Instructional Plan
Instructor:
Unit: High Tunnel Fruit and Vegetable Production
Fruit and Vegetable Production # 5: Identify characteristics of cool season, long season, and
Competency: warm season vegetable crops.
Lesson 8 Title: Produce Suited to High Tunnel Production
Estimated Time: 2-3 50-minute class periods
Objectives/Study Questions
At the conclusion of this lesson, students will be able to:
 Identify produce suitable to growth in a high tunnel.
 Compare and contrast the fruits and vegetables grown in the warm season versus the cool season.
 Select the best crops for producer’s unique needs.
 Recall methods for extending the growing season and increasing profits.
Materials, Supplies, Equipment, References, and Other Resources:
Materials/Supplies/Equipment:
 PowerPoint Presentation- Lesson Eight: Produce Suited to High Tunnel Production
 Handout: Wolf Peaches
References and Other Resources:
 High Tunnel Manual
 Numerous references after the “Produce” section of the High Tunnel Manual
Interest Approach (Motivation):
SLIDE 1
SLIDE 2
The Man Who Ate Wolf Peaches
Have the students read the accompanying handout. Thought provoking questions:
What was the outcome of this story?
Why did the wolf peach have such a bad reputation?
What would have happened if it had not been for Col. Robert Gibbon Johnson?
Communicate Objectives, Define Problem or Decision to be Made, or Identify Questions to Investigate:
SLIDE 3
The site is selection, the high tunnel constructed, but what are you going to plant in the high tunnel? Several
criteria, such as the time of year, will help you narrow down the choices.
Our objectives for today’s lesson are:
 Identify produce suitable to growth in a high tunnel.
 Compare and contrast the fruits and vegetables grown in the warm season versus the cool season.
 Select the best crops for producer’s unique needs.
 Recall methods for extending the growing season and increasing profits.
Students can make a matrix of each vegetable or fruit to keep for a reference. This will be helpful to them for the
application of the lesson.
Instructor Directions / Materials
Content Outline, Instructional Procedures, and/or Key Questions
Cool Season Root Crops
Beets
Days to Maturity: 40-50
SLIDE 5
Planting: Plant 30 days before frost-free date; Mid February to Early
SLIDE 6
April/August; Plant every 2 weeks
Instructor Directions / Materials
Content Outline, Instructional Procedures, and/or Key Questions
Concerns: Provide beets with consistent moisture, particularly during
early development.
SLIDE 6
Carrots
Days to Maturity: 70-85
Planting: Plant in early Spring or late Summer; Mid February to
Late March/August
Concerns: Provide 1 in. of water per week during growing season
SLIDE 7
Potatoes
Days to Maturity: 100-120
Planting: Seed from late February to early April; May need to protect
with row covers if shoots emerge early.
Concerns: Provide uniform moisture throughout growing season.
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Cool Season Surface Crops
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SLIDE 11
Radishes
Days to Maturity: 25-35
Planting: Mid February to Late April; Mid-August to MidSeptember
Concerns: Keep soil consistently moist to prevent radishes from
becoming bitter and mealy. Can be grown within other crops.
Turnips
Days to Maturity: 35-70
Planting: Mid February to Mid-March; Early August to Early
September; Earlier for north and later towards the Bootheel.
Concerns: Provide plenty of water to help prevent woody stems.
Turnips can withstand several light freezes.
Cabbage
Days to Maturity: 70-80
Planting: Start seeds as soon as early February and plant from late
February to Mid-April. For Fall: Start seeds in early July. Set plants out
from July 20 to August 5.
Concerns: Provide an even supply of moisture but avoid
overwatering transplants. Cooler temperatures improve cabbage
flavor because plant cells convert starches to sugars to protect the
plant from the cold.
SLIDE 12
Cauliflower
Days to Maturity: 65-75
Planting: Late February to Late March; Mid-August to Early
September
Concerns: Cauliflower is blanched to maintain white heads. To
blanche cauliflower, tie the outer leaves over the heads when the
heads become visible. Self-blanching varieties are also available.
Care required when handling.
SLIDE 13
Lettuce
Days to Maturity: 55-80
Planting: Early February to Late April; Late August to Late October
Instructor Directions / Materials
SLIDE 14
Long Season Crops
SLIDE 15
SLIDE 16
SLIDE 17
SLIDE 18
SLIDE 19
SLIDE 20
Warm Season Crops
SLIDE 21
SLIDE 22
Content Outline, Instructional Procedures, and/or Key Questions
Concerns: Provide continuous moisture to promote vigorous growth
and keep lettuce from becoming bitter. When hot, shade lettuce
lightly if possible (30% to 50%).
Spinach
Days to Maturity: 40-50
Planting: Early February to Late March; Late August to Late
October
Concerns: Provide continuous moisture to promote vigorous growth
and keep spinach from becoming bitter. Spinach is highly perishable
and is usually marketed or eaten soon after harvest.
Cantaloupe
Days to Maturity: 80-90
Planting: Early to Late April
Concerns: Bee or hand pollination will be needed.
Gourds
Days to Maturity: 100-180
Planting: Plant gourds as a crop after Spring/Early Summer crops.
Gourds are a low care, low input, and low return fill in crop.
Concerns: Because of their long growing season, gourds should be
started indoors 4 weeks before planting outdoors. Bee or hand
pollination will be needed. Gourds are often grown on a trellis or
arbor. Gourds vary greatly in weight and size. Be sure the structure
will support the weight of the gourds.
