LESSON SEVEN: HIGH TUNNEL BED ARRANGEMENT

AND PLANT SPACING

High Tunnel Fruit and Vegetable Production

Video

Plant Spacing VideoAfter watching this video, discuss

why plant spacing is important.

Objectives

Explain how planting bed arrangement can affect yields and income.

Discuss how plants can be arranged for maximum efficiency and productivity.

Importance of Space Utilization

Efficient and productive space utilization is as important in a high tunnel as it is in a greenhouse.

The greater percentage of space utilized in crop production will result in increased profit per square foot.

Some areas need to be open for ready access to all portions of the tunnel.

A good tunnel arrangement optimizes crop production and accessibility.

Longitudinal Lateral

Two types of Bed Arrangements

Longitudinal Bed Arrangement

Most typical arrangement in high tunnels

Advantages Practical for laying plastic and drip lines Efficient installation and management of trellises and row

covers Long rows are a desirable arrangement for single-crop

production

Disadvantages Plants grown along the sides of a high tunnel may exhibit an

“edge effect,” displaying poorer growth due to:

cooler temperatures in the spring wet soils from inadequate drainage wind damage.

Lateral Bed Arrangement

A desired arrangement when several different crops are grown or different planting times are scheduled

Provides slightly more growing space than beds arranged longitudinally in the high tunnel

Configuring lateral beds north-south in a high tunnel with an east-west orientation will result in less shading.

Plant Spacing

Increased plant populations made feasible by: Trellising Dry (no rain) environment

Plant populations can be increased to nearly double the plant density of field-grown crops.

Crops requiring more growing room are typically planted in single rows within the bed.

Plant Spacing

Many crops can be planted in double rows (twin rows) within one bed or strip of plastic.

The two rows are typically spaced 12 to 18 inches apart.

Staggering the plants so that two plants in double rows are not side-by-side allows for closer planting with adequate room for growth.

Trellising

Advantages: Improves light interception by the crop canopy Makes harvest easier Improves pollination Reduces damage to plants during harvest Required if growing melons in addition to other

crops in a high tunnel Without the use of trellises, melon vines will

overrun other plants if not trained.

Summary

Bed arrangement and plant spacing are important for increasing yields and productivity of crops, which leads to an increase in income from produce.

Reflection

Answer the following questions on a separate piece of paper.

If you were to own a high tunnel, how would you choose to arrange the planting beds? Why did you choose this arrangement?

Would you plant one crop or multiple crops? What is the benefit of staggering the plants? Besides melons, what is another crop that

might benefit from trellising?