Room For Growth

Culture | April 20th, 2016

by Ben Haugmo

The time allotted for growing plants and flowers can seem fleeting. Spring planting passes in an instant, and, as if in a blink, the fall harvest turns chilly. Sometimes it seems as though time is working against us.

NDSU Extension Service will offer a method to obtain a little extra leeway during their high tunnel construction field day, held at the NDSU Horticulture Research Farm near Absaraka, N.D.

High tunnels are impermanent structures which are similar in function to a greenhouse, but rather than glass fitted to a frame, they consist of a frame covered by polyethylene plastic. High tunnels also differ from greenhouses in that they usually are not connected to electricity and heating. They offer the same benefits as a greenhouse by providing a way to extend the growing season, with the added convenience of being easily dismantled and moved.

The plan is to construct a large high tunnel that is 90 feet long and 30 feet wide. Esther E. McGinnis, NDSU’s Extension Horticulturist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Plant Sciences, said that participants in the field day won’t have to do all the work. By the time they arrive at the farm, they will have a foundation to build on.

“We’re going to be putting down the footings before people come,” said McGinnis. “We’ll have the footings installed to make it a little bit easier, but the process involves putting up the supports, then all the end rafters, and stretching the poly over that.”

The work doesn’t end there. What’s a high tunnel without something growing in it? Although the field day focuses on construction of the high tunnel, it will see use later in the production and research of different crops.

“This is just the beginning,” said McGinnis. “We’re going to be growing two kinds of crops. Our first is what we consider more traditionals. We’re growing traditional vegetables: tomatoes, cucumbers, and green peppers, so really warm-season vegetables comparing nine varieties of each. Then we’re doing non-traditional crops, which would be cut flowers. We’re going to grow high-value cut flowers, and also cut flowers that you would find at farmer’s markets.”

There is an emphasis on forming a community and dialogue between anyone interested in constructing a high tunnel. Abby Gold is an Associate Professor for NDSU’s Department of Public Health, and has been also working to communicate information about the high tunnel field day.

“We’re developing a community of practice,” said Gold, “for people in North Dakota who have high tunnels on their land, farmers who want to learn more about high tunnels and also be engaged with each other.”

The event, however is not just reserved for professional farmers. Anyone interested in high tunnels is invited to register.

“We want people to know that in North Dakota we can have season extension, that we’re not bound to the seasons,” said Gold. “When people say, ‘We can’t eat fresh fruits and vegetables, we can’t grow them here,’ that’s simply not true.”

This field day is aimed primarily at individuals currently thinking about building a high tunnel. Later events will serve to offer suggestions and recommendations to people who are actively engaged in the use of high tunnels.

If the window for growing seems frustratingly slim, consider increasing that time and learning how to build and use a high tunnel.

IF YOU GO

NDSU High Tunnel Construction Field Day

Absaraka, N.D., directions emailed to pre-registrants

Friday, April 29th at 10 am

More information at https://www.facebook.com/groups/NDHighTunnels