic orRigid acrylic or polyethylene panelspolyethylene panels
- 53. Kit GreenhousesKit Greenhouses Easyto constructEasy to construct Easily built in 1Easily built in 1--2 days2 days Limited in sizeLimited in size Can be costlyCan be costly
- 54.