2017 ASHS Annual Conference

High tunnels effectively modify the growing environment to extend the growing season in the cold climates of the northern Great Plains. This modified environment is advantageous for warm season crops such as tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers that benefit from a longer, warmer growing season. This project evaluated three traditional high tunnel crop species, tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) and cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.); and compared crop yield and quality using two trials in western and eastern North Dakota. Nine cultivars of each crop were grown inside the high tunnel. Of the nine cultivars of tomato, ‘Tomimaru Muchoo’ and ‘Cobra’ were the top yielding in the western and eastern trials at 6 and 9.6 kilograms per plant, respectively. The top producing pepper cultivars for the western and eastern trials were ‘Islander’ and ‘Sprinter’, respectively with 3 kilograms per plant for each. The cucumbers consisted of six slicing and three pickling cultivars. In the western and eastern trials, ‘Corinto’ had the greatest yield at 14 and 8 kilograms per plant respectively. ‘Harmonie’ had the greatest pickling yield in the western trial at 9 kilograms per plant, while for the eastern trial ‘Excelsior’ had the greatest pickling yield at 2 kilograms per plant. High tunnels have extended the season, improved crop quality, and increased production relative to normal North Dakota field growing conditions.