Yield of Leafy Greens in High Tunnel Winter Production in the Northwest United States

Borrelli, Kristy; Koenig, Richard; Jaeckel, Brad M.; Miles, Carol A.

doi:10.21273/hortsci.48.2.183

Cited by 32 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…However, this includes times when outside ambient temperature reached 80°F and inside temperature rose to 100°F or above, for example. Temperature advantage of only 3.4 to 10.3°F was reported in a similar test at two locations in Washington State (Borrelli et al, 2013). Soil temperature inside and undercover averaged 7.4 to 9.5°F warmer than outside soil temperature.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 56%

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Effect of Sowing Date and Harvest Schedule on Organic Spinach Grown during the Winter in High Tunnels

Heyduck

Guldan

Guzmán

2019

hortte

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In a two-part study, we examined the effect of sowing date and harvest schedule on the yield of spinach (Spinacia oleracea) grown during the winter in 16 × 32-ft-high tunnels in northern New Mexico. Each part of the study was conducted for two growing seasons and took place between 2012 and 2015. In Study A (2012–13 and 2013–14), spinach was sown four times at roughly 2-week intervals (mid-October, early November, mid-November, and early December) and plant density (plants per square foot), plant height (centimeters), and yield (grams per square foot) were measured for three harvests in mid-January, mid-February, and mid-March. The earliest sowing date had the least-dense stands, and plant density increased with each subsequent sowing. The two earliest sowing dates had significantly higher season-long yield than the later two sowings. In Study B (2013–14 and 2014–15), all plots were sown in mid-October, but harvest schedule treatments were staggered such that harvests began at 9, 11, 13, or 15 weeks after sowing and continued at irregular intervals. Treatment 2, with harvests beginning after 11 weeks, had the greatest season-long yield, slightly greater than when harvests began at 9 weeks, and significantly more than when harvest began 13 weeks or later. More importantly, a staggered harvest schedule can provide spinach weekly for direct marketing opportunities.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 56%

“…Soil temperature inside and undercover averaged 7.4 to 9.5°F warmer than outside soil temperature. Borrelli et al (2013) reported a soil temperature advantage of 2.5 to 5.5°F. More careful attention to venting high tunnels on hot days may reduce heat stress in plants and prolong the harvest season, increase yields, or both.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Sowing Date and Harvest Schedule on Organic Spinach Grown during the Winter in High Tunnels

Heyduck

Guldan

Guzmán

2019

hortte

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“…High tunnels are frequently utilized in local vegetable production throughout the United States (Carey et al., ) and have been adopted by many local vegetable growers in the Central United States (Kansas City Food Hub Working Group, ). This growing system has been successfully used for protection from the weather elements, (Lang, ), increasing yield (Lamont, ; Waterer, ), increasing product quality (Lamont, ; Rogers & Wszelaki ), season extension (Borelli et al., ; Galinato & Miles, ; Gude et al., ) and reducing crop disease (Hanson, Marks, & Isaacs, ; Lang, ; Rogers & Wszelaki ) of fresh fruits and vegetables. Spinach, Spinacia oleracea , is a cold season crop frequently grown in high tunnels in the U.S. Great Plains Area (Knewtson, Carey, & Kirkham, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Descriptive Analysis and Consumer Acceptability of Locally and Commercially Grown Spinach

