What do you mean by tunnel farming?

What do you mean by tunnel farming?

Growing out-of- season crops in controlled atmosphere inside polythene tunnels is called Tunnel Farming. Tunnel farming involves constructing tunnels like Greenhouses i.e. hut-like structures swathed in plastic that serve as cocoons for growing cucumber, tomato, pepper, carrot and lettuce etc.

What is a high tunnel in farming?

A high tunnel is a plastic-covered structure that is used to grow crops. It can be temporary or set in place. Crops are usually grown in the ground within the high tunnel, and it’s usually unheated.

What does polytunnel mean?

A polytunnel (also known as a polyhouse, hoop greenhouse or hoophouse, grow tunnel or high tunnel) is a tunnel typically made from steel and covered in polyethylene, usually semi-circular, square or elongated in shape.

What is the purpose of a polytunnel?

A polytunnel is a tunnel-like structure – generally made up of galvanised steel hoops, crop bars, base rails and a polythene cover – that can be used to extend your growing season and increase the variety of crops that you can grow.

How much are high tunnels?

The purchase price of high tunnels can vary between $2.00 and $7.00 per square foot, while climate controlled greenhouse costs can vary between $7.00 and $30.00 per square foot. Several factors have an impact on the costs of setting up new high tunnel or greenhouse infrastructure.

What is low tunnel farming?

Plastics tunnel popularly known as low tunnels are miniature structures producing greenhouse like effect. These tunnels facilitate the entrapment of carbon dioxide, thereby enhancing the photosynthetic activities of the plant that help to increase yield.

What can I grow in a high tunnel?

You can grow many crops in tunnels, but the top five vegetables are tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, leafy greens and herbs, and crucifers. Small fruit crops also perform well in tunnels. These crops include strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries.

How much does a high tunnel cost?

What is the best Polytunnel to buy?

Our Best Polytunnel Pick is the Birchtree 6m x 3m Polytunnel. This is a high-end tunnel for domestic use with a checkered green canopy and doors at both ends for plenty of ventilation. There’s plenty of windows to create cross-ventilation air currents.

Are polytunnels better than greenhouses?

Both types of facilities create appropriate conditions for crop growing. Polytunnels are usually used for growing large amounts of fruits and vegetables. On the other hand, greenhouses are better-looking structures. They are often used for growing various classic or exotic flowers or even tropical fruit.

Are polytunnels good or bad?

Polytunnels offer a much better control over its air circulation. Large doors at both ends provide sufficient airflow through the tunnel. Greenhouses provide ventilation through an opening on the roof, the door and side vents. Keep all doors and vents open during sunny days to achieve effective ventilation.

What is the purpose of a high tunnel?

High tunnels protect plants from severe weather and allow farmers to extend their growing seasons – growing earlier into the spring, later into the fall, and sometimes, year-round.

What is the best high tunnel?

Spinach. Spinach is possibly the most popular high tunnel crop out there. This is primarily due to the fact that spinach is acclimated to cold weather, but also because spinach can be densely planted, and sold for a relatively high dollar amount per lb.

What can I grow in a grow tunnel?

Here are 28 vegetables that are great candidates for growing under a low tunnel in spring: Beetroot, pan choi, broccoli, chives, cabbage, cardoon, carrot, celeriac, celery, chard, Chinese cabbage, cress, endive, escarole, bulb fennel, kale, kohlrabi, leek, lettuce, mache, onion, parsley, pea, radicchio, radish, spring …

How high is a low tunnel?

approximately 4 feet tall
Low tunnels are temporary structures that are approximately 4 feet tall and 3 to 6 feet wide. Hoops constructed of wire (9-gauge) or pipe (metal or plastic) can be used to support row cover spunbond fabric or polyethylene plastic to create a mini greenhouse over the crops.

Can you start seeds in a high tunnel?

High tunnels are also a wonderful place to start seeds and harden off seedlings before moving them outdoors. Be prepared to use a supplemental heat source if you choose to start seeds in your high tunnel.

What are the disadvantages of polytunnels?

Disadvantages of polytunnels compared with glasshouses

• Tunnels are often colder inside than outside during a frost.
• Harder to shade than glass eg with spray-on shade treatments.
• Are more storm-prone in extreme weather .. especially the plastic blowing away.
• Additional periodic cost and labour of plastic replacement.

What are the disadvantages of greenhouse?

The Disadvantages of a Greenhouse:

• Can be expensive to build.
• Can be expensive to heat.
• Requires constant monitoring, maintenance and care.
• Could increase electrical and water bills.
• May detract from aesthetic appeal of a garden.

Why are some polytunnels green?

Normally, when plants grow in artificial shade they stretch and grow tall and leggy as they search for light. The green tunnels are designed to mimic the shade of a forest canopy which plants have evolved to grow in without getting tall and leggy.