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  • From: Bill Shoemaker <wshoemak AT illinois.edu>
  • To: "Market Farming" <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] High Tunnel Winter Growing
  • Date: Tue, 24 Nov 2009 07:49:42 -0600 (CST)

I wonder if you could use compost that is not quite done "cooking". Perhaps
you could band it in trenches and plant crops between the trenches.

Bill


> This is an interesting idea for heat - taking a hotbed and expanding
>the idea to an entire tunnel. The biggest issue I could see is salt
>buildup. High tunnels typically are covered the entire 4 years (or
>more) that the plastic lasts, and there is no rainfall to leach salts
>downward. Even using animal manures in just amounts necessary for
>fertility can cause salts to buildup over time.
>
>Alison Wiediger, Au Naturel Farm, SC KY
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: market-farming-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org
>[mailto:market-farming-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Mike Rock
>Sent: Monday, November 23, 2009 5:44 PM
>To: Market Farming
>Subject: Re: [Market-farming] High Tunnel Winter Growing
>
>A 'what if'.
>If ground temp is important, make a hot frame under the growing beds.
>Fresh horse manure or freshly made horse manure compost will take months
>to work and can heat all or most of the winter. My draft horses supply
>enough for a huge hi hoop. More work, but a two foot deep composting
>frame, wall to wall, with a step up to working level will generate a
>winters worth of heat.
>
>Mike
>
>
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>Market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org
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>
William H Shoemaker, UI-Crop Sciences
Sr Research Specialist, Food Crops
St Charles Horticulture Research Center
535 Randall Road St Charles, IL 60174
630-584-7254; FAX-584-4610




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