high tunnel raspberries

http://hightunnels.cfans.umn.edu/

High Tunnel

Raspberry Research

Morris, MNAlexandria, MN

Grand Rapids, MN

2009 Update

© 2009 Regents of the University of Minnesota

University of MinnesotaOrganic Research Initiative

Multi-disciplinaryFocus research efforts

Connect with stakeholdersImprove funding potential

Get Involved!


High Tunnel Berries at theUniversity of Minnesota


High Tunnel Berries at theUniversity of Minnesota

Individual donations


The Tunnel


Irrigation


Netting


PlantingMay 2008


TheFirst Year


Trellising


“…the raspberries produced from the high tunnel were absolutely phenomenal….”

“Some of the biggest I have ever seen.”

“…plump, sweet and tart!!!! Nice bright color…not bruised at all.”

“We loved the raspberries....”

-Joshua O’Brien, Executive ChefUniversity of Minnesota MorrisSodexo Campus Services


Heat

OLD

NEW


UM MorrisData


FieldHeightCaroline 8/14/09

Autumn Britten8/14/09

3’4’


High TunnelHeightCaroline 8/14/09

Autumn Britten8/14/09

6’ 5’


22

39

47

24

5560

22

39

45

25

56

73

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

6/1/2009 7/1/2009 8/1/2009

Primocane Height Two Varieties in Field and High Tunnel

(inches)

Autumn Britten Field

Autumn Britten High Tunnel

Caroline Field

Caroline High Tunnel.

Inch

es


40

106

58

99

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

8/5/2009 8/15/2009 8/25/2009 9/4/2009 9/14/2009 9/24/2009 10/4/2009 10/14/2009 10/24/2009

Poun

ds/

36 li

near

feet

of r

owCumulative Yield

Two Varieties in Field and High Tunnel(Pounds/36 linear foot of row)

Field, Autumn Britten

High Tunnel Autumn Britten

Field Caroline

High Tunnel Caroline


40

106

58

99

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Cumulative YieldTwo Varieties in Field and High Tunnel

(Pounds/36 linear feet of row)



Field Caroline

High Tunnel CarolinePoun

ds/3

6 lin

ear

feet

of r

ow


0.00

0.05

0.10

0.15

0.20

0.25

8/12/2009 8/26/2009 9/9/2009 9/23/2009 10/7/2009

Oun

ces

Individual Berry Weight Two Varieties in Field and High Tunnel

(ounces)



High Tunnel Caroline

Field Caroline

Average berry size in a 6 oz. Driscoll’s clamshell


Cost of Construction: 30’ x 48’ High TunnelFarmTek Growers Supply 30’ x 48’ High Tunnel $2700.00

Hired labor to construct $1778.00

Thermostatically controlled roll-up sides $1600.00

Electrical $1200.00

Wood materials with door $800.00

Drip irrigation $160.00

Total Initial Costs $8238.00


Potential Income from 30’ x 48’ High Tunnel in the Second Year (First Full Harvest Year)

106.32 pounds/36 feet of linear row x 3 rows per 30’x 48’ high tunnel

318.96 pounds

Number of 6oz. containers filled 850

Price per 6 oz. container $4.50

Total per 30’ x 48’ high tunnel in the second year (first full harvest year)

$3825.00


Potential Return on InvestmentPlanting Year 1/3 of full harvest potential $1275.00Second Year Full harvest $3825.00Third Year Full harvest $3825.00Total income after third year $8925.00

Return on initial investment of $8238.00 after third full year.


Joan J at Alexandria, MN


Spider Mites


38

6063

43

70

61

40

60 62

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

"6/18/2009" "7/15/2009" "8/14/2009"

Primocane HeightJoan J at three spacings

(inches)

JoanJ_12

JoanJ_18

JoanJ_24

12”

spac

ing

12”

spac

ing

12”

spac

ing

18”

spac

ing

18”

spac

ing

18”

spac

ing

24”

spac

ing

24”

spac

ing

24”

spac

ing

Inch

es


121

115

81

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

8/10 8/15 8/20 8/25 8/30 9/4 9/9 9/14 9/19 9/24 9/29

Poun

ds/3

6 fe

et o

f row

Cumulative YieldJoan J at three spacings

(pounds/36 feet of row)

12

18

24


0.10

0.12

0.14

0.16

0.18

0.20

0.22

0.24

0.26

0.28

8/10 8/15 8/20 8/25 8/30 9/4 9/9 9/14 9/19 9/24 9/29

Oun

ces

Individual Berry WeightJoan J at three spacings

(ounces)