Batziakas

Talavera

Swaney‐Stueve

et al. 2019

Journal of Food Science

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The consumer demand for locally grown fresh produce is continuously increasing in the United States. The high tunnel systems have been successfully utilized by small acreage growers for local production. Consumers are typically assessing appearance, freshness, flavor and aroma when purchasing produce. A common perception is that locally grown produce tastes better than nonlocal. However, there is not much evidence for supporting this claim. The objective of this study was to identify consumer acceptability and the sensory characteristics/differences of locally grown spinach in open field or in high tunnel and nonlocal commercially grown spinach. Spinach, Spinacia oleracea cv. “Corvair” was grown in open field and in high tunnel at Kansas State Univ. Olathe Horticulture Research and Extension Center (OHREC) in spring 2017 and the commercially grown spinach was purchased at a local retail store. A consumer study (n = 205) was conducted at Kansas State Univ., Olathe campus, and a descriptive sensory analysis was conducted by a highly trained descriptive analysis panel in the Center for Sensory Analysis and Consumer Behavior at Kansas State Univ., Manhattan campus, in spring 2017. The consumer test showed that high tunnel spinach scored significantly higher in overall liking (P < 0.0001), flavor liking (P < 0.0001), and texture liking (P < 0.05) when compared to open field and store purchased spinach. Descriptive analysis showed that locally grown spinach had higher intensity of attributes that indicate premium quality, such as green color and green/spinach flavors. Our results indicate that locally grown spinach was preferred from the consumers for its high organoleptic quality. Practical Application Locally grown spinach demonstrated high intensity in a set of sensory attributes that suggest a product with premium organoleptic quality. Correspondingly to these results, consumers liked spinach produced locally in high tunnels the most. The results of this study can be used for developing marketing strategies that are aiming specifically to the consumer niche that is seeking fresh produce of high organoleptic quality.

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“…Previous surveys of commercial growers have shown that high tunnels may be beneficial for the production of winter greens worldwide by protecting crops from inclement weather and through season extension (Lamont, 2009). The use of high tunnels in other states with similar climates to that of northern New Mexico have been successful in growing blackberry, kale, and spinach (Borrelli et al, 2013;Lamont, 2009;Lamont et al, 2003;Yao et al, 2018). In addition, kale, spinach, and blackberry are already being grown and sold in local farmers' markets in northern New Mexico.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Intercropping Winter Greens between Blackberry Rows for Year-round High Tunnel Production

Cormier

Heyduck

Guldan

et al. 2020

hortte

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A decrease in available farmland worldwide has prompted interest in polyculture systems such as intercropping where two or more crops are grown simultaneously on the same land to increase the yield per farm area. In Alcalde, NM, a year-round intercropping system was designed to evaluate organically produced blackberry cultivars (Rubus, subgenus Rubus) and winter greens in a high tunnel over a 2-year period. Two floricane fruiting blackberry cultivars, Chester Thornless and Triple Crown, were grown intercropped with ‘Red Russian’ kale (Brassica napus) and ‘Bloomsdale’ spinach (Spinacia oleracea) in a high tunnel. In an adjacent field, the planting of blackberry was repeated with no winter intercrop and no high tunnel. Both cultivars of blackberry were harvested July to September, and fresh weights were measured to determine suitability to the intercropping system in the high tunnel. Both species of winter greens were harvested January to April, and fresh yield weights were measured to discern fitness as possible intercrops in this system. Row covers were used for kale and spinach, and air temperatures were monitored November to April inside the high tunnel. High tunnel temperatures were within acceptable ranges for the production of greens with the use of rowcovers. Yield data from this study indicates that ‘Triple Crown’ blackberry outperformed ‘Chester Thornless’ blackberry in both the high tunnel and field trials with significant difference in the second season. Additionally, blackberry yields from both cultivars were observed to be higher in the field than in the high tunnel for both years. High temperature damage to high tunnel berry canes was noticed for both cultivars, with observed yield decreases in the second year in the high tunnel. Overall, this study indicates that the phenology and climate needs of the two winter greens and blackberry cultivars were not compatible for sustaining year-round organic high tunnel production.

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Yield of Leafy Greens in High Tunnel Winter Production in the Northwest United States

Cited by 32 publications

References 12 publications

Effect of Sowing Date and Harvest Schedule on Organic Spinach Grown during the Winter in High Tunnels

Effect of Sowing Date and Harvest Schedule on Organic Spinach Grown during the Winter in High Tunnels

Descriptive Analysis and Consumer Acceptability of Locally and Commercially Grown Spinach

Intercropping Winter Greens between Blackberry Rows for Year-round High Tunnel Production

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