ISHS Acta Horticulturae 303: Protected Cultivation, XXIII IHC
YIELD RESPONSE TO PLANTING DATE AND VENTILATION TEMPERATURE OF TOMATO GROWN IN UNHEATED HIGH TUNNELS IN THE NORTHEAST USA. |
| Author: | M. P.N. Gent |
| Abstract:
Simple plastic shelters warmed the air and soil and extended the production season of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) in the northeast USA, where a humid continental climate prevails. In 1990, yield within 16 weeks of planting, was compared for 3 planting dates in spring; 3 and 17 April and 1 May, in high tunnels with different ventilation temperature set points: 14, 22, 30 or 38°C. Tunnels were also ventilated when the daytime average exceeded 25°C. Three more plantings were made in summer for fall production, on 27 July and 9 and 23 Aug. For each transplant date in spring, tomatoes ripened earliest in a tunnel vented at 30°C. The 3 April transplants began production on 7 June, 6 weeks before field production from 1 May transplants. Each 2-week delay in transplanting in the tunnel vented at 30 C delayed ripening by 2 weeks. The 3 April transplants yielded less and had smaller fruit than later plantings. A mid April transplant date was the best compromise between earliness and good yield and fruit size. In the fall, each 2-week delay in planting delayed ripening first by 3 weeks then by 6 weeks, and dramatically reduced yield. In the fall, the highest yield and largest fruit were picked in the tunnel ventilated at 14 C. Low irradiance limited production in the fall in high tunnels in the northeast USA. | |
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