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On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

Recently growers who have more protection from the elements have been setting the records. This goes for both pumpkins and tomatoes. I have been beaten up this year by cold wet weather and various fungi. This could have been prevented if I had built a high tunnel in my garden. I am thinking of putting up a 12 feet by 20 feet structure in my garden with both a 6 ply plastic layer and a shade cloth to be used in July and August. I am in the early phase of planning and have been looking at catalogs etc. Anyone out there thinking along these lines or actually growing in a high tunnel or greenhouse have any suggestions for me? There is a very large high tunnel near where I live and I have been visiting it and talking to the owner. His primary crop is tomatoes. He has no early blight or septoria leaf spots on his plants while a community patch not more than a block away out in the open has suffered lots of fungal damage. His tomatoes are plentiful and beautiful. He has a drip watering system and has neither sprayed for fungus or insects and has not fertilized since planting. His plants are huge and productive. I might be able to get some space in his tunnel which would be pretty good except for the distance from my house.

8/7/2015 9:39:42 PM

Soldotna,AK

Marv I bought and erected a 30 by 96 last year and then built 2 more 20 by 88 ft. I am growing 150 tomato plants including 22 MacCoys and Bouydos here in Alaska in one half of the larger tunnel .If you email me at Pwhite@carollo.com I'd be happy to share my thoughts and experiences.

8/8/2015 4:28:50 AM

Allentown, PA

Yes Marv, I will be growing inside a structure next season as I too have seen what benefits it has. I have purchased a couple of box fans for this already.

8/8/2015 7:08:53 AM