High Tunnel Crop Selection Tips for Maximum Profit

By Blake Jackson

Brett Wolff recently led a professional development workshop for NRCS and Extension staff focused on using the new High Tunnel Resource Guide for Producers. One key topic was crop selection for high tunnels, and while many factors influence the choice, economic considerations often play a central role.

The basic principle is to calculate your specific costs including labor and compare them to your potential revenue based on your market’s prices and expected sales volume. Enterprise budgets, like those provided in the Resource Guide, are a helpful starting point for this type of analysis.

If you’re just exploring potential crops, it’s important to consider which types are most suitable for high tunnel production. One approach is to do rough calculations to compare potential revenue per tunnel. For example, assuming a 30-foot by 72-foot tunnel with moderate-to-high planting densities and yields, and using direct-to-consumer market prices, a few options might look like this (pre-cost revenue estimates):

• Tomatoes (75 days to harvest): 150 plants x 10 pounds per plant x $3 per pound = $4,500
• Watermelon (80-90 days): 75 plants x 3 melons per plant x $8 per melon = $1,800
• Sweet corn (60-90 days): 1,200 plants x 1.5 ears per plant x $10 per dozen = $1,500
• Lettuce (35 days): 720 heads x $5 per head = $3,600

Because lettuce matures faster, you could grow two plantings in the same time it takes for a tomato crop, potentially earning $7,200 in the same period.

When selecting crops for high tunnels, space is a premium. Avoid sprawling plants like watermelons, squash, or broccoli that take up a lot of room but yield less.

Crops that stay compact or can be trellised are usually more productive. Dense plantings can also make it harder to access the tunnel for spraying, irrigation maintenance, or scouting.

Ultimately, high tunnel production requires careful planning and crop selection to maximize space, labor, and economic return. Always use your own numbers to make decisions that best fit your operation.

Photo Credit: gettyimages-johnbraid