Now that Johnny has some experience, he is
growing more vegetables faster than ever, but in the
beginning he had a few lessons to learn.
“My first year I had to get on an eight foot ladder
to pick the beans in my tunnel,” said Johnny. “If
you get around guys who have had high tunnels
for a couple of years they are great to help you if
you listen to their advice.” This guidance, along
with expertise the Balls received from NRCS, has
helped Johnny learn the best ways to grow in his
high tunnel. After his first year climbing ladders
to pick his beans, Johnny was advised to cut his
beans so they are concentrated to bloom toward the
bottom of the plant where he can reach to pick from
the ground.
Another tidbit Johnny learned not to do was to
put vehicles or equipment in his high tunnel for
the winter.
“I didn’t do that,” he said. “I was planting
in the winter. I picked beans on Thanksgiving
Day. You won’t find an outdoor garden that can
produce what a high tunnel can,” Johnny added.
“If you like vegetables, this is the very thing to
have. It extends the season and produces lots and
lots for a long time.”
Johnny explained that he can grow more months
out of the year than ever before just by continually
planting and staying dedicated. “When I pick an
onion, I plant one back in its spot,” he said. “I would
suggest people get them (a high tunnel), but you
have to be dedicated. You have to be there to make
sure the sides don’t fill up with rain if it is raining,
and you have to be there to close up if a storm comes
in so you don’t have wind damage. It’s fun to have,
but you have to want to do it and have to be willing
to stick around the house to watch it.”
Through the assistance of NRCS, Johnny is
continually learning more about high tunnel
production, increasing his ability to grow more for
his community and help his friends and neighbors
by providing healthy, fresh vegetables.
12 West Virginia Farm Bureau News
What usually comes in a
basic high tunnel kit?
• frame structure and assembly
hardware
• polyethylene cover with roll-up or dropdown side assemblies
• heavy duty ground posts
Optional items include manufactured end
panels and/or door assemblies as well as
top and bottom baseboard kits. Most kits
will require the use of locally purchased
lumber to construct baseboards and door
frames and some additional anchoring
equipment.