FAQ's:  ​
​What Teachers need to Know about High Tunnels!

Please note: The Answers to these FAQ's are specific to the Chequamegon Bay region of Northern Wisconsin.  

What can we plant in the High Tunnel?
The short answer is “Anything Grows!” The high tunnel is a very flexible environment that is able to extend the season for most of the traditional crops we think of, and also can provide a climate for crops that wouldn’t normally survive to maturity this far north.  However, because we are focusing on growing crops in the "shoulder seasons" with students during the school year, we urge you to focus on "short season" crops that grow well in the colder months, September –May.  Click here for a list of easy to grow crops.  You can also experiment with perennials!
 
When should we plant in the High Tunnel?
For best results, plant your short-season, cold hardy annuals seeds (greens, spinach, roots)  RIGHT AWAY in the fall when students arrive (Approx. September 1st). This will give them enough time to mature for a late November, early December Harvest.  If planting transplants, plants need to be in the ground by the Autumnal Equinox (roughly September 21st) to ensure a  harvest before winter.  Anything planted after September 21 needs to be hearty enough to “over winter” for a spring harvest.
 
What are the "Shoulder Seasons"?
We have dubbed the late fall and early spring seasons the "shoulder seasons". These seasons are not typical growing seasons in our climate, but the season extending technology of the High Tunnel has made growing and harvesting during these seasons possible.

What does it mean to “Overwinter”?
The term "overwintering" is used to describe the phenomenon of the ability of some cold hardy plants (like Spinach) to survive the coldest months and extreme temperatures, and then generate new growth in late February/early March. 
 
What happens to the High Tunnel in the summer?
To harness the growing power of the High Tunnel during the summer months (while school is not in session) we have created the Agripreneur Program. 

What is the control panel for in the High Tunnel?
Each of the High Tunnels placed in Schools by this grant are automated to help control the indoor climate. 
The side panels are attached to a small motor and a temperature sensor and thermostat.  When it becomes too hot in the High Tunnel, the side roll up.  When it becomes too cold, the sides roll down.  The High Tunnels also have automated peak vents that also open and close.  In addition to temperature control, these louvered vents are used to ventilate excess moisture that tends to build on sunny warmer days, particularly in the fall and spring.  
 
Are the High Tunnels heated?
The only source of heat in the High Tunnel is the sun, and the passive solar gain it provides.  No supplemental heat is used.  To add additional insulation, the High Tunnels are covered with 2 layers of plastic.  A small blower fan blows a layer of air in-between these 2 layers, which adds to the R-value of the structure.

How much warmer is it inside the High Tunnel than outside?
​The temperature differential varies depending on a variety of factors including intensity of the sun, wind and moisture present.  On a bright sunny day, the indoor temperature can vary anywhere from 5 degrees to 35 degrees warmer, depending on the season.  Because the High Tunnel provides protection from the wind it often feels warmer, even on a sunless day.  

Do we need to water our plants?
Each of the High Tunnels is equipped with a drip irrigation system, designed to deliver water to plants at the soil level, where plants need it most.  This cuts back drastically on diseases and molds that sometimes occur when plants are watered from above.  In some cases, this irrigation system has been hooked to an automatic timer, so that plants are watered consistently without the need for someone to be in the tunnel to turn the water on.  While the watering should be sufficient to keep plants growing, you may need to use additional watering methods (i.e. a hose and sprayer) to "water-in" seeds and ensure proper germination.
 
Is it best to plant from seeds or transplants?
Plants can be grown from seeds or transplants, as you would in any garden.  With both seeds and transplants, timing is everything when growing in the "shoulder seasons" of the fall and winter.  For best results with fall plantings, make sure seeds have enough time to develop "Tops and Bottoms" (i.e. roots and first true leaves) before the Autumnal Equinox.  When direct seeding in the spring, remember that not all seeds germinate well in the cold. Due to the lack of wind in the High Tunnels, transplants do not necessarily need to be hardened off before planting.
 
How do plants get pollinated in the High Tunnel?
​Read more here.

Can plants be grown "organically" in the High Tunnel?
As with any garden space, options for gardeners abound.  
With proper management, there should be no reason that synthetic or chemical fertilizers need to be used in the High Tunnel environment. 

Local High Tunnel Manual

​Click here to download a PDF copy of the
​Chequamegon Bay High Tunnel Manual. 
(coming Spring, 2016)

This manual, written by Chequamegon Bay Farmer Todd Rothe (River Road Farm)  and edited by Matt Cogger (UWEX Horticulutre Agent- Bayfield County), was created as a reference to answer technical questions about care and maintenance of High Tunnels, particularly the those place in the Chequamegon Bay Area School Districts a a part of the USDA Grant:
"Meeting the Challenge of Winter: Using High Tunnels to Expand Farm to School in Northern Wisconsin."

"THE" High Tunnel Book

If you are serious about growing in the High Tunnel with your students, we strongly recommend taking the time to read "The Winter Harvest Handbook" by Eliot Coleman.  It is filled with incredibly useful graphs and charts and will give enough background on the technology and application of High Tunnels in our northern climates to stay ahead of even your most inquisitive students!

More help...

The Teacher Resource page has several links to informative websites and publications that will help you and your students learn more about these unique growing spaces.
You are also welcome to contact our local Ashland and Bayfield County UW Extension agents for site specific questions.

Jason Fischbach, Ashland/Bayfield County Agriculture Agent
Matt Cogger, Ashland/Bayfield County Horticulture Agent

Reach them by calling the county offices at (715) 373-6104.