Low Cost Season Extension
Collin Thompson
Farm Manager, The North Farm
Why Consider
Season Extension?
•  Extend the growing season
•  Increase marketing/cropping
opportunities
•  Increase revenue per square
foot
•  Increase crop quality & yield
•  Enhanced environmental
control
•  Reduce incidence of plant
disease
•  Protection from weather (i.e.
frost & hail)
•  Labor efficiency (work
regardless of weather)
Low Tunnels
Low Tunnels
•  Low supports made of wire,
conduit, or PVC for fabric or
plastic covers
•  Offers frost protection in the
field or hoophouse
•  Serves as a physical pest barrier
and offers wind protection
•  Maximizes effect of hoophouse
for season extension
•  Different types of row cover
•  Relatively small investment
•  $0.49 / Square Foot Cost
Low Tunnels
Low Tunnels
Low Tunnels
ImprovedQuickHoopsLowTunnelCalculator
***Fillintheitemsinredbelowandthecalculatorwilldotherest.***
Dimensions,Specs
Length
50
feet
Enterlengthhere.Mustbedivisiblebyspacing.
Spacing
5
feet
Enterspacinghere.
Width
4
feet
#Segments
200
$0.49
$1.97
10
#Bows
Qty
1
11
1
SquareFeet
Cost/Sq.
Ft.
Cost/Ft.
11
Unit
each
each
each
Part#
MH-4
3651333
9065
Vendor
LostCreekHoopBenders
Menards
Johnny'sSelectedSeeds
DescripUon
LowTunnelHoopBender
10'1/2"EMTElectricalConduit
10'x50'Ag-19FloaLngRowCover
Price
$39.99
$2.17
$34.80
Ext
$39.99
$23.87
$34.80
Total
Cost
$99
Low Tunnels
Crop
PricePer
RowFeet Yield/100' TotalYield Pound
Total
Value
Value/Ft SEInvestment
Net
Leeks
800
75#
600#
$1
$600
$0.75
$250.00
$350.00
Onions
800
100#
800#
$1
$800
$1.00
$250.00
$550.00
Spinach
800
40#
320#
$5
$1,600
$2.00
$170.00
$1,430.00
***Figuresdonotaccountforlossorinputs
Field Tunnels
Field Tunnels
•  Larger growing space
meaning greater thermal
gain and working
environment
•  Typically uses very basic
plastic attachment
technology and ventilation
•  Often viewed as 3-season
structures in area with snow
•  Can be bought as kits or
bent on-farm
•  Slightly larger investment
•  $1.38 per ft2 cost
ImprovedQuickHoopsStaUonaryCaterpillarHighTunnelCalculator
SquareFeet 1152
Dimensions,Specs
Length
96 feet
Enterlengthhere.Mustbedivisiblebyspacing.
Spacing
4 feet
Enterspacinghere.
GrndPosts
4 feet
Enter3or4here.3Ugroundposts=7Uhightunnel;4Ugroundposts=9.5Uhightunnel.
#Purlins
0 plustheridgepole
Width
12 feet
#Segments
24
#Bows
25
Qty
1
50
10
0
25
120
1
50
50
100
50
50
1
4
1
Unit Part#
Vendor
each DY-12
LostCreekHoopBenders
each 30099
Menards
each 30099
Menards
each 30099
Menards
each 30547
Menards
each GCC1315 NoltsMidwestProduceSupplies
each 2405
www.boltdepot.com
each 12528
www.boltdepot.com
each 2649
www.boltdepot.com
each 3025
www.boltdepot.com
each
199
www.boltdepot.com
each 2624
www.boltdepot.com
each
1
www.parachute-cord.com
each 1712902 Menards
each 9701
Johnny'sSelectedSeeds
Cost/Sq.Ft.
DescripUon
QuickHoopsHighTunnelBender
10Ulengthof1-3/8"fencetoprailforbows
10Ulengthof1-3/8"fencetoprailforridgepole
10Ulengthof1-3/8"fencetoprailforpurlins
8Ulengthsof1-5/8in.fencepost
CrossConnectorfor1.315"x1.315"Pipe
#10x3/4"self-tappingscrews,boxof100
5/16"-18x5"J-boltforlacingconnecLon**
5/16"-18hexnut
5/16"lockwashers
1/4"-20x2"hexheadboltforbows
1/4"nylocklocknut
1000U.spoolofwhiteparachutecordforlacing
T-postanchorforends
TuffliteIVGreenhouseFilm,24x125U.
$1.38
Price
$54.99
$7.98
$7.98
$7.98
$13.32
$1.80
$3.83
$1.20
$0.05
$0.05
$0.10
$0.05
$38.95
$3.72
$379.00
Ext
$54.99
$399.00
$79.80
$0.00
$333.00
$216.00
$3.83
$60.00
$2.50
$5.00
$5.00
$2.50
$38.95
$14.88
$379.00
Total
Cost
$1,594
Field Tunnels
Crop
Leauce
Heads
PricePer
RowFeet Yield/100' TotalYield Pound
Total
Value
Value/Ft SEInvestment
Net
810
50#
405#
$2
$810
$1.00
$1,594.00
($784.00)
Spinach
1080
40#
432#
$5
$2,160
$2.00
$1,594.00
$566.00
Carrots
1080
100#
1080#
$2.75
2970
$2.75
$1,594.00
$1,376.00
***Figuresdonotaccountforlossorinputs
Cold Frames
•  Smaller growing space usually garden scale
•  Can be made of a wide
variety of materials
•  Used for cold season
growing or hardening off
transplants
•  Great use for old windows/
doors
•  In-ground or above-ground
growing
•  Cost varies on design and
materials used in
construction
Variety Selection
•  Maximize effect by selection
•  Cold hardy crop types:
•  Greens – Spinach,
Lettuce, Kale, Chard,
Asian Greens, Mustards
•  Roots – Carrots, Beets,
Radishes, Parsnips,
Turnips
•  Alliums – Leeks, onions
•  Brassicas – Broccoli,
Cabbage, Cauliflower
•  Select specific varieties for
hardiness
Questions?
Collin Thompson
Farm Manager
[email protected]
www.msunorthfarm.org