Small Fruit Production in High Tunnels

Abstract

<jats:p>High tunnels are a relatively economical form of protected culture, and offer cultural advantages such as protection from the elements and an extended production season. Interest in high tunnels for small fruit production has been increasing in North America. Growers in the United States and Canada are using multi-bay and single-bay high tunnels for production of red raspberry (<jats:italic>Rubus idaeus</jats:italic>), black raspberry (<jats:italic>Rubus occidentalis</jats:italic>), blackberry (<jats:italic>Rubus</jats:italic> subgenus <jats:italic>Rubus</jats:italic>), strawberry (<jats:italic>Fragaria</jats:italic> ×<jats:italic>ananassa</jats:italic>), and blueberry (<jats:italic>Vaccinium</jats:italic> spp.). Research trials using high tunnels are being conducted in numerous places across the United States. In most instances, high tunnels increased yields of berry crops, improved quality, and decreased the incidence of most diseases compared with field production, powdery mildew (<jats:italic>Sphaerotheca macularis</jats:italic>) being a notable exception. The insect and mite complex encountered in tunnels when growing berry crops has changed markedly, often becoming similar to that which might have been expected in greenhouses, with numbers of two-spotted spider mite (<jats:italic>Tetranychus urticae</jats:italic>), whitefly (Aleyrodidae), and thrips (<jats:italic>Frankliniella</jats:italic> spp.) reaching high levels without control measures. In studies at The Pennsylvania State University, primocane-bearing cultivars of red raspberry plants produced at least two to three times as much marketable fruit in tunnels as in a previous field study, with substantial summer and fall crops obtained. ‘Triple Crown’ thornless blackberry produced very high marketable yields in the tunnels, even though winter injury historically resulted in a lack of blackberry production in the field. Strawberry production in a plasticulture system using short-day or day-neutral cultivars was found to be viable; however, the primary benefit of high tunnels for strawberry may have been reliability of production rather than a yield increase. Potential reasons for improvements in productivity and quality are numerous and warrant further attention.</jats:p>

Protected raspberry production accelerates onset of oviposition by vine weevils (Otiorhynchus sulcatus)

“…Although it is widely expected that protected cropping affects pest community dynamics, information about these changes remain anecdotal or speculative. For example, growers frequently report problems with two‐spotted spider mite ( Tetranychus urticae Koch) in protective tunnels (Gordon et al , 2006; Demchak, 2009), yet detailed empirical information about population dynamics is lacking. The present study suggests that the onset of oviposition by vine weevils is accelerated in protective tunnels, which would inevitably lead to earlier occurrence in protected crops.…”

“…There have been many beneficial developments in the management and production of soft fruit over the last 20 years, which have also presented fresh challenges for controlling insect pests (Gordon et al , 2006). In particular, the use of protected production of soft fruit using plastic tunnels (known variously as polytunnels, high tunnels or Spanish tunnels) has become widespread in many parts of the world (Wittwer & Castilla, 1995), enabling longer growing seasons, together with higher grade and more consistent fruit production compared with field grown crops (Demchak, 2009). For example, 90% of U.K. soft fruit sold through supermarkets is now produced using protective tunnels (Anon., 2009).…”

Preharvest effects on postharvest quality of spring-planted, day-neutral strawberries in high tunnels

“…Fresh strawberry production in the U.S. is a $2.6 billion industry nationwide, with the majority of strawberries grown in California and consumed fresh (~80%) (Demchak, 2009;USDA-NASS, 2015). The U.S. per capita consumption of fresh strawberries was 7.9 lbs/person in 2013 and was forecasted to continue increasing (Perez and Plattner, 2014).…”

“…Our results suggest that 'Portola, 'Evie 2', and 'Seascape' were the highest yielding cultivars by weight in 2014, while 'Portola' and 'Evie 2' were the most successful cultivars in terms of fruit yield in 2015. In 2014 alone, every cultivar (with the exception of the low yielding 'San Andreas' fell within the desired range of total yield reported 0.75-1.25 lbs/plant for dayneutral cultivars within a high tunnel(Demchak, 2009). In 2015, only 'Portola' and 'Evie 2' fell within the desired range of total yield by weight (lbs/plant).…”

Protected raspberry production alters aphid–plant interactions but not aphid population size

“…polytunnels, high tunnels or Spanish tunnels) in many parts of the world (Wittwer & Castilla, 1995). The benefits of such protected production include longer growing seasons and more consistent yields of higher‐grade fruit compared with field‐grown crops (Demchak, 2009). In the U.K. alone, approximately 80% of raspberries and strawberries now sold through supermarkets are produced in protected tunnels (British Summer Fruits, 2011).…”