2018 ASHS Annual Conference

Small farms in the Intermountain West are using high tunnels to expand their production season for high value crops such as fruits and vegetables. Cut flowers are one potential high value crop that hasn’t been fully explored, partly due to a lack of region-specific information. A research project is underway at the Utah State University research farm in North Logan, Utah to develop appropriate management strategies for two representative cool-season annual cut flower crops (snapdragon and sweet pea). Replicated plots of ‘Rocket’ snapdragon, and the sweet pea cultivars ‘Mammoth’, ‘Elegance’, ‘Royal’, and ‘Spencer’ were planted in high tunnels in early April-May of 2017, with comparison field plantings in late May. Stems were harvested 3 days per week and evaluated for yield (stem number), marketable stems, and length of harvest season. Results from 2017 indicate an increase in quality and stem length of snapdragons grown in high tunnels, compared to the field. Sweet peas showed increased quality during cooler months in high tunnels. For 2018, earlier planting dates were included for both sweet pea and snapdragon, and the snapdragon cultivars ‘Potomac’, ‘Animation’ and ‘Chantilly’ were tested. Cool season annual cut flowers are showing promise as a high-tunnel crop for local markets in the high-elevation Intermountain West.