BF 220: Season Extension with High Tunnels

  Enroll in Course

Know Before You Grow

Adding weeks to either end of your growing season can mean attaining a premium for having products available well before (or long after) other local growers. But the structures that make this possible–unheated plastic-covered “high tunnels” or “hoop houses”--can cost a lot of money, and they bring special management considerations that need to be understood in order to be profitable additions to your farm.

Target Audience

All levels: You will get the most from this course if you already have some experience successfully growing vegetables outdoors and are exploring high tunnels as a way to expand the season or improve plant quality. Information will be focused on using high tunnels in colder climates (US Climate Zones 4-6), but can be adapted to other growing regions. Farmers with no outdoor production experience are also welcome to join.

Course Objectives

By the end of this course growers will have the knowledge to do the following:

  • Complete a basic site assessment and know when to bring in experts to discuss site limitations
  • Make decisions to improve or maintain their soil health and fertility in the tunnel
  • Select an appropriate high tunnel structure for your site, climate, and production needs
  • Select and grow appropriate cold and/or warm season crops for the tunnel
  • Employ pest control and trouble-shooting strategies for high tunnels
  • Decide if high tunnels make economic, environmental, and social sense on the farm

Webinars

The bulk of the course happens on your own time, with discussions, readings, and assignments in Teachable, our virtual classroom. To add to the experience, webinars will be woven into the online interface of the course to allow you to meet on a weekly basis to learn from outside presenters, ask questions, and collaborate with other participants and the instructor to address your farm issues in real time. If you miss one, they are always recorded and posted for later viewing.

Webinar Schedule

Live instruction for 2024 has concluded. You are welcome to enroll now to complete this course on a self-paced schedule and join our next live session in Winter 2025. All webinars are recorded and posted in your online classroom to watch anytime. Once enrolled in this course, you will retain access to all materials indefinitely and may return to participate in future live offerings of the course as well. Please join us!


This course was just what I needed heading into my first season with a high tunnel. Pretty sure I can make enough in one growing season to pay it off, and generate profit after that.

— Jose M., Student

Amy is very enthusiastic and knowledgeable. As an instructor Amy explains the material very clearly and is consistently open to questions as well as offering expert advice. The presenters were also very informative and well versed in their field of expertise.

— Andrew H., Student

Your Instructor


Amy Ivy
Amy Ivy

Amy Ivy recently retired from her role as part of the Eastern NY Commercial Horticulture Program. She worked with gardeners and commercial vegetable and berry growers for Cornell Cooperative Extension for 31 years in northeastern NY, on the east side of the Adirondack Mountains and Champlain Valley. Her particular interests are season extension, protected culture including high tunnels, soil health and insects, both good and bad.


Course Curriculum



Frequently Asked Questions


When does the course start and finish?
The course officially starts and ends on the dates given above, when the instructors get involved and begin hosting live weekly webinars. If you are registering after the webinars have concluded for the year, you will have immediate access to all the course materials, and will be able to participate in the next year's webinars if you choose to.
How long do I have access to the course?
How does lifetime access sound? After enrolling, you have unlimited access to this course for as long as you like - across any and all devices you own.
What if I am unhappy with the course?
We would never want you to be unhappy! If you are unsatisfied with your purchase, contact us in the first 7 days and we will give you a full refund.

Get started now!