2018 ASHS Annual Conference

The Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas is one of the most productive vegetable areas in the State. However, environmental conditions limit production to Spring and early Fall seasons when temperatures allow open field production. Furthermore, open field production is severely affected by strong winds, and high pressure of endemic/new insects and diseases. Protected structures such as high-tunnels offer an alternative to extend production season. High tunnels or hoop houses are relatively low investment structures that protect crops from the weather and pests. In order to determine the feasibility of production under high tunnels, two determinate and three indeterminate tomato cultivars including commercial available and Texas A&M developed hybrids were evaluated at two planting dates (October and November). Harvesting started in late December and was extended to the middle of June. October planting resulted in higher yields (56,104 kg/ha) and overall higher tomato total soluble solids (brix 4.16%) as compared to November planting (36,869 kg/ha and Brix 3.76%, respectively). It is hypothesized that early seedling establishment when temperatures were higher contributed to observed yield and quality parameters differences between planting dates. Determinate cultivar tomato yields were higher as compared to indeterminate cultivars during first planting date but were lower during second planting. Observed differences between growing habit cultivars may have been in response to cold temperature resistance of indeterminate tomatoes, and to better light capture due to pruning during winter months. Finally, tomato taste panel was performed to determinate consumer preference. Blind samples including a supermarket tomato control were offered to participants. Overall, high-tunnel tomatoes were preferred as compared to supermarket control. Texas A&M cultivar TAM “Hot Ty” had the highest levels of consume rating in terms of flavor and color. In summary, our results indicate that winter production in high tunnels is feasible in South Texas resulting in good yields and quality.