Pumpkins
Days to Maturity: 95-120
Planting: Plant pumpkins as a crop after Spring/Early Summer crops.
Concerns: Watering plants early in the day and keeping water off
foliage helps prevent mildew. Do not plant pumpkins until the
danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed.
Watermelons
Days to Maturity: 85-95
Planting: Plant melons as a crop after Spring/Early Summer crops.
Concerns: Adequate water early in the season improves vine growth
and yield. Bee or hand pollination will be needed.
Winter Squash
Days to Maturity: 80-120
Planting: Plant squash as a crop after Spring/Early Summer crops.
Concerns: Bee or hand pollination will be needed. Monthly
application of a complete fertilizer is recommended to improve plant
health and yield. Squash plants are not hardy and are susceptible to
frost in the Spring and Fall.
Cucumbers
Days to Maturity: 50-70
Planting: Late March to Late April; Late July to Mid-August; Plant
from seeds.
Instructor Directions / Materials
SLIDE 23
SLIDE 24
Content Outline, Instructional Procedures, and/or Key Questions
Concerns: Cucumbers need plenty of water to stay crisp and juicy.
Water in the morning so that leaves can dry during the day.
Eggplants
Days to Maturity: 80-90
Planting: Late March to Mid-April; Early to Mid-July; Use 6 to 8
week old transplants.
Concerns: Dull skin indicates over-ripening.
Green Beans
Days to Maturity: Bush: 50 to 60; Pole: 60 to 70
Planting: Spring: Mid-March to Early May; Late Summer: Early
August to Early September; Consider several plantings 2 to 3 weeks
apart.
Concerns: Sensitive to moisture stress. Bush beans require less space
and produce more beans at one time, but pole beans provide a more
constant supply. Equipment considerations include poles or trellis for
pole beans.
Okra
SLIDE 25
SLIDE 26
SLIDE 27
SLIDE 28
SLIDE 29
Days to Maturity: 55-60
Planting: Early April to Late June
Concerns: Okra pods develop twice as fast with every 18°F rise in
temperature. Harvest every other day in hot weather.
Peppers
Days to Maturity: 70-80
Planting: Late March/Early April to Early July; Typically
transplanted ~2 weeks later than tomatoes.
Concerns: Peppers are shallow-rooted, so mulch can be used to
prevent moisture loss. Fruit will not set at night temperatures below
60°F. Temps above 90°F can cause fruit drop or failure to set fruit.
Summer Squash
Days to Maturity: 80-90
Planting: Mid to Late May
Concerns: Drip irrigate or water at base to reduce mildew.
Tomatoes
Days to Maturity: Staked: 70 to 90 depending on type
Planting: Set out transplants when soil temperatures are above 60°F
Temperatures below 50°F will impair tomato growth.
Southern Missouri—Early to Mid-March
Central Missouri—Mid to Late March
Northern Missouri—Late March to Early April
Plant Fall tomatoes by Mid-July
Concerns: Need at least 1 in. of water per week. May through June
Need at least 2 in. of water per week July through September.
Structure and equipment considerations include stakes, cages, or
other supporting method.
Instructor Directions / Materials
Content Outline, Instructional Procedures, and/or Key Questions
Small Fruit and Berries
Strawberries
Days to Maturity: 15 to 30 days after flowering. Flowering should
SLIDE 30
commence in early to mid-March in order to begin harvesting in
early April.
Planting: Plugs: Plant in mid-September.
Dormant runner tips: Plant in late August (Cheaper than plugs)
SLIDE 31
‘Chandler’ variety is recommended.
Do not plant too deeply; plant midway up the plug.
Concerns: Drip irrigation is recommended. If two or more rows of
SLIDE 32
berries are planted, 2 to 3 drip lines are needed. Soil salinity can be a
problem, particularly in a high tunnel where soil is not leeched.
Effective pollination is essential for maximum yield. If overwintering, consider the use of row covers. Can be rotated with crops
such as tomatoes or peppers as long as there are no soil borne disease
outbreaks. In order to be profitable, each plant must yield at least
1 lb. of marketable fruit.
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SLIDE 34
Application:
SLIDE 35
Closure/Summary:
SLIDE 36
Evaluation:
Raspberries/Blackberries
Days to Maturity: Production can begin in May for some floricanefruiting (summer fruiting) cultivars and extend through November
for some primocane-fruiting (fall fruiting) cultivars.
Planting: Fall-bearing plants should be established as early in the
Spring as possible in the planting year to further maximize first year
harvest. Summer fruiting brambles may be grown outside during the
first season in or near the uncovered high tunnel.
Concerns: Trellises will be needed for each containerized plant. The
high tunnel floor should be covered with weed barrier fabric or
gravel before plants are moved inside for fruiting. Be mindful that
brambles will need to be pruned annually. Containerized brambles
may be used for several seasons. Containerized brambles may need
to be mulched with compost, particularly in first year.
You are the manager of two high tunnels. You need to produce as many
different crops as possible in a year’s time. Create a chart of what you would
grow at what times in each of the two high tunnels, again attempting to
include as many different crops as possible.
In order to determine the best crop to plant during certain times of year, a
person must be able to:
Identify produce suitable to growth in a high tunnel
Compare and contrast the fruits and vegetables grown in the warm
season versus the cool season
Assessment: The Application assessment can serve as the evaluation of this
lesson. Additionally, students can create a calendar as described below.
Demonstrate knowledge of production requirements for fruits and
vegetables by developing a calendar for cultivating and harvesting 10 fruits
and vegetables.