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

High Tunnel Raspberry Research

Morris, MNAlexandria, MN

Grand Rapids, MN

2009 Update

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High Tunnel Berries at theUniversity of Minnesota

High Tunnel Berries at theUniversity of Minnesota

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The Tunnel

Irrigation

Netting

PlantingMay 2008

TheFirst Year

TheFirst Year

Trellising

Harvest

Harvest

“…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’

6/1/2009 7/1/2009 8/1/20090

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

22

39

47

24

5560

22

39

45

25

56

73

Primocane Height Two Varieties in Field and High

Tunnel(inches)

Autumn Britten FieldAutumn Britten High TunnelCaroline FieldCaroline High Tunnel.In

ches

8/5/2009 8/15/2009 8/25/2009 9/4/2009 9/14/2009 9/24/2009 10/4/2009 10/14/2009 10/24/20090

20

40

60

80

100

120

99

58

106

40

Cumulative YieldTwo Varieties in Field and High

Tunnel(Pounds/36 linear foot of row) Field, Autumn

Britten

High Tunnel Autumn Britten

Field Caroline

High Tunnel Caroline

Poun

ds/

36 li

near

feet

of r

ow

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

40

106

58

99

Cumulative YieldTwo Varieties in Field and High

Tunnel(Pounds/36 linear feet of row)

Field, Autumn BrittenHigh Tunnel Autumn BrittenField CarolineHigh Tunnel Caroline

Poun

ds/3

6 lin

ear f

eet o

f row

0.00

0.05

0.10

0.15

0.20

0.25

Individual Berry Weight Two Varieties in Field and High

Tunnel(ounces)

High Tunnel Autumn Britten

Field, Autumn Britten

High Tunnel Caroline

Field Caroline

Oun

ces

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

Cost of Construction: 30’ x 48’ High Tunnel

FarmTek 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 $1275.00

Second Year Full harvest $3825.00

Third Year Full harvest $3825.00

Total income after third year $8925.00

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

Joan J at Alexandria, MN

Spider Mites

Spider Mites

"6/18/2009" "7/15/2009" "8/14/2009"0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

38

6063

43

70

61

40

60 62

Primocane HeightJoan J at three spacings

(inches)

JoanJ_12

JoanJ_18

JoanJ_24

12

” s

pa

cin

g

12

” s

pa

cin

g

12

” s

pa

cin

g

18

” s

pa

cin

g

18

” s

pa

cin

g

18

” s

pa

cin

g

24

” s

pa

cin

g

24

” s

pa

cin

g

24

” s

pa

cin

g

Inch

es

8/10 8/15 8/20 8/25 8/30 9/4 9/9 9/14 9/19 9/24 9/290

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

81

115

121

Cumulative YieldJoan J at three spacings(pounds/36 feet of row)

121824Po

unds

/36

feet

of r

ow

8/10 8/15 8/20 8/25 8/30 9/4 9/9 9/14 9/19 9/24 9/290.10

0.12

0.14

0.16

0.18

0.20

0.22

0.24

0.26

0.28

Individual Berry WeightJoan J at three spacings

(ounces)

12

18

24

Oun

ces

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 Yao

Department 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

Yie

ld (

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

Yie

ld (

g)

Date

Raspberry yield of five cultivars in high tunnel in 2009

A Bliss

A Britten

Caroline

Joan J

Polana

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 b

Autumn Britten 3.9 ab 1790 ab

Caroline 5.0 a 2263 a

Joan J 4.5 ab 2026 ab

Polana 4.8 a 2191 a   

Row1 3.0 b 1349 b

Row2 4.6 a 2108 a

Row3 4.9 a 2216 a

Row4 4.6 a 2093 a

 Wt/berry (g) 2008 2009

Autumn Bliss 3.7 3.3

Autumn Britten 5.2x 4.2

Caroline 4.1 4.2

Joan J 4.9 4.6

Polana 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 thorns

Bare 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

per

atu

re (F

)

Date

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

Max out

Min out

Max in

Min 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

Te

mp

era

ture

(F)

Date

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

Max in

Min in

Max out

Min 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

Joan J

9-27-09Caroline

Joan J

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