Cherokee Purple on the left, Mainly Big Beef on the right. There are a few Estiva, BHN 640, BHN 589, Polbig and Florida 91. The yellow and orange ones are Taxi and BHN 876 or BHN 871.

Almost sold out too! Only the least ripe ones made it home. They will be gone on Saturday.

Jay

Very nice harvest! On the BHN series, which one is your favorite for taste and production?

I am familiar with Big Beef, Florida 91, Taxi, Estiva, Cherokee Purple but not the others. Your reviews are always good.

Silvia

Don't be afraid to try these, either one is good.

I got the orange and yellow BHN 871 and BHN 876 from a larger producer. I haven't been able to find them in small quantities. They are both very tasty. They set alot of fruit, all at once and then they are done.

Jay

Silvia

Enjoy!

Welcome to the Jungle!

Big Beef

Polbig

View from the other end

Me in the middle, love the self timer. I am 5'10" the "T" post is 8 foot and they are above that. The roof is 13' 6" I guess I will need longer stakes!

Big Beef (probably already picked some)

Very impressive pictures. Need your expert advice. Can you please explain how often you feed your tomato plants and what do you feed? I planted my plants in mid may and they are about 2.5 feet tall and full of flowers. No fruits yet. I am not sure how often and what should I feed them.

Thanks,
Anitha

First of all, before planting a garden have a soil test. Your local extension service should be able to help you out with this. Don't waste your time with the cheap kit from the hardware store. Find out what your pH and your N-P-K levels are. Then follow the recommendations they give you. You may find out that feeding isn't required. My soil is naturally very high in P and K. Our property use to be old outside pig lots many, many years ago. So all I add is some nitrogen and sulfur to help lower my pH. I also add compost to the rows prior to planting.

Here is a picture of the compost spread out in the rows. After this, I till everything in, put down my drip tape and start to plant.

It is alot of shoveling, especially at the end of February/early March to do this. I get the compost from our city compost site. I have been doing this for many years and have been very happy with the results. I put it in my covered trailer this year as there was a chance of snow before I picked it up and then really cold weather. I usually spread 3-5 truckloads of this compost in my gardens every year.

If you feed your tomatoes too much nitrogen, you will only get blooms and alot of foliage.

Hope this helps.

Zackey,

Yes the plastic is on my high tunnels. They stand the heat fairly well.
We use natural ventilation to help cool them.

the side walls pull up 3 feet on each side, the two endwall doors drop down 8 feet and the walk through door is left open. Also the window in the middle is opened to let the hot air out. I live on a hill with no wind breaks. We usually always have a good breeze.

I wish I could buy some shade cloth and put it over the whole structure in late May, but I didn't have that in my budget this year.

Jay

High tunnels are the way of the future. So much more production is possible. There is some risk involved, but they will pay for themselves very quick.

Jay

Thanks, for sharing the pictures--can't believe all the tomatoes you have at this time of the season in zone 5--a sure selling point for hightunnel growing!

Stricklins- I do garden year around. My "hobby" has turned into a full time summer job, and a part time, during the school year job. August, September and April and May I have two full time jobs, Teaching and Garden.

I don't have a lot going on other than that and my family, but it does help us pay the bills and save money on food. I am sure I would have to have a part time job on the evenings and weekends if I didn't do this. I do consider this a job, I just get to bring my kids to work everyday.

Jay

I have to do high or low tunnel next year, this year couldn't plant out til June b/c of the rain, I'm sure my heirlooms would be much bigger if I had been able to plant them even a month earlier (as normal), March or April would be great!

The plastic stays on year around and we grow/harvest produce from it year around.

You can check out my website for some ideas on how to build your own high tunnel and save a lot of money. If you look at my site, at the top is a link called "Presentations" click on it and you will find many different types of plans for high tunnels, including my own. Remember, if you want a smaller one, use these plans and build them to your desired length. You don't have to build them the size they are listed.

Jay

I don't have a lot going on other than that and my family, but it does help us pay the bills and save money on food. I am sure I would have to have a part time job on the evenings and weekends if I didn't do this. I do consider this a job, I just get to bring my kids to work everyday."

Jay, I hope more people see the value of this job (and you're right, it is a job) which is not only rewarding but needed. We alway hear, "but locally" and this would ensure that there is plenty to buy and feed our families plus it supports the local economy.

jrslick QUOTE:
"Sunsi, I am a member of that listserve. It is a very helpful tool. I am glad to hear that you are looking into high tunnel growing. It can be very challenging, nerve wrecking and rewarding."

I really stumbled on this listserve and liked the information from people who are actually doing hightunnels day-to-day. There is a wealth of knowledge there and everyone is supportive and generous with help if you experience a problem. I'm not sure if we'll make each individual raised bed a tunnel or go the whole way and enclose the entire area of raised beds into one hightunnel. Bottomline is we want to grow food out of season but within our budget.

Going to check out your website "presentations" for ideas, thanks.

Cute kids - all girls, or is the little guy a guy?