12

18

24

Average berry size in a 6 oz. Driscoll’s clamshell


http://hightunnels.cfans.umn.edu/

High Tunnel Primocane-Fruiting Raspberry

Production at Grand Rapids-Year Two

Shengrui YaoDepartment of HorticultureNorth Central Research and Outreach Center


Objectives:• Evaluate five primocane-fruiting raspberry

cultivars • Compare their performance in the high tunnel

with field planting• Monitor temperature changes in high tunnel

and potential winter damage• Monitor pest and disease problems in the

high tunnel • Disseminate the information to potential

growersSpecial thanks to Northeast Minnesota Sustainable Development Partnership for their support of this project


Tunnel management:

• Drip irrigation with 2 T-tapes/row• Fertigation for soil fertility management in

2009• Opening/closing tunnel sides to control tunnel

temperature• Many wild bumble bees and honey bees for

pollination occurred naturally in the area• Propane heater for frost protection


Yield data• In 2008, total of 154 lb of berries were harvested from

our 21x48 ft high tunnel from August 5 to November 6.

• In 2009, total of 379 lb of berries were harvested from our 21x48 ft high tunnel which was equivalent to 16,000 lb/acre from August 5 to November 2.

• In 2009, 80 lb of berries were harvested from the field planting from August 12 to October 5.


Yield (continued): Total Yields of high tunnel and field raspberries in 2008 and 2009

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

8/5 8/19 9/2 9/16 9/30 10/14 10/28Date

Yiel

d (lb

)

HT 08

HT 09

Field 09


Fruit earliness:

0

100

200

300

400

500

8/5 8/19 9/2 9/16 9/30 10/14 10/28

Yiel

d (g

)

Date

Raspberry yield of five cultivars in high tunnel in 2009

A BlissA BrittenCarolineJoan JPolana


Productivity (2009):

*This yield is the berry weight per plant of the “original planting” in 2008.

Cultivar Yield (lb) Yield (g)Autumn Bliss 3.2 b 1464 bAutumn Britten 3.9 ab 1790 abCaroline 5.0 a 2263 aJoan J 4.5 ab 2026 abPolana 4.8 a 2191 a

Row1 3.0 b 1349 bRow2 4.6 a 2108 aRow3 4.9 a 2216 aRow4 4.6 a 2093 a

Wt/berry (g) 2008 2009Autumn Bliss 3.7 3.3Autumn Britten 5.2x 4.2Caroline 4.1 4.2Joan J 4.9 4.6Polana 4.1 3.8

Average HT berry weight (g)

X Autumn Britten had double fruits in 2008 which made the average berry weight higher.


Cultivars:• Autumn Bliss: small fruit, fewer canes, very thorny, mid

season.• Autumn Britten: nice fruit, fewer canes, mid season,

(double berries)• Caroline: most vigorous, lots of canes and branches, nice

flavor and fruits, very productive, moderate thorns, late cultivar

• Joan J: nice and big fruit, thornless, mid season cultivar• Polana: very early, short plants, small and glossy fruits,

moderate thornsBare root plants were planted in the high tunnel at May 9, and in the field on May 12, 2008

Hand thinned most of Caroline plots and some Joan J plots in mid May and early July, 2009.


-40

-20

0

20

40

60

80

12/1/2008 12/21/2008 1/10/2009 1/30/2009 2/19/2009 3/11/2009

Tem

pera

ture

(F)

Date

Temperature changes in and outside of raspberry high tunnel in winter of 2008/2009

Max outMin outMax inMin in

Air temperature changes in and outside of high tunnel during winter of 2008/2009


Air temperature changes in and outside of raspberry high tunnel during

growing season of 2009

10

30

50

70

90

110

4/1 4/21 5/11 5/31 6/20 7/10 7/30 8/19 9/8 9/28 10/18

Tem

pera

ture

(F)

Date

Maximum and minimum temperature changes in and outside of raspberry high tunnel in 2009

Max inMin inMax outMin out

Heater effect


Snow cover in winter No snow in winter

Dec 15, 2008

Growing points(5/15/09)

Autumn Bliss 9.5 cd

Autumn Britten 8.5 d

Caroline 25.7 a

Joan J 14.4 bc

Polana 17.8 b

Snow 17.2 a

No snow 13.1 b

High tunnel 5-19-09

Field 5-19-09


PolanaJoan J

Autumn Britten

Caroline


• High tunnel: – Raspberry sawflies for both 2008 and 2009– Spider mites

• Appeared later in the season in 2008 without treatment;• Released parasitic mites and spot treated with insecticidal soap

in 2009

– Cane borer (one cane in 2008)– Crown gall (one plant in 2008)– No other disease pressure

• Field: only raspberry sawfly in 2008 and 2009

Raspberry Pests and Diseases at Grand Rapids


What we learned in 2008 and 2009

• High tunnel primocane-fruiting raspberry is doable in MN even in northern MN

• Tissue culture plants are highly recommended• Cane thinning and early pinching may be necessary

for some vigorous cultivars• Limit N application if N was high in your high tunnels• Heat equipment is necessary for frost protection in

northern Minnesota


high tunnel raspberries

Education