Tree Fruit and Small Fruit Production in High Tunnels
Terrance T. Nennich Extension Professor/ Emeritus
Fruit and Vegetable Production.
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High Tunnel Research Sites in Minnesota
Experiment Stations Grower Cooperators
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Project Funding
• Northwest Minnesota Sustainable Regional Partnership
• Northwest Minnesota Foundtion
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Tree fruit utilized in this research Project
• Apples
• Plums
• Cherries
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Rational
• Tree fruits stay dormant in northern Minnesota for 7+ months ( late September until May)
• It takes a lot of energy to keep trees alive during dormancy
• The later in the dormancy period the weaker the tree.
• Northern Minnesota receives winter temperature (-40) high winds, ice, snow.
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Reasoning/Question
• Few plantings of tree fruit remain productive year after year in Northern Minnesota
• It is the winds, constant motion, ice on branches, winter rains, melting snow and cold temperatures that take out the trees and not the cold temperatures alone.
• Will high tunnels also control scab and other diseases for organic production?
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Procedure
• In 2010 a additional high tunnel ( 30 x 72 ) was built next to the two present high tunnels, which will be used for tree fruit.
• Planted in the spring of 2011.
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Soil preparation
• Soil and mulch was added
• Soil was sub soiled 18 to 24 ft deep.
• Soil test taken and soil fertilized accordingly
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Fertilization
• Pre plant – May need lime – Apply enough fertility to bring to high level – Add compost – Fertilization through drip line. – Leaf analysis
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pH and High Tunnel Fruit Production • You must have a precise knowledge of your
pH when dealing with fruit production in high tunnels. Fruit is much more sensitive then vegetables
• Strawberries < then 6.5 • Blueberries < then 5.
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Planting Distance
• All trees were planted in – Eight foot wide rows
– Trees were three about in the rows
– Tall spindle system was used. – Some varieties should planted as close as a ft
apart in the row
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Planting Stock
• Apples – Honeycrisp on Bud 9 rootstock – Zestar on bud 9 rootstock. – The right rootstock is everything – In Minnesota Bud 9 and M 26 – Row 1, Honeycrisp – Row 2, Zestar
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© 2012 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
© 2012 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
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Planting Stock
• Cherries – Carmine Jewel – Crimson Passion.
– Strawberries and Raspberries on the outside
rows.
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Planting Stock
Plums Pipestone Compus Cherry Plums Sapalta Toka Gracious
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High Tunnel Small Fruit Production
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High Tunnel Strawberry Production
• Treated as a annual crop • Planted in April • Harvested August until Late October Evie 2 Albion 1 /34 to 2 ½ pounds per plant
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Raspberry Production in high tunnels
• Use fall bearing varieties
– Autumn Britten – Polona – Caroline – Himbo Top –
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Blackberry Production in High Tunnels
• Prime Jim
• Prim Jan
• Developed by the University of Arkansas \ • Dr. John Clark
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Insects
• Spider Mites – Like hot and dry – Monitor and control – Insecticides – Predatory mites
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Blueberry production in high Tunnels
• Soil must be amended if needed • St cloud • Superior • Northcountry • Northblue
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Blueberry Production
• Bring soil down to a pH of at least 4.5 • ( Our Ph started at 6.8) • Dig out soil in and replace with low pH soil. • Add acid compost • Sphagnum Moss
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Honeyberries
• Do well in high tunnels – Use Canadian Varieties
– For detailed information contact – Honeyberry Farms near Bagley
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Varieties
• Honeyberry Tundra Borealis
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Grapes
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Concerns
• Pollination , Honeycrisp and Zestar bloom to far apart. Need to add in a couple of crab apple trees
• Many bees become disortinated under plactic
• Some years may be too cold for natural pollinators
• We will use Bumble bees
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Enhancing Production & Quality with Bumblebees in High Tunnels
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Organic Production
• No leaf diseases • No scab • Leaves were thicker • No mites
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© 2012 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
Questions
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