{"id":116646,"date":"2024-01-15T09:44:50","date_gmt":"2024-01-15T14:44:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/admin.hobbyfarms.com\/?p=116646"},"modified":"2024-01-19T11:48:02","modified_gmt":"2024-01-19T16:48:02","slug":"use-a-low-tunnel-this-spring-for-earlier-harvests","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hobbyfarms.com\/use-a-low-tunnel-this-spring-for-earlier-harvests\/","title":{"rendered":"Use a Low Tunnel This Spring for Earlier Harvests"},"content":{"rendered":"

Growing under the cover of a low tunnel is an easy way to get a jump start with your spring vegetable garden. These temporary structures are miniature versions of greenhouses. The domed plastic is great at trapping and holding heat in the soil. Quick, easy and inexpensive to build, low tunnels can be popped up anywhere, so they also work well with crop rotation. These extend the growing season in the spring to warm soil for earlier planting and in the fall to keep cold hearty crops in the garden longer.<\/p>\n

Crop Selection<\/h2>\n

You\u2019ll also need to start with cold hardy crops. Some of the best choices are brassicas (aka cole crops) such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbages and kale, plus beets, radishes and spring greens.<\/p>\n

The listed plants will start germinating at temperatures around 40 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Another good list is here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Temperature Control<\/h2>\n

But we need to make as important distinction between air and soil temperatures. It\u2019s soil temperature that you need to pay attention to for germinating the earliest plants. Luckily for seedlings and plant roots, soil temperatures are more consistent than air temperatures.<\/p>\n

Having a dedicated thermometer<\/a> to track soil temps will help you keep a handle on things. I actually have a few thermometers so I can keep them in the soil (which gives more accurate readings) in different places, this helps me track my soil temperatures in different garden beds.<\/p>\n

The most effective way to warm the soil is to cover it. Coverage on the surface will help a little but bringing that covering up off the ground so the sun\u2019s rays get trapped inside helps even more.<\/p>\n

\"low
Michelle Brugh<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Let\u2019s Build a Low Tunnel<\/h2>\n

Gather the following needed materials. (Use what you have on hand, but this will get you going.)<\/p>\n