Do you use your gas powered tiller in your hoophouses? With mine sealed up I am a little worried about using inside. Has any one have or used an electric Mantis tiller?

Yes, I either open the doors or just pull up the sides to ventilate. Not a big deal.

I used a gas powered tiller in my 13X40...sealed - AND I didn't die...probably not the best air to be breathing, but...

I'm jealous, Jay. What a year. For the past six years I have been able to till and plant the third week in Feb but not this year. We've had hardly any sun and it was -25 last night. Hoping it will get better next week.

jnjfarm- I responded to your other question. I have an electric Troybilt the size of a mantis and I love it. Have not had any of the problems discussed about the electric mantis. And no fumes and little noise.

I am just now starting tomato and pepper seeds, which is the start of the season for me.

I have my tomatoes started. Got them going on 2/7. I will start peppers next week. I am starting my first planting of lettuce, 360 plugs, right now. I am also planning on starting broccoli and cauliflower soon. It will be a very busy time, very soon.

my season started today. started tomato seeds. good luck everyone.

JR, what do you follow carrots with in the tunnel? I assume it pays for you if you can double-crop but I have not justified any root crops in tunnels with the market customers I have. I'm hoping to start planting tomato plants in mine by mid-March. I'm pretty much down to tunnel crops of tomatoes and cucumbers and this year I'll try everbearing black raspberries in a third tunnel.

I know others have tried season extension with various other crops. I even stuck in a row of early lettuce last year and it provided a lettuce crop about 2 weeks ahead of my outside lettuce crop. If customers would ask for ( with their wallets) earlier carrots or beets I might reconsider.

We have 6 high tunnels, so it is easier to justify carrots. One of the reasons we plant them in the tunnel is we can get an early start and have carrots before anyone else. We get the market cornered and keep it all year. We get $2.50 a pound for our carrots. Our carrots have a cult following that only rivals our tomatoes.

We also plant haikuri Turnips, beets and radishes. These gives up more to sell early in the year.

After carrots, we will put down white plastic mulch and plant a late planting of tomatoes (2 rows), cherry tomatoes (1 rows) and bell peppers (1 row). We will have these crops planted by the June 25th. This planting will carry us into late October/November. I will let these freeze out and then, depending on the time of the year, I will either transplant in some winter greens or leave it empty.

What type of sweet potato do you use? The name?

I've had good luck with Beauregard. Slips available through the state university. Have also grown O'Henry (white skin, white flesh) and Murasaki (purple skin, white flesh). They were not nearly as productive, but tasty and added diversity.

I prefer Beauregard for Orange. They have the characteristics my customers are use to and that is what they want to buy. I have tried others, but this is the variety I always go back to. I also grow a purple variety that I have been saving back for 3 years.

What did you use to create the purple sweet potato pie? Here is the link

http://forums2.gardenweb.com/discussions/1388159/best-tasting-sweet-potato

The purple sweet potato is from http://www.tatorman.com/purple-passion/ or https://exchange.seedsavers.org/catalog/results.aspx?type=browse&cat=93 

But I have been keeping back sweet potatoes and growing my own variety for several years.

Jay

We grew Beauregard's for years but last year tried Covington's which is an improved Beau. The tubers were a lot more uniform but still had the taste and appearance of the Beau's. I did have some trouble with scurf but I chalked that up to wetter conditions (the Beau's scurffed also). I planted them for the first time on plastic and it worked out great. We got out slips from Steele.

Tom

Where did you purchase your Covington's slips from? After reading more about them, I am interested.

Sorry, should have included a link. http://www.sweetpotatoplant.com/shop/covington/

We've been using them (Steele) for years with no problems. You have to get into larger quantities for the price to get good (100 or so). There are also some special deals that allow you to mix and match quantities and types on the specials page that are nice.

Here is some info on Covington from HortScience Magazine. If you scroll down a bit there is a side by side comparison between Beau's and Covington's.

http://hortsci.ashspublications.org/content/43/6/1911.full

Tom

Sorry Tom, I guess I breezed over your last sentence. I did some reading about them and looked at some pictures. I am sure some of the larger farms are growing them because their sweet potatoes look just like those pictured. I have been happy with the Beau's, but I am always looking for ways to improve my production.

Jay

My family has always grown Beauregard, but I am also interested in Covington. Thanks for the link.

FWIW I have heard good things about covington - essentially that they are much more uniform. We grew some crazy beau's last year but they were not uniform at all. I'll attach pics when I get home