Nitrogen Fertility Options for Organic High Tunnels
Cordelia Machanoff, Program Aide
Cornell Vegetable Program

Given the longer season and higher yields of tunnel tomatoes, a nitrogen fertilizer to inject or side-dress will help prevent mid-season deficiencies.
Our recommendations and pre-plant and in-season organic nitrogen sources are provided in the PDF below.
This work is part of a 2-year project between CCE Cornell Vegetable Program and NOFA-NY with support from the New York Farm Viability Institute.
Nitrogen Fertility Options for Organic High Tunnels, May 2017 (pdf; 1094KB)

Upcoming Events
Chautauqua Region Winter Vegetable Meeting
January 30, 2026
Randolph, NY
Fresh market production meeting for small to mid-sized farms. Topics include: vegetable disease management, keeping yourself safe while spraying (organic & conventional), soil and water sampling, managing soil organic matter, grower panel, industry and programmatic updates.
DEC credits available: 1.0 in CORE plus 1.5 in 1a and 23.
Eden Area Winter Vegetable Meeting
February 4, 2026
North Collins, NY
Join us for a mix of industry updates, crop protection talks, pesticide safety programming, and fertility management discussions. This meeting is jointly hosted by the Cornell Vegetable Program and Timac Laing-Gro.
1.25 DEC credits available in CORE plus 1.75 in 1a and 23.
Orleans Regional Winter Vegetable Meeting
February 9, 2026
Albion, NY
Topics include: Breeding and evaluating tomatoes to control disease and improve yield, jar testing and ensuring spray water quality, breaking down organic matter, FSMA updates and Q&A with Ag & Markets, and industry updates. Includes hands-on learning, coffee break, and sponsor booths.
DEC credits available: 1.0 in CORE plus 0.5 in 1a, 10 or 23