CHARLESTON, W.Va. — High tunnels help West Virginia growers stretch the state’s growing season and give farmers access to earlier harvests in the spring and later harvests well into winter. However, agricultural educators emphasize that these structures require careful planning, management and financial commitment to succeed.

High tunnels are typically unheated, plastic-covered frames that use passive solar energy to create protected growing environments, allowing farmers to produce crops outside their usual seasonal window.

“I have folks here in Barbour County that both grow up until December that start in February,” said Jody Carpenter, a West Virginia University Extension agent.

Many cold-tolerant crops, such as lettuce, beets and carrots, can easily be grown into the late fall and e

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