High Tunnel Raspberries and Blackberries 1 High Tunnel Raspberries and Blackberries About this Guide This High Tunnel Raspberries and Blackberries production guide is based on research results generated from ongoing bramble (raspberry and blackberry) high tunnel projects throughout the northeast region of the United States. An important funding source is USDA-SCRI but other state funding sources contributed to the project: NIFA, New York Farm Viability Institute, and USDA Hatch and Smith-Lever Funds. Developed by: AJ Both, Kathy Demchak, Eric Hanson, Cathy Heidenreich, Greg Loeb, Laura McDermott, Marvin Pritts, and Courtney Weber Thanks to the following people for photos: Cathy Heidenreich, Marvin Pritts, Courtney Weber, Craig Cramer, Mary Jo Kelly, Craig Kahlke, Laura McDermott and Wayne Wilcox of Cornell University, Eric Hanson, Michigan State University, Kathleen Demchak, The Pennsylvania State University, AJ Both, Rutgers University, and Alan Eaton and Cheryl Smith, University of New Hampshire. Cover design & Layout Assistance: Chelsea Truehart, Graphic Designer, Cornell Cooperative Extension Eastern NY Commercial Horticulture Last updated: 8/30/2019 Comments or Questions, email: Laura McDermott ([email protected]), Berry Extension Specialist, Cornell Cooperative Extension. Some of the informational links provided are not maintained by, nor are the responsibility of, Cornell Cooperative Extension and Cornell University. Mention of commercial products and trade names is for educational and informational purposes only. Manufacturers' instructions change. Read the manufacturers' instructions on the pesticide label carefully before use. Inclusion of information is not intended as an endorsement by Cornell Cooperative Extension or Cornell University, nor is discrimination of excluded information implied. Cornell University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action educator and employer. 2 High Tunnel Raspberries and Blackberries Table of Contents Introduction …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..……………………………... 4 What is a High Tunnel? ………..…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……………………….…. 4 The Benefits of High Tunnel Production ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………………..……. 5 The Disadvantages of High Tunnel Production …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….….…….. 6 Site Selection, Preparation, Water Quality and Tunnel Orientation Soil Requirements …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……...………….. 7 Soil and Nutrient Management Guidelines …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………....…………….. 7 Cropping History ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...……………….. 7 Irrigation System Selection and Installation …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……………………. 8 Structural Considerations and Tunnel Orientation ………………………………………………………………………………………………………...…….………………. 8 Tunnel Selection and Sizing Single vs. Multiple Bay ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...….……………………. 10 Three-season vs four-season …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………………………...……….. 10 Determining Tunnel Size …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………………... 11 Sources for Tunnels and Tunnel-related Materials ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 12 Tunnel Construction Erecting Superstructures …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..……………………………….…………. 13 Selecting the Plastic Covering ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…………….………….. 14 Applying the Plastic …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..……………………………….………………….. 16 Single Bay ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...………….……………………….. 16 Multi Bay ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..………………..…………………... 17 Removing the Plastic ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…………………………………….……………... 17 Venting ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..………………….………………. 17 Wind Damage …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..….……………….. 18 Routine Tunnel Maintenance ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...……………………... 18 Production Systems Primocane fruiting raspberries ………………………………………………………………...……………………………………………………………………………………………. 19 Primocane fruiting blackberries …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 20 Summer-fruiting raspberries …………………………………………………………………………………………………………...……………………………………………………. 20 Summer-fruiting blackberries ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……………………………….. 21 Overwintering ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………………….. 21 Managing Primocanes ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………. 22 Potted floricane-fruiting berries………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...….………………………. 23 Establishing Containerized Plants ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……….. 23 Planting and Plant Selection ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..... 25 Table 1. Floricane-fruiting raspberries and harvest seasons for high tunnel production …………………………………………...…………………………... 25 Table 2. Primocane-fruiting raspberries and harvest seasons for high tunnel production …………………………………………………...………………... 26 Table 3. Plant Material types for establishing raspberries ………………………………………………………………………………………………...………………….. 27 Tunnel Management Controlling Environmental Conditions (Tunnel Venting and Covering Times) ……………………….……..………………………………………………………... 28 Moisture and Fertilizer ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...……………………………………………….. 28 Soil Salinity ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...…. 29 Weed growth …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...…………... 29 Pollination …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...……….. 29 Pest Management Considerations Arthropod Pests (Insects and Mites) ………………………………………...…………………………………………………………………………………………………………... 30 Using Exclusion Netting in High Tunnels …………………………………………………...…………………………………………………………………………………………... 31 Diseases …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...…………………………………………………………………………... 33 Spray Application Technology for High Tunnels ………………………………………………………………………...………………………………………………………….. 35 Abiotic (Non-biological) disorders and diseases ………………………………………………………………………………………...…………………………………….……. 35 Wildlife …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...………………………………………….…………. 35 Harvesting Fruit ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...………………………….…….….. 37 Rules for Berry Pickers ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...………………….…….. 38 Constructing Budgets …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...………………..………….... 39 Budget for In-Ground Single-bay High Tunnel Fall-Fruiting Raspberry Production, NY ……………………………………………..……………….………….. 40 Budget for In-Ground Single-bay High Tunnel Blackberry Production, NY ………………………………………………………………………………...…………… 45 Budget for In-Ground Multi-bay High Tunnel Fall-Fruiting Raspberry Production, MI ……………………………………………...………………………….... 46 Tunnel Berry Videos …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……………….. 51 Bibliography ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………………..…….. 52 Appendix ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...……………. 53 3 High Tunnel Raspberries and Blackberries Introduction Consumer interest in obtaining produce from local producers provides an opportunity for expanding local and regional market Much of the world’s raspberry and blackberry supply is now shares relative to those currently held by domestic and foreign produced in simple controlled environment structures such as high imports. Production of high quality, locally grown raspberries and tunnels. These systems, along with smaller field tunnels and pest blackberries could potentially shift the market supply from imported exclusion netting, as well as greenhouses, are sometimes referred to to locally-grown along the Atlantic seaboard for much of the year. as ‘protected culture.’ High tunnels protect the crops from the Although high tunnels are used throughout the world, each region vagaries of the outdoor weather and the very fragile fruits are also has different options and specific requirements to optimize protected from production under high tunnel systems. This publication presents moisture (rain, dew, current data and experiences generated by more than a decade of fog) which greatly research with high tunnels in several states in the Northeast and extends their shelf life Midwest. after harvest. In addition, high tunnels What is a High Tunnel? reduce the incidence High tunnels differ from greenhouses in that they are considered of crop diseases and non-permanent structures (i.e., they typically don’t have a reduce wind damage. foundation that involves poured concrete) and they don’t have a Yields can be much heating system (i.e., they cannot be used to produce berry crops higher in tunnels during the middle of winter). compared to open field production, in Growers interested in winter production using greenhouses should part because the consult the publication “Greenhouse Raspberries”. https://cpb-us- growing season is e1.wpmucdn.com/blogs.cornell.edu/dist/0/7265/files/2016/12/ greatly extended by ghrasp-128la1g.pdf high tunnels and Figure 1: Examples of high tunnels with berry crops inside. Top, a single bay tunnel; above, a