University of New Hampshire University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository Master's Theses and Capstones Student Scholarship Fall 2018 Growing Kiwiberries in New England: A Guide for Regional Producers William Hastings University of New Hampshire, Durham Follow this and additional works at: https://scholars.unh.edu/thesis Recommended Citation Hastings, William, "Growing Kiwiberries in New England: A Guide for Regional Producers" (2018). Master's Theses and Capstones. 1240. https://scholars.unh.edu/thesis/1240 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Scholarship at University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Master's Theses and Capstones by an authorized administrator of University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. GROWING KIWIBERRIES IN NEW ENGLAND: A GUIDE FOR REGIONAL PRODUCERS By William Hastings Agricultural Sciences (B.S.), University of New Hampshire, 2015 THESIS Submitted to the University of New Hampshire in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Biological Sciences: Agricultural Science September 2018 GROWING KIWIBERRIES IN NEW ENGLAND: A GUIDE FOR REGIONAL PRODUCERS BY WILLIAM HASTINGS This thesis was examined and approved in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Biological Sciences:Agricultural Sciences by: Thesis Director, Dr. Iago Hale, Associate Professor of Specialty Crop Improvement, University of New Hampshire Dr. Rebecca Sideman, Extension Professor of Sustainable Horticulture, University of New Hampshire Dr. Robert Guthrie, Actinidia Curator, University of Minnesota On July 30, 2018 Approval signatures are on file with the University of New Hampshire Graduate School. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ......................................................................................................................... vi LIST OF TABLES ...................................................................................................................................... vii LIST OF FIGURES .................................................................................................................................... vii ABSTRACT................................................................................................................................................viii CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................. 1 Preface .......................................................................................................................................................... 2 Overview of the species ............................................................................................................................ 3 History of kiwiberry in the United States ................................................................................................. 7 Regional Market Analysis ....................................................................................................................... 12 Brand Development and Marketing ........................................................................................................ 17 Important Traits and Currently Available Commercial Cultivars ........................................................... 20 CHAPTER II. Kiwiberry Production ......................................................................................................... 27 Vineyard Establishment .......................................................................................................................... 28 Site Selection ...................................................................................................................................... 28 Site Preparation ................................................................................................................................... 30 Trellis System’ .................................................................................................................................... 33 Irrigation System ................................................................................................................................. 44 Planting material ..................................................................................................................................... 48 Planting from seed .............................................................................................................................. 49 Clonal propagation .............................................................................................................................. 50 Transplanting .......................................................................................................................................... 56 Vine Management ................................................................................................................................... 57 Vineyard Layout ..................................................................................................................................... 57 Training Young Vines (Years 1-4) ......................................................................................................... 58 Pruning Mature Vines (Years 4+) ........................................................................................................... 65 Summer Pruning ................................................................................................................................. 66 Winter (dormant) Pruning ................................................................................................................... 69 Fertilization ............................................................................................................................................. 71 Cultivation .............................................................................................................................................. 73 Insect Pests & Diseases ........................................................................................................................... 77 iii Insect pests .......................................................................................................................................... 77 Diseases............................................................................................................................................... 80 Other Production Concerns ..................................................................................................................... 83 Extreme temperatures ......................................................................................................................... 83 Wind .................................................................................................................................................... 84 Non-insect pests .................................................................................................................................. 84 Pollination ............................................................................................................................................... 85 Harvesting ............................................................................................................................................... 89 Harvest indicators ............................................................................................................................... 89 Harvest methods...................................................................................................................................... 94 Postharvest handling ................................................................................................................................... 98 Storage .................................................................................................................................................. 100 Ripening ................................................................................................................................................ 104 CHAPTER III: ENTERPRISE ANALYSIS ............................................................................................. 109 APPENDIX I ............................................................................................................................................ 124 ‘Grower Resources’ .................................................................................................................................. 124 How to Build Orchard and Vineyard Trellises (with USS Max-Ten 200 Hi-Tens Fence Wire) – US Steel Publication ................................................................................................................................................ 124 APPENDIX II ........................................................................................................................................... 125 ‘Pseduomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (PSA) Quarantine Language’ ...................................................... 125 APPENDIX III .......................................................................................................................................... 128 ‘Market Analysis Results and Methodology ‘ .......................................................................................... 128 APPENDIX IV ........................................................................................................................................