Open field cultivation of specialty crops such as tomato is challenging in Oklahoma due to unpredictable weather. In open fields, early planting of tomato seedlings during spring is hampered due to damaging chill weather conditions. On the other hand, higher temperatures during the summer months severely limit productivity. Furthermore, insect pests and disease pressure are high in open field conditions. As a result, the production cost per unit area is high. With the objective to develop cost effective and profitable production systems, tomato production in high tunnel was evaluated in Oklahoma. Six tomato cultivars including beefsteak and cherry types were evaluated in high tunnel at Langston University, OK during spring-summer season in 2023. High tunnel kept warm during the early seedlings establishment period and allowed early planting in spring by six weeks compared to open field cultivation. Similarly, by covering the roof with 45% shade cloth, a continuous harvest was achieved throughout the summer until third week of September. Study revealed the beefsteak tomato cultivars produced higher marketable fruit yield compared to cherry types. The marketable fruit yield of six evaluated tomato cultivars were in the range of 44.3 ton/ha - 77.12 ton/ha. Similarly, total soluble solid (brix %) content in high tunnel grown tomatoes were in the range of 5.1 % - 6.1%. Our study shows the early growth, season extension, and high yield of tomatoes due to use of high tunnels, and small - medium or limited resources farmers could benefit from it